Looking at Writing

Writing is thinking. When we write, we … organize, clarify, solidify understanding, build relationships, extend our thinking, and engage.

Joan Sedita, Keys to LiteracyThe ability to understand oral language, read fluently, and write well.

Writing can be challenging for many students — there are so many skills and thinking processes that need to work in synch to produce effective, expressive writing. 

Looking closely at a child’s writing allows us to discover what students know and have learned. We see what writing tools and techniques a student is experimenting with, and what the next steps for instruction might be. Our writing samples from real kids provide examples and next-step guidance for students from pre-K to third grade. Get started looking at — and thinking about — writing! 

What you’ll find here

• Writing samples from real kids
• Advice about instruction based on samples
• Guidance on writing assessment
• Classroom strategies
• Writing resources
• Video about writing

Classroom strategies

In the classroom strategies section, we’ve gathered several strategies to support various stages of the writing process. Do your students need help organizing their writing? Sequencing the main events? Look here for strategies that support students’ writing.

Writing assessment

Teachers often struggle with writing assessment. Spelling and mechanical errors are obvious to see, and too often become the focus of the assessment. It’s important to consider other aspects of the sample and to include the writers themselves in the assessment process. Within this section you’ll find examples and suggestions for assessing writing for teachers and students.

A process approach to teaching writing

In school, writing typically uses a process approach. Students work with a piece of writing, and guide it through four general stages: prewriting, drafting, revisingA step in the writing process that focuses on reworking of the content of a text relative to task, purpose, and audience. /editingA part of writing and preparing presentations centered on improving the clarity, organization, conciseness, and correctness of expression in relationship to the task, purpose, and audience. , and publishing. The age of the student and the writing assignment may dictate how much time is spent in each stage. Teachers can use a combination of whole group, small group, and individual instruction within each stage of the process.

Featured video

Production credits

Looking at Writing was developed by Reading Rockets research director Dr. Joanne Meier and teacher-researcher Cathy Meaney.