Writing
Explore resources designed to improve writing instruction in elementary school. 
- View a visual diagram of all five practices
- Watch a topic overview and download planning templates
- Listen to an expert
Explore the subtopics below to learn more about the recommended practices:
To learn more about the research underlying these practices, view the IES Practice Guide, Teaching Elementary Students to Be Effective Writers.
Check This Out
Writing > Foundational Skills > See How It Works
Use the example questions from this sample material to help students understand sentence construction and different techniques that authors use to craft effective sentences. To learn how one...
Resource Type
Sample Material
Learning Together: Applying the Writing Process
Writing > Writing Process > Overview & Tools
Use this tool as a learning and listening guide with the interviews, Strategies for Using the Writing Process, Teaching Students to Use the Writing Process for a Variety of Purposes, and Understand...
Resource Type
Tool
Enabling Students to Use Writing Effectively for Learning and Communicating
Writing > Overview & Tools
This presentation illustrates how to use research-based practices to teach elementary school students to be effective writers. The presentation covers the four recommended practices in this topic....
Resource Type
Overview
Self-Reflection Tool: Writing Across the Curriculum
Writing > Daily Time > Overview & Tools
Teachers and coaches can use this tool to reflect on current practice and identify ideas for new instructional activities for including daily writing across all subject areas. View the interview,...
Resource Type
Tool
Writing Planning Template #1
Writing > Overview & Tools
This school-level planning tool can be used to assess and plan for school practices to support staff in teaching elementary school students to be effective writers. It covers such topics as...
Resource Type
Planning Template
Writer's Workshop Every Day
Writing > Daily Time > See How It Works
Teachers describe what writing instruction and practice time looks like in their classrooms. Teachers at this school hold a Writer's Workshop every day. This is an example of how writer's workshop...
Resource Type
School Example
Developing a Shared Writing Assignment
Writing > Engaged Community > Overview & Tools
This tool provides a framework for planning lessons in which students collaborate to develop a shared piece of writing. Watch the presentation, Creating an Engaged Community of Writers, to learn...
Resource Type
Tool
Parent Letter
Writing > Engaged Community > See How It Works
Review this parent letter to learn how one teacher engages parents in building an engaged community of writers. To learn more about building an engaged community of writers, view the presentations,...
Resource Type
Sample Material
That's What Community Is All About
Writing > Engaged Community > See How It Works
One teacher describes how she creates a classroom community of writers where students feel safe. The teacher explains the importance of sharing ideas and modeling for students. She also details the...
Resource Type
School Example
Looking at Books with a Writer's Eye
Writing > Writing Process > See How It Works
A teacher shows how she uses mentor texts to teach students to emulate features of good writing. She illustrates reading aloud a mentor text and conducting a pre-writing activity for her students...
Resource Type
School Example
Writing Planning Template #2
Writing > Overview & Tools
This district-level planning tool can be used to assess and plan for district practices to support schools in developing a comprehensive and coherent plan for teaching elementary school students to...
Resource Type
Planning Template
Writing Planning Template #4
Writing > Overview & Tools
This template can help districts and schools understand the alignment between the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts K-5 and the recommended practices in the IES Practice Guide,...
Resource Type
Planning Template
