While I have been working on the revision blogs, I have had in the back of my mind all of you who are working with those at-risk students and how difficult teaching them to write can be. \u00a0I want to encourage you not to give up but to keep working and you will see progress. I am listing some tips here that might give you a bit of help.<\/p>\n
1. Writing needs to be relevant and related to students’ backgrounds and experiences.<\/p>\n
2. These students need a minimum of 30 minutes of writing DAILY. More would be great , but this is adequate.<\/p>\n
3. They need to be engaged in practical and creative writing.<\/p>\n
4. Writing at home is generally not successful for them.<\/p>\n
5. Look at and discuss pictures, movie clips, and picture books as a basis for their stories.<\/p>\n
6. Keep in mind that these students usually have low vocabulary so you must work on building it.<\/p>\n
7. Don’t stress over mechanics too soon. That will come later.<\/p>\n
8. Many of these students are weak in spelling, grammar and have poor handwriting. \u00a0Work on these but not in isolation.<\/p>\n
9. Patience is key.<\/p>\n
10. Many of these students are passive. Genuine learning is active, not passive. To work on this, give writing that stresses discovery and active learning.<\/p>\n
11. Work regular teacher-student conferences into your schedule.<\/p>\n
Please don’t get discouraged and give up on the students that need us the most.<\/p>\n
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While I have been working on the revision blogs, I have had in the back of my mind all of you who are working with those at-risk students and how difficult teaching them to write can be. \u00a0I want to … Continue reading