Practice Guide iconPractice Guide
This practice guide presents three evidence-based recommendations for helping students in grades 6–12 develop effective writing skills. Each recommendation includes specific, actionable guidance for educators on implementing practices in their classrooms. The guide also summarizes and rates the evidence supporting each recommendation, describes examples to use in class, and offers the panel’s advice on how to overcome potential implementation obstacles. This guide is geared towards administrators and teachers in all disciplines who want to help improve their students’ writing.
1
Explicitly teach appropriate writing strategies using a Model-Practice-Reflect instructional cycle.
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2
Integrate writing and reading to emphasize key writing features.
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3
Use assessments of student writing to inform instruction and feedback.
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Audience:
  • Administrators
  • Parent/Family
  • School Specialist
  • Teacher

This practice guide was prepared for the WWC by Mathematica under contract ED-IES-13-C-0010.

The following research staff contributed to the guide: Julie Bruch, Joshua Furgeson, Julia Lyskawa, and Claire Smither Wulsin.

  • Steve Graham (Chair)
    Arizona State University
  • Jill Fitzgerald
    The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill/MetaMetrics
  • Linda D. Friedrich
    The National Writing Project
  • Katie Greene
    Forsyth County Schools, Georgia
  • James S. Kim
    Harvard University
  • Carol Booth Olson
    University of California, Irvine
Webinar
What Works: Evidence-Based Math, Reading & Writing Tips for In-Person & Remote Instruction
July 1, 2021

What Works Clearinghouse released a webinar for educators on evidence-based practices to support math, reading, and writing instruction, as well as instructional resources to share with parents and ca...
Reference
What Works: Evidence-Based Math, Reading & Writing Tips for In-Person & Remote Instruction
July 1, 2021

What Works Clearinghouse released a webinar for educators on evidence-based practices to support math, reading, and writing instruction, as well as instructional resources to share with parents and ca...
Infographic
Evidence-Based Recommendations for Remote Writing Instruction in the Secondary Grades
October 1, 2020

This infographic provides examples from two practice guides about secondary school instruction in writing that can be implemented for free or at a low cost in remote learning settings.
Infographic
Strategies for Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively
April 1, 2020

This Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Southwest infographic features tips to support students in grades 6–12 from the WWC practice guide Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively.
Guide
Strategies to Improve Secondary Students' Writing Skills: Lessons from a WWC Practice Guide
November 1, 2016

The presenters cover key recommendations for improving the writing of secondary school students and describe how to overcome challenges when implementing the recommended practices.
Webinar
Strategies for Improving Secondary Students Writing Skills: Lessons from the Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively Practice Guide
November 1, 2016

The presenters cover key recommendations for improving the writing of secondary school students and describe how to overcome challenges when implementing the recommended practices.
Guide
ePub: Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively
November 1, 2016

Download the EPUB (12 MB) or MOBI (4.6 MB) e-book format to view the practice guide on a smartphone, tablet, Nook, or Kindle.

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