We all know that incorporating writing into our middle school or high school English Language Arts classrooms can sometimes be difficult to do every day. There is always a plethora of material to cover and writing every single day doesn’t always make the cut, but it should. Writing daily will not only improve students’ writing, but it will also improve their confidence in the process. Daily writing expands vocabulary and allows students a chance to reflect on learning which will serve to reinforce the material you are teaching. There are many ways teachers can incorporate writing into their daily classroom routine. Here are five of my favorites.
#1: Bell Ringers
Use your daily bell ringer to allow students to practice writing at the beginning of class. I like to connect daily questions to the content by using Visual Writing Prompts. Never underestimate the power of an engaging prompt and an intriguing photo to get your students writing. I use Visual Writing Prompts daily with each unit I teach and have a plethora of them pre-made in my store. You can snag mine or create your own for any unit you may be teaching.
#2: Routine Content Activities
Incorporate writing in your daily activities that align with the standards you are teaching. Writing can easily be incorporated in reading response activities so that you are hitting both reading and writing standards in a lesson. Have students summarize a passage with a GIST statement or use a silent debate to get students expressing their thoughts on a specific topic.
#3: Exit Slips
Have students respond to their learning by incorporating writing in your exit slips. I love to place a large poster near the door that reads, “What stuck with you today?” Then, I pass out a post-it note to each student and have them write something they learned from the lesson. On their way out the door, they stick it to the poster. We review responses at the beginning of the next class.
#4: Daily Journaling
Students often need low-stakes writing opportunities that aren’t tied to any content. Daily journaling allows students a space to choose their topics and write on any topic they want. This daily practice allows students to gain confidence and practice writing without worrying about being perfect. Give students the opportunity to pick their own topics, but be sure to provide a few options for those who might get stuck.
#5: Sketch Notes
Get your students writing with sketch notes! Students love this strategy and nothing is better than adding a little color to your writing assignments. Check out this post from Hey Natayle for more on all things sketch notes.
How do you incorporate writing in your daily classroom routine? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below or through our discussions on Facebook or Instagram.
