As an elementary school teacher, you know that every student needs to learn the basic skills of writing. After all, writing is an essential skill not just in school but in everyday life. But what are the three core skills that should be taught to young learners?
Read on to find out!
1. Sentence Writing Skills
This may seem obvious, but it’s important for students to understand how to write complete sentences. Start by teaching your students two-part sentences and then move on to the three-part sentences and compound sentences. You can also challenge them further by introducing more advanced sentence structures like complex and compound-complex sentences.
2. Paragraph Writing Skills
Now that they understand how to write a single sentence, it’s time to look at how they can construct an entire paragraph. Explain to them the importance of having a topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph—this sentence should summarize what the rest of the paragraph will discuss. Then provide examples of how to support their points with facts and elaborations so that readers have a better understanding of the main idea. Finally, guide them through crafting a strong concluding sentence that summarizes their key points and ties back into their original topic sentence.
To see how I create an engaging paragraph writing activity that my students absolutely LOVE and can’t wait to write, visit this blog post.
3. Genre Writing Skills
There are different types of writing genres, such as opinion writing, narrative writing, and informative writing. Show your students examples from each genre so they understand when it’s appropriate to use each type of writing style.
For example, opinion pieces typically include personal anecdotes, while narrative stories usually contain characters or plot twists. Informative pieces usually involve factual information backed up by research or examples from other sources – this is where citing sources becomes essential!
Making sure students understand the genre’s structure is the first step towards students acquiring the basic foundational skills. But you’ll also need to teach:
- the appropriate graphic organizer
- transitional words
- word choice
- specifics for each genre writing type
By helping your students understand the core elements of a sentence, paragraph, and genre writing skills, you will set them up for a successful academic future.
And when they become confident in their writing abilities, they can use their newfound knowledge to reach new heights!
Reflection:
While teaching elementary school children the fundamentals of writing, it is important to focus on three main skills:
- sentence writing
- paragraph writing
- genre writing
These core skills should form the foundation of any student’s writing ability. Teachers must be able to provide examples from each type of genre so that students can gain a better understanding of how to structure their own pieces.
Basic Skills of Writing Teaching Tips
- Create a Routine – Make sure your students know when it’s time to write and establish a set routine for each class.
- Provide Direct Instruction – Explain the basic skills and strategies of writing, such as sentence structure and genre styles.
- Encourage Practice – Writing takes practice! Encourage your students to take some time out of their day to write freely and find inspiration from other sources.
- Use Templates to Scaffold Instruction – Templates can help students understand the basics of writing and can act as a guide for them to follow when crafting their own pieces.
- Provide Feedback- Make sure to provide both positive and constructive feedback on your students’ writing. This will help them see what they do well and where they can improve.
Extended Learning Opportunity
To learn more about teaching elementary students the basic skills of writing, let me suggest checking out my E-book entitled Sentences, Paragraphs, and Essays: OH, MY!
Not only does it provide you with more in-depth information on how to teach the basic skills of writing, but it also provides you with a daily routine and editable templates needed for student success.
The templates may be used repeatedly throughout the school year. All you need is to pop in a new writing prompt or subject.
And the best part is that students’ success is built upon a scaffold of instruction with a predictable routine. These are two key elements to truly teaching the basic skills of writing which lead to strong, skilled writers.
After all, competent writers are the end goal.
MQ
So if you’re ready to help your students become the best writers they can be, check out Sentences, Paragraphs, and Essays: OH, MY! It will provide you with the tips and tools needed to teach the three core, basic skills of writing.
Final Thoughts
Once your students master these three basic skills—sentence writing, paragraph writing, and genre writing—they will be well on their way toward becoming excellent writers. It’s important for them to practice these skills regularly so that they can keep improving as they progress through school and into adulthood! With these tips in mind, you’ll be able to help your students become confident and competent writers soon enough!
Happy Writing!
–Melissa
