To write well, students must pay attention to words and phrases, developing their vocabulary and grammar knowledge to create meaningful sentences. They must also learn to look at the big picture to create well-organized pieces of writing that inform, entertain, or persuade. Study materials that approach writing as a process that involves both attention to detail and looking at the overall written work can assist students in fully developing their writing skills. Useful practice exercises range from drills for specific sets of information to writing activities that involve planning, drafting, revising, and editing.
Writing Skill Study and Practice for Grades K-8
Students can benefit from practicing various approaches to writing over time. Study materials, such as Everyday Writing Intervention Activities, the Spectrum Writing Workbook Series, and Core Skills Writing Workbooks provide opportunities for students to get the experience they need to strengthen their writing skills. Everyday Writing Intervention Activities from Newmark Learning provide students from kindergarten through the fifth grade with opportunities to regularly practice writing by engaging in mini-lessons and writing activities. The Spectrum Writing Workbook Series begins by helping kindergarteners identify main ideas, make comparisons, and understand cause and effect. As the series progresses, it builds on these concepts by asking students to engage in increasingly challenging writing activities. Core Skills Writing Workbooks from Steck-Vaughn encourage students to write creatively and to think critically about their own writing while focusing on specific skills that are appropriate for grades K-8.
Standardized Tests and College Preparation
Many standardized tests include writing sections that help educators evaluate whether or not students are performing at appropriate levels for their grades or at appropriate levels to qualify for entrance into certain academic programs. The writing sections of the SAT test are designed to evaluate students for college readiness and place them in courses at the appropriate levels. Students who take practice tests and practice their skills before taking the actual tests can show significant improvement in their scores. Students who anticipate taking the SAT can work to earn high scores by expanding their vocabularies and grammar knowledge as well as practicing writing essays that take a position and present evidence. Because the aim of the SAT is to have students demonstrate college readiness, preparing for the SAT writing sections also prepares students for the writing tasks they will be asked to complete for their college courses.
