Ask a class to "write about your weekend", and half will stare at the page. Writing feels big. Break it into steps, and the page becomes possible.
Step one: talk first
Before writing, students say their ideas to a partner. Talking finds the words.
Tell your partner three things you did.
Step two: make a list
A list is not writing, and that is the point. Four short notes.
bus, rain, noodles, film
Step three: build sentences
Turn the notes into sentences. One idea per sentence.
I took the bus. It was raining. I ate noodles.
Step four: join and check
Join two sentences with "and" or "but". Then check three things: capital letters, full stops, and one verb in each sentence.
Give a model
Show a short example first. Students need to see the shape.
I had a quiet weekend. I stayed home and watched a film.
Correct one thing
Do not mark every mistake. Choose one thing for the whole class.
Words to remember
- paragraph — a group of sentences about one idea
- model — an example to follow
- join — to put two things together
- check — to see if something is right
Questions & answers
Q: How long should a writing task be?
Five sentences is enough at first. Length comes later.
Q: Should I correct every error?
No. Choose the mistake that most students made, and teach that one.
Q: What if students cannot think of ideas?
Give a list of questions. Questions make ideas smaller and easier.
Q: Is copying a model bad?
No, at first. Copy, then change a few words. That is how writing starts.
Q: How do I help weak writers?
Let them write about their own day. They know the words, and the sentences come.