4 Tips for Teaching 2nd Grade Writing

Teaching writing at the second grade level is a task that requires patience and appropriate strategies. While it might seem easy to write at a second grade level, students are still learning the basic skills required to form words, sentences and paragraphs. Below are a few tricks teachers can use to help these students learn to write.

Review the basics

Early in the year, teachers should review the lessons learned in first grade and provide lessons in pre-writing skills. Those skills are the key to developing paragraphs, essays and stories. Second grade students then should be ready to start exploring the differences in writing styles and developing an awareness of their audience.

Start at the beginning

Southwood Elementary School teacher Mrs. Pennino requires her students to learn beginning hooks to get started in writing. By starting from the hook and working on developing the story or essay from that point, students are learning the basics of outlining and developing ideas.

The hook is the beginning and teachers need to explore that point before moving into developing a paragraph from that first sentence. It helps develop an awareness of the audience and teaches students that they should always start at the beginning and work out from the points they hope to make.

Have students write in a journal

Student journals are an effective teaching tool that allows students to practice the writing skills as they learn. A dialogue journal helps students learn to put their thoughts into sentences and writing. Although teachers cannot write a dialogue journal with every student each day, having students spend a short time writing in a journal about different topics will help develop the same skills.

A daily journal allows teachers to evaluate student growth and performance. It also allows teachers to catch weaknesses early and work on a plan to improve the writing skills before students become confused.

Use worksheets in the classroom

In early education, worksheets are a powerful learning tool that teachers can use to help students learn new ideas, lessons and information.

Worksheets are also useful for the practice students obtain while working on questions or problems. The questions on the worksheets help students develop a complete understanding of conjunctions, verbs, nouns, transition words and similar skills that are required for effective writing.

Worksheets can help students learn different skills based on their grade level, writing abilities and the lessons that teachers are providing. They offer students a chance to work through ideas before they apply those ideas in writing assignments.

Although teachers have a wide range of activities, tools and options available, it is the practice and style of teaching that helps improve student performance. By providing a wide range of opportunities to practice, teachers are allowing students to develop effective writing skills.