Shared Writing

There is more to literacy than just being an adequate reader. Learning to be an effective writer is equally important in the process of becoming a literate human being. One strategy that teachers can implement in their classrooms to enhance students' writing abilities is called "shared writing". In this strategy, the teacher and students work collaboratively to construct a text with a specific purpose. Some of these goals may include: retelling a read aloud, original stories or poems, book reviews, reflective journal entries, content area writing, class rules and the morning message, and many other purposes. According to the textbook "The Joy of Children's Literature", the goal of writing needs to be clearly conveyed to the class prior to the commencement of the activity. When children begin articulating their ideas and thoughts, the teacher will use a transparency or chart paper to paraphrase or expand upon their thinking, modeling how written language should look and sound. This method is beneficial for all students, including those who's first language is not English and those with different levels of ability. "These co-constructed bilingual texts are motivating, and students can read them easily. The familiar texts can be revisited multiple times to focus on phonics, word work, fluency, and other reading skills" (Johnson, 401). Clearly, shared writing is an excellent writing technique for teachers to incorporate in their classrooms.