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.
Planning to Teach Sentence Construction
Writing > Foundational Skills > Overview & Tools
Use this tool to plan lessons using mentor texts to teach sentence construction. View the related sample materials and listen to the audio interview to learn more about using mentor text to teach...
Resource Type
Tool
Using Mentor Texts to Teach Foundational Skills: A Planner
Writing > Foundational Skills > Overview & Tools
Elementary school teachers can use this tool for organizing ideas and identifying mentor texts that can be integrated into lesson plans on grammar and sentence mechanics. Using this tool, teachers...
Resource Type
Tool
Self-Reflection Tool: Activities for Sentence Structure Development
Writing > Foundational Skills > Overview & Tools
This tool can be used to identify ideas for focused instruction within three research-based instructional activities for sentence development: sentence framing, sentence expanding, and sentence...
Resource Type
Tool
Teaching Foundational Skills to Help Students Become Effective Writers
Writing > Foundational Skills > Overview & Tools
This recommended practice focuses on providing instruction on foundational writing skills, such as handwriting, spelling, sentence construction, typing, and word processing. This presentation...
Resource Type
Overview
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
More Than One Way to Write
Writing > Writing Process > See How It Works
A reading specialist describes how classes at her school are learning to write for different purposes. In each classroom students learn skills and continue building a foundation as they...
Resource Type
School Example
A Schoolwide Approach to Writing Instruction
Writing > Writing Process > See How It Works
Hear a principal and teacher describe how their school has implemented a coherent approach to writing instruction. The principal ensures high-quality writing instruction by visiting classrooms...
Resource Type
School Example
Writing Buddies Using the Writing Process
Writing > Writing Process > See How It Works
Watch teachers show how they use "Writing Buddies" as a way for their students to help each other brainstorm and revise. Writing Buddies learn how to ask one another questions to think about ways...
Resource Type
School Example
Teaching Writing Strategies
Writing > Writing Process > See How It Works
Teachers describe the strategies they teach their students to help them learn the writing process. They teach and model multiple strategies for every step of the writing process so that students...
Resource Type
School Example
Understanding the Purpose of What You’re Writing
Writing > Writing Process > Learn What Works
Students are more likely to be engaged in writing if they understand the purpose of a particular writing assignment. Listen to a member of the IES Panel discuss how teachers can look for...
Resource Type
Expert Interview
Strategies for Using the Writing Process
Writing > Writing Process > Learn What Works
Listen to a member of the IES Panel discuss how teachers can helps students use strategies to plan and evaluate their writing. He illustrates the importance of peer interaction in revision and...
Resource Type
Expert Interview
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
