Effective writing relies on a complex set of skills that cannot be mastered without considerable time and effort. To develop their writing ability, students need at least an hour of daily instruction and practice. At least 30 minutes of this time should be focused on instruction in writing strategies, techniques, and skills, with the remainder of the time devoted to applying what they’ve learned. Integrating writing practice into different content areas, such as science and social studies, allows teachers to strengthen students’ learning in each subject. It’s also beneficial to draw connections between reading and writing by having students write before, during, and after reading to articulate what they already know, what they want to know, and what they have learned.
