One of my favorite parts of being an English teacher is seeing maturing writers emerge. So often, student writing from the beginning to end of the year is a testament to student growth and development.
At the middle school level, reading and writing are often two seperate classes. While teaching reading may come with less grading, I’d have to choose to be a writing teacher. There is little more rewarding than seeing students maturing as writers.
Even when rubrics and scores are unclear, these a 9 happy signs of maturing writers.
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Brainstorming and Maturing Writers
Brainstorming is the start of the writing process. It is also one of the earliest places to see evidence of maturing writers.
Oftentimes, teachers provide students with specific brainstorming strategies: mind maps, graphic organizers, exemplars, etc. While it is important to provide students with these tools, maturing writers will start to work against them. Instead of relying on you to provide brainstorming strategies, maturing writers will internalize and personalize their brainstorming needs.
To ensure that students are still brainstorming (even if they are not using the exact tools you provide), teachers can give students credit for evidence of brainstorming, much like when math teachers ask students to “show their work.”
Providing a brainstorming menu instead of requiring a specific brainstorming tool is another way to support students as maturing writers. I’ve written a lot about brainstorming strategies before, so check out tools for How to Avoid the Brainstorming Trap.
Encouraging Maturing Writers
One way to encourage maturing writers is to adjust scaffolding. For example, at the beginning of the year, students may receive an outline side-by-side with an example. As the year progresses, only parts of the example remain. By Spring Break, students see thought stems instead of a full example. And at the end of the year, students see only a graphic organizer. In fact, becoming less reliant on thinking stems is one clear sign of maturing writers.
Additionally, high expectations are another way to encourage maturing writers. For example, I always ask students to smoothly embed evidence and maintain that standard even when it is difficult. Simply choosing a quality quote is not enough; the quote must also appear smoothly. Similarly, maturing writers will also become more adept at interpreting evidence. Their analysis will become more insightful, specific, and original. One way to maintain and communicate high expectations is through the use of consistent rubrics.
Students also show they are maturing writers when they more carefully select technology to support their work. A mature writer knows what technology tools will support them. Less mature writers spend significant amounts of time trying to find a “one-size suits all” technology solution. One of my favorite tech tools to support student writing helps them with revisions.
Easy-to-Spot Signs of Maturing Writers
When students and I discuss grammar, I often say, “No one has picked up a paper because of good grammar. No one sits back and says, ‘Man, that grammar was everything!’ However, plenty of people put down a paper because the grammar was so terrible it became distracting or confusing.”
Maturing writers understand the impact of grammar. They appreciate that making silly mistakes harms their credibility. Furthermore, maturing writers are able to make grammar choices that support their goals. They distinguish between times when semicolons are preferable to colons and when to upgrade a simple list to a complex list.
Likewise, maturing writers are able to use punctuation to modulate their tone. They also appreciate shades of irony and connotative meaning.
Similarly, maturing writers take risks with syntax. They are comfortable experimenting with sentence structure. They also make engaging and powerful word choices.
Here are some tools that can support students in grammar, syntax, and word choice:
- Parallelism Game
- Tone Game and Exit Tickets
- Free Sentence Structure Task Cards
- Active and Passive Voice Card Sort
- How to Use a Semicolon Ted-Ed Listening Guide
Intangible Metrics
There are some signs of maturing writers that you never assess or score. Nevertheless, these are important signs that students are maturing as writers:
- First, students are better at asking for help. They don’t just simply say, “I’m confused.” Instead, they indicate a specific skill or area in which they need guidance.
- Second, they are better at assessing their own strengths and struggles. They are aware of places where they need additional support and places where they are proficient.
- Next, they take accountability when their writing does not turn out quite right. They reflect, revise, and resubmit. They are excited to see feedback because they are ready to grow.
- Finally, mature writers are also good at providing feedback to their peers. The best way to learn is to teach, and mature writers are happy to help others grow. To facilitate this kind of feedback, I love these peer revision tickets.
