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