Developing Writing Skills in Young Students

A group of local educators are looking at ways to help young students develop their writing skills as they take part in a learning series on the book What’s Next for This Beginning Writer.

This book, written by Janine Reid and Betty Schultze, starts with an inclusive definition of writing and suggests simple ways to introduce students to the purpose of writing. It discusses the key relationship between reading and writing, and the importance of oral language in building strong writers. Based on the work of real K-2 students, the book shows teachers how to interpret student work, identify what they know, and build naturally on the strengths their work displays. It supports the need for consistent teaching that includes a delicate balance between direct instruction and independent learning.

The educators met on September 27, 2024, and October 23, 2024, with their final session scheduled for March 12, 2025.

These types of learning series enable educators to develop tools and strategies that support ongoing improvements in student learning, exemplifying the District’s Strategic Plan priority for Intellectual Development.