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KnowledgeBases > The Adolescent Literacy KnowledgeBase > Element 4 > Activity 2 > Task 3: Instill Through Writing

Guideline:

To do well in school, the adolescent student needs to learn to write skillfully. To be a good writer, it is important to practice.  For example, middle and high school students can develop their writing skills through such practice exercises as

  • descriptive writing,
  • contemplative essays,
  • personal letters,
  • journals,
  • laboratory or field notebooks,
  • character sketches, and
  • research papers.

Possessing an awareness of techniques that enhance writing skills may help middle and high school teachers improve adolescent literacy.

Tools ReadWriteThink _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to ReadWriteThink, a partnership between the International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), and the Verizon Foundation. This website includes lessons (by grades, title, or literacy connection), student materials, and resources.

Practical Tips Reading Strategies _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link to the Ohio Resource Center for Mathematics, Science and Reading offers a compilation of reading strategies aimed at the adolescent student. Though focused on the Ohio Academic Content Standards, the basic strategies may be useful to all middle and high school teachers.

References National Writing Project _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to the National Writing Project website. As noted at its website, "The National Writing Project is a professional development network that serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university, and in all subjects."

References Synopsis of Writing Next: Effective Strategies to Improve Writing of Adolescents in Middle and High Schools _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to a Center on Instruction synopsis of Writing Next strategies.

References Writing Next: Effective Strategies to Improve Writing of Adolescents in Middle and High Schools _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link to the Carnegie Corporation of New York's report on Writing Next offers 11 elements found to be effective in helping adolescent students of all ages learn to write well. A synopsis of this document is available through the Center on Instruction.

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