Some kids have the natural ability to sit down, put pen to paper, and write. Their end result is usually an effective rough draft that only requires minimal revising. But there are some children who look at a writing assignment and a blank sheet of paper and have no idea where to even start.
Using a List for Writing
Even something as simple as making a list can help children overcome their fears of writing. Lists are probably the easiest of all planning strategies. The writing topic should be placed at the top of the paper. Children will then write as many things as possible about the topic, even if the ideas sound ridiculous or strange. The more ideas the better. Once all ideas have been exhausted, kids will need to go back and circle or highlight the ones they find most interesting. They will then move from the "I don't know what to write" phase to the "I really do know something about the topic" phase.
Drawing Ideas for Writing
For younger children, drawing their ideas may be an easier way to plan. They can use a single picture or a series of pictures, like they would see in comic strips. If they have to write a "how to" paper, have them visualize that process and draw out every step. If they have a narrative to write on their favorite vacation, make sure their picture includes the 5 Ws: who, what, when, where, and why. Who was on vacation? What were they doing? When did it happen? Where did they go? Why was it fun? The more details the better. These pictures can then form the basis for their story.
Graphic Organizers for Writing
Graphic organizers are useful for any age and encourage higher level thinking skills. Because of the limited space, children have to select the most important information to include in the organizers. Diagrams, maps, clusters, and charts can be used for all types of writing and make it easier for children to write a final draft. Organizers can easily be drawn onto paper or printed out for use.
Outline for Writing
For students in middle and high school, an outline may be the best way to plan out their writing. By organizing ideas into main points and supporting details, students will be able to identify all of the pertinent information for their paper. A bare bones outline may include three main parts: introduction, body, and conclusion. A more advanced outline may divide the body into main ideas or arguments and their supporting details. If a student completes the outline and sees that parts are missing, it is easy to go back and add in that information.
Whatever method is used, planning will provide students with a road map for their writing. Rather than staring at an assignment with no clear direction, they will soon see there is an end in sight.
Related article: Writing with Kids
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