It’s very difficult to write for pleasure if you feel like you’re not very good at it.
Confidence is one of the biggest predictors of children’s writing achievement. Yet, writing is one of the most complex and effortful things we ask children to do while they are at school. What practices can we use in the classroom to make them feel confident and successful?
Well, there are a number of strategies we can employ:
1. Study Mentor Texts
Expose students to texts that actually realistically match the type of writing they are being asked to write for themselves. This provides them with examples to emulate and learn from. This builds up their writerly confidence.
- Learn more here -[Reading In The Writing Classroom]
2. Establish Product Goals Together
Collaborate with students to identify the techniques necessary for crafting high-quality texts. Make a commitment to teach these techniques, fostering a sense of ownership and confidence among students.
- Learn more here – [How To Get Success Criteria Right]
3. Model Craft Moves
Demonstrate how to use a craft move before inviting students to use that very same craft move for themselves. Modelling provides clarity and confidence, helping students grasp concepts more effectively.
- Learn more here – [Getting Writing Instruction Right]
4. Set Process Goals
Encourage students to focus on a specific goal during writing lessons. By breaking down the writing processes into small manageable chunks, students can see themselves making progress every day and this breeds confidence.
- Learn more here – [Trust The Process: Setting Process Goals]
5. Teach The Writing Processes
Design writing projects that encompass all stages of the writing process, from generating ideas to publishing. Allocate time for instruction on each stage, allowing students to develop comprehensive writing skills.
Learn more here – [The Components Of An Effective Writing Unit]
6. Provide Verbal Feedback
Provide students with personalised feedback on their writing, both from their teacher and their peers. Effective pupil-conferencing reinforces successes and nudges students to apply feedback quickly and confidently.
Learn more here – [Pupil-Conferencing In The Writing Classroom: Powerful Feedback & Responsive Teaching That Changes Writers]