The ability to write proficiently is critical for school and career success, yet it has been often sidelined in schools. This white paper, co-authored by the National Writing Project and Collaborative Classroom, explores the key characteristics of high-quality, research-based writing instruction including:
- Ample time daily for writing instruction and writing
- A strong, collaborative classroom writing community that supports peer editing and conferring
- Robust connections between reading and writing instruction, honoring the reciprocal relationship
- Writing for authentic purposes and audiences
- The use of diverse mentor texts
- Thoughtful attention to conventions
