Merklin_Guided Writing Research
What is Guided Writing? Gibson describes guided writing as a “small-group instructional framework presented to students who share similar needs at a particular point in time. Guided writing provides an important context for teachers' in-the-moment assessment and immediate instructional scaffolding of students' construction of their own individual text" Gibson (2008). In other words, Guided Writing means working with small groups of students with similar needs in writing development. Teachers can use this time to help them see where the students are and how to help students progress.
How does Guided Writing Work? Several steps make up a Guided Writing lesson: a brief shared experience, discussion of targeted…show more content… For example, if students need work developing a topic sentence, the teacher would talk about how important it is in writing to include a topic sentence. Teachers can develop cue cards for reminders to help students to remember the specific strategies. During this time, teachers should not be focusing on conventions. This is a time to teach students to focus on content, not form.
Student Writing Time
Now that students have had time to rehearse, it is time for them to write and put the strategies into practice. While the students are writing, the teacher is "leaning in" assessing student's writing to determine where the students need scaffolding. Teachers need to scaffold the students writing through prompting, but make sure to provide appropriate prompting. The teacher provides the support when students need it, immediately.
Sharing the Writing Students need to understand that writing has meaning and value so they must share their writing. Students can exchange writing, read in small groups, or even read to the…show more content… Writing is one of the most difficult subject areas for teachers to assess. The complex and integral components that constitute good writing have been evaluated for years by teachers using red pens and editing marks. This evaluation system has created adults who feel negatively about writing and avoid the process at all costs. Assessments are data-driven and sometimes difficult to evaluate effectively. Data that is evaluated may include observations, student work, interviews, photographs, portfolios, and the more traditional analytical assessment. However, it is essential that writing should be assessed in a manner that will aide and assist the writer and provide stimulus for further writing. First we must know the purpose of the assessment. Writing can be formal, formative, summative or constructive. A summative assessment may be required especially in the early stages of a student’s writing career. Children should be encouraged to write often and regularly and share their work with their peers. Some studies indicate that students spend 35 minutes or less each day in writing of any type. “The main purpose of assessment in writing should be forward-looking rather than backward-looking” Smith and Elley (pg. 128). Formative assessment improves writing when its focus is to address a particular strategy. Evaluation should be designed to assess that strategy and fit the student’s needs and strengths. Assessment is an essential
