As children grow and develop, it is crucial to provide them with opportunities to develop writing skills that will serve them well throughout their academic and professional lives. Short focused writing activities have proven to be an effective way to teach specific writing skills to children in KS2. This blog will explore the research that supports the use of short focused writing activities and why they are a powerful tool for children’s writing development.
Studies have shown that targeted writing instruction, which includes short focused writing activities, can be more effective than unstructured writing instruction. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology found that third-grade students [UK equivalent Y4], who received targeted writing instruction made greater improvements in their writing skills than those who received unstructured instruction. The targeted instruction included short focused writing activities, such as brainstorming ideas, outlining, and editing.
Another study, published in the Journal of Writing Research, found that a six-week writing intervention that included short, targeted writing activities significantly improved the writing skills of fourth-grade students [UK equivalent Y5]. The intervention focused on specific skills such as organisation, sentence structure, and word choice, and included writing prompts and feedback from teachers.
Short focused writing activities are especially effective for KS2 children who may have shorter attention spans and may get overwhelmed with longer writing tasks. By breaking down the writing process into smaller, manageable activities, children can build their writing skills in a gradual and step-by-step manner. This approach helps to develop their confidence in writing and also reinforces the writing skills they have learned.
One of the benefits of short focused writing activities is that they can be adjusted to meet the specific needs of each child. For instance, a teacher can choose writing prompts that focus on the areas that each child needs to improve, such as sentence structure, word choice, or organisation. The children can work on these skills in a supportive and structured environment, which helps them to develop their writing skills at their own pace.
In conclusion, short focused writing activities are a highly effective way of teaching writing skills to children in KS2. Research has shown that these activities can significantly improve children’s writing skills, and they are especially effective for children who may struggle with longer writing tasks. By providing targeted instruction and structured opportunities for practice, short focused writing activities can help children to build their writing skills in a gradual and effective way.
Our beliefs supported by the evidence above led to the Development of our Writing Workshops. Each Workshop has a specific focus and provides structured opportunities to develop children’s writing skills. Workshops are available for the following:
- Setting descriptions
- Story Openings
- Writing dialogue
- Character-building
The contents of each PowerPoint varies to suit the focus, but each one includes: text to evaluate; a WAGOLL; short writing activities and guidance for teachers to adapt the presentation to meet the needs of the children in their class. High quality images and original writing are used throughout to offer teachers a unique way to teach writing in their classrooms.
