Independent Writing

If students are not engaged in (independent) writing every day for a period of 35-40 minutes, beginning in kindergarten, they will have little opportunity to learn to think through the medium of writing.

— Donald Graves

Definition

Independent writing is when students write for uninterrupted periods of time each day.

Teacher Role

Before During After
  • Makes routines and management structures clear to students
  • Establishes a structure for regularly
    reviewing student writing
  • Decides what support the learners need
  • Provides opportunities for students to
    generate ideas for writing
  • Tells students “what we’re doing and why”
  • Confers with student(s)
  • Circulates throughout classroom, interacting
    with key students
  • Holds high student expectations for efficient and independent use of time (35-40 minutes)
    through established classroom routines and procedures
  • Reviews student writing for the purpose of
    application and understanding of model writing session and for future planning

Student Role

Before During After
  • Generates ideas for writing
  • Understands and communicates “what we’re doing and why”
  • Writes! Writes! Writes!
  • Re-reads, confers, revises, edits, publishes as
    appropriate
  • Shares writing with appropriate audience
  • Rereads and plans for next writing session

Rationale

Kids become writers by writing everyday, not by completing exercises
about writing.

— Regie Routman
Writing Essentials

The single biggest effect on achievement growth in writing is giving students
time to really write.

— Richard Allington
Schools That Work

This can’t be said often enough. Students do need time for inspiration,
information and conversation, but most of all, they need time to write.

— Shelley Harwayne
Writing Through Childhood