How to Add Differentiation into Elementary School Writing

Do you find it hard to teach students writing? Do you expect students to know how to write a paragraph when they enter your classroom? Have you been told to differentiate for students, but you’re not sure how to do it? LOOK NO FURTHER!

For years I taught 3rd grade. Each year the students came to us knowing less and less about how to write proper sentences. When I’d started my first year in 3rd grade, we were able to work with the students on writing multiple paragraphs. After several years, we had to work on teaching them how to write a complete sentence. I knew I had to change the way I taught writing, so I decided to focus on teaching students how to write a good 5 sentence paragraph.

But what do you do if some students can write a paragraph and others can’t? You differentiate! At first, all students will write on the same topic, but you can differentiate how they get to the final draft. Some students will need sentence frames to help organize their five sentences. Others will get to the point where they can organize their sentences themselves. They also get to practice how to vary the beginning of their sentences. Using graphic organizers can help with all of this.

Once your good writers have mastered the good 5 sentence paragraph, then you could have them add a second paragraph. Everyone still has the same topic, but some students can now take one of their details and expand on it in a second paragraph.

If you’d like to see my EIGHT steps to helping students write a good paragraph, check out my resource HERE!

Practicing paragraph writing can be fun throughout the whole school year. Keep students engaged in the writing process all year with several topics. Introducing holiday-themed writing assignments is one way to help with this. This bundle includes 13 different resources, including the one above.  Click HERE to get it!

It includes ideas for differentiation and extensions leading to more than one paragraph. This is ideal for those needing a challenge, or if you teach older students. The topics for the basic 5 sentence paragraph products are: Back to School, Animals, Birthday, Superhero, and My Hero.

The holiday related paragraph writing resources include: How to Pick the Perfect Pumpkin, Halloween Spooky Story, Thanksgiving ~ What Are You Thankful For?, Holiday Traditions, and St. Patrick’s Day.

Later in the school year would be a perfect time to introduce students to a research report. I’ve included a research report on an animal. The outlines provided will help students create 3 paragraphs!

For grading purposes, I’ve included How to Create a Writing Rubric.

Everything I’ve mentioned above is about writing paragraphs. What if your students are still struggling with the basics of grammar and sentence structure? I’ve put together some resources that will help students get this practice all year.

This bundle comes with 17 resources! But, don’t get overwhelmed. Several of them are just 2-3 pages that work well for a quick review or assessment. However, one of these resources is my favorite. It’s a 36 week spiral review that’s perfect for consistent practice. There are even some challenge activities that work for… you guessed it – DIFFERENTIATION! If you’d like to know more, click below.

Have you ever thought about using a color by code activity for grammar? Get students practicing their parts of speech ALL YEAR with these fun activities. Oh, did I mention they’re holiday/seasonal-themed?! These can help you fill in those crazy days leading up to a holiday or break. Put them out at centers, or have them available for early finishers!

Teaching writing consistently during the whole year is what will help students improve on their writing skills. And with the resources/activities above, it can be done for you. All you have to do is print, copy, and put aside some writing time in your lesson plans.

I always love having students put together a writing portfolio at the end of the year. I keep all of their writing assignments, and in the last weeks of school the students organize all of their pieces, in order. This allows them, and their parents, to see just how far they’ve come with their writing!