Guided Writing FAQs
What is guided writing?
Guided writing is a form of shared writing where the teacher works with a small group of children to help them improve a specific aspect of their writing. It is a strategy that scaffolds writing to help children build the skills to write effective independent texts.
Why should I use guided writing?
It is a way of adapting the wider writing curriculum to meet the specific needs of identified children. By closing gaps or extending learning through guided writing, children receive the support they need to improve their independent writing.
How should the guided groups be organised?
Guided writing is sometimes organised for static groups of children of similar ability who take turns rotating through time with the teacher. Guided writing is much more effective when the teacher identifies writing issues in common, from across the class, and forms a group to provide targeted teaching. For example:
a group of children who struggle to use commas in lists
a group of children who would benefit from input on organising writing into paragraphs
a group of children who need to work on editing and evaluating their own work.
What should I use to inform the content of guided writing sessions?
There are two main sources of information that will inform the content of your guided writing sessions. These are your ongoing formative assessment judgements - based on contributions to class discussions, participation in whole class shared writing sessions and writing in children’s books (whether that be short, incidental writing or longer pieces). And data gleaned from summative writing exercises including ‘hot writes’ and feedback from joint moderation exercises.
What should I plan for a guided writing session?
You will need to identify a weak area of writing and draw children’s attention to it. They will need time to practise and rehearse working on this aspect to build confidence and knowledge. Finally, they will need to use the aspect of writing during the guided session. It’s ok to plan creative responses during the session (for example using role play to practice dialogue) before transferring this learning into writing.
Which part of the writing teaching sequence should guided writing be used in?
You can lead a guided writing session at any part of the writing teaching sequence. It could be when children are planning writing, when they are composing their drafts, or after writing when they are editing and proofreading their compositions.
Should everyone get equal time with the teacher?
It’s tempting to think that each child needs an equal share of the teacher’s time. However, it is best to think of guided writing as a targeted pedagogy that allows you to close gaps or to extend learning. Use it flexibly, to meet the needs of the children in your class.
How many children should I have in a guided writing group?
There is no hard and fast rule. You don’t want so many children that you are unable to meet their very specific needs. After all if there were lots of children with the same issue, you’d be as well to address their needs through whole class modelled or shared writing. Therefore, a good benchmark is around six children.
How long should a guided writing session be?
It’s another tricky one. Some aspects of writing (particularly with a smaller group) could be addressed in 10 – 15 minutes. Other times, you may need 30 minutes or even a couple of guided writing sessions to meet the needs of a group of children.
How frequently should I use guided writing?
Guided writing is part of a teaching toolkit that includes whole class modelled and whole class shared writing, so you can use it when these two approaches don’t give you the required precision for a specific group of learners and their needs.
When should I do guided writing?
This is probably the trickiest question to answer. During the English lesson when other children are working independently, or with the guidance of a teaching assistant, can work well. Equally, it can work poorly as the other children may struggle without teacher support. Alternatively, you could use guided writing outside of the English lesson which avoids the obvious classroom management issues. However, in a crowded school day, it can be difficult to find the time.
Is guided writing worth doing?
Yes. It’s a powerful way to work with children, to talk about their writing and help them improve.
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