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Top Tips for Prompting Reluctant Writers
2 min readApr 30, 2018
- First and foremost there must be a relationship between the teacher and the student. Some students just need to believe that they can write or that they have something interesting to say.
- Find something that interests that student and hook on to it.
- I tell the students all the time, “I can help you be a better writer but you have to write something. I cannot help a blank page.”
- We can all be writers with a lowercase W.
- Let them talk…and don’t worry about getting all the words on the paper all the time. If they are really reluctant, scribe for them.
- Let them type on the computer instead of writing it out.
- Some students always need a graphic organizer…let them use one…even if it is just a list. Sharing with a friend may be an option as well. Timelines are also an option.
- Explain the standardized test situation — they are judged, we are judged…it is how it is…place the importance on the task.
- Have the students set some goals for writing — short term and long term.
- CHOICE is very important! Topic, writing medium, paper, place to write, etc.
- Give them specific academic feedback on how they are doing and try to stick to behaviors at first you are trying…
