Exploring the Writing Process

    What makes an effective piece of writing? Good writers plan and revise, rearrange and delete text, re-reading and producing multiple drafts before they produce their finished document. This is what a process writing approach is about (Stanley, 2011). However, in my early years as a teacher, the product approach was mainly used in my classroom. Many of my students were pushed to create near perfect pieces of writing which was overwhelming for me but frustrating for my students. Students did not look forward to writing and I did not look forward to teaching it. Writing is a complex process involving brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and polishing in addition to actually putting words on paper. The process approach to writing is a core instructional strategy that can be used in elementary schools that helps young learners develop their writing skills and self-assurance. This method encourages creativity, critical thinking, and good communication skills by conc...

Education, like everything else in life, is a journey and as educators, our role is not only to impart knowledge but also to guide and support students along the way. In the elementary classroom, one approach that promotes student growth and independence is the scaffolding method. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of scaffolding for elementary students and discuss its numerous benefits in fostering their learning and development. Building a Solid Foundation   Scaffolding provides a solid foundation for elementary students to acquire new knowledge and skills. By breaking down complex concepts into manageable parts, teachers can guide students through incremental steps, ensuring a solid understanding of the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced topics. This method establishes a strong base for future learning and helps prevent knowledge gaps from forming.   Fostering Confidence and Independence One of the key benefits of scaffolding is the boos...

  According to lecturer Henry’s sessions, we were taught that children are to be granted a few essentials to write efficiently. These essentials include: Time to write- they should be granted 45-60 minutes to write so that they can come up with, ideas and text construction. Regular responses to their writing – by receiving responses from teachers, peers, and others; students interact with other writers. This helps them to understand their audience and provides a safe space for them to ask for assistance with the construction of their text. As well as collect honest feedback.   Publish their writing- by writing for the real audience the students will feel as if they are real authors. They can publish their work by placing it on a bulletin board or folding it as a real book. Choose most of the topics they write about- teachers are to help students write about things they know and to help build their background knowledge about topics of their choosing to write fiction,...

  What I understood about "The RAFT strategy in language arts" The RAFT strategy is a valuable technique that encompasses the components of a role, audience, format, and topic in writing assignments. This approach helps students clarify their purpose, perspective, and message delivery to a specific audience in a chosen format. It encourages creativity and critical thinking in the writing process. The abbreviation R.A.F.T represents R- role A. Audience F- format T- topic   According to William.s (1821-1873), “ This RAFT strategy lends itself to use with works of art and to helping students develop their ideas and organize their approach before they begin to write. ” Here is a video to further explain: https://youtu.be/GB9VV02Cmas?si=VBkahd9PV2A4SnCD How to implement the RAFT framework RAFT activity: The Promised Land—The Grayson Family (preview) William S. Jewett (1821–1873) The Promised Land – The Grayson Family , 1850 Oil on canvas 50 3/4 x 64 i...

  In this session, we looked at "the 8-step writing process" Initially, we are taught that the 8 steps of writing are idea, think, tie idea and reader, gather information, study, design, write, and edit. Here is a breakdown of each step Step 1 Idea you need an idea, a subject that you feel needs to be done, or that, for a legitimate reason, you want to do. Have an idea clearly in your mind before you move forward. Everything that follows will be easier because the right idea sets the right course. Step 2 Think Think carefully about your reader and how, to best serve him or her, you should apply the idea and have it come to a fruitful life. Make sure the idea fits the wants and/or needs of your reader. Step 3 Tie Idea and Reader Take an additional step; strive to tie the idea and reader together, by fashioning a concept, meaning a more specific subject, an idea narrowed into a circumscribed and focused topic, one you think is tailor-made for that reader of ...

    In order to guide instructional decisions and provide useful insights on students' development, assessments are an essential component of the learning process. Although formative evaluation techniques are equally important as standard examinations, they can provide a more comprehensive picture of students' writing skills. We will look at how the Writer's Workshop can function as an engaging and useful formative assessment tool in elementary school in this blog article.   Observational Assessment Teachers get to watch carefully as students work through the writing process during the Writer's Workshop. They can then evaluate students' grasp of writing topics, their ability to apply skills, and their degree of independence through conferences. Teachers can learn a great deal about their students' writing habits, including how they come up with ideas, draft, edit, and follow writing conventions, by watching how they write.   Individualized Feedback...