Strategies for Teaching Writing to Elementary Students

One of our most important tasks has is to introduce their young students to the written language and how to use it creatively and effectively in order to communicate. Whether you teach primary or upper elementary grades, your administrator is counting on you to teach your students to quantifiably improve in writing this school year. Here are a few effective teaching strategies to try out in your classroom -- implement a few or try them all. 1. Writing Instruction Doesnt Have To Be Intimidating --  For You Or The Students Many educators find teaching writing a real challenge. Sure there are all the rules of grammar and punctuation, but outside of those boundaries, there are as many stories to be told as there are people in the world. How do we corral our students enthusiasm and creative minds so that their writing is coherent, engaging, and purposeful? 2. A Strong Beginning Is Crucial --Then Move Onto The Basics Start by teaching your students how to write a strong beginning to their stories. With this skill in hand, your students will then be ready to learn about the importance of word choice and avoiding boring, flat, overused words. 3. More Advanced Descriptive Techniques Dont Have To Be Hard To Teach Even the youngest elementary school students will enjoy trying their hand at tongue twisters. And what do tongue twisters have to do with writing? Well, its an easy way to introduce the concept of alliteration. Achoo! Slam! Kaboom! Not only do children love sound effects, but they come to the classroom with a strong familiarity with this subject. Sound effects add power and imagery to writing, and not to mention its easy to teach students how to appropriately use this skill to kick their writing up a notch. 4. Writing Applications You Might Not Have Considered Obviously, writing enters into all aspects of human life, especially nowadays in the age of the Internet and email. Use a pen pal program to teach your students how to effectively communicate with their peers in letter format. Its an invaluable skill and a dying art. Or, try practice letter-writing and compile weekly parent newsletters all in one fell swoop! Thats another time-saver that practices writing skills at the same time. Another important aspect of language arts is oral communication and listening skills. Through this easy and fun impromptu speeches lesson, your students will write a speech, perform it out loud, and practice listening to each other. 5. A Well-Rounded Writing Curriculum Is Within Your Grasp These real life, classroom-tested  writing lessons  are proven, fun, and easy-to-implement. With practice and diligence, you will watch your students writing soar and improve daily. Edited by  Janelle Cox