QUICK WRITES

A WRITING STRATEGY TO USE WITH ANY GRADE

Jacqui DornbrackSchools Development Unit (UCT)

So, what is a Quick Write

• Quick, non-stop writing• Between 5-15 min max

Purpose of a quick write

• To provide learners (and teachers) with an opportunity to write on something that is meaningful to them

• To associate writing with meaning and enjoyment

• To have a real purpose and a real audience for your writing

• To have opportunities to practice writing

Make a list of ideas

• Friendship• Politics• Adventure• Coffee• Hikes• Black

Let’s do a quick write

• Choose one of those topics and tell a partner about it

• Start the quick write: – Write the entire time– Write quickly without letting the critic in you

censor you– Relax, enjoy and have fun

When should you do a QW

• EVERYDAY– At the beginning of the day– At the end of the day– Between activities– Part of regular reading and writing

HABIT MAKES WRITING EASY

‘The daily practice of craft sharpens the writer’s vision and tunes the writer’s voice’ Murray

What should students write about?

• Build on students’ personal and cultural life experiences– Oral family stories– Music and memories– Tiny moments– A model text– Sketches, photos, maps– An aural text

Students can write in:

• Daily writing notebooks• Choice journals• Content subject journals• Computer• Google docs• Blog sites

Re-reading quick writes

• This is an essential and often overlooked part of teaching writing

• Rereading can improve:– Focus and topic– Vocabulary– Organisation– Purpose

Reread your writing

• Find a sentence that surprises you or one you like and underline it

• Find 3 words you like. Encircle them• Read your text aloud to a partner (read, do

not summarise it)

Dive back in…

• Take you best sentence and move it to the beginning

• Write your 3 words on top of the page• Try to use the three words again or come up

with better words• Write again about your topic: try to go deeper

or wherever it takes you

Share your writing

• DO NOT JUDGE• JUST LISTEN

Other ways to reread

• Collect verbs, adjectives…• Cross out points that don’t stay on the topic• Look for sequencing or natural order• Add a metaphor or simile• Join sentences or restructure them

Quick Writes

• It’s not about writing perfectly. It’s about developing fluency, voice and a focus

• Do not require students to edit or find mistakes when writing

Purpose and Audience

Ask students what they would like to do with their writing– What is your wish for this piece?– Who do you think would want to read it?– What would you want to read about this?– What can I do to help you to write this into

something bigger and longer?

For younger writers• Draw a picture first• Let students dictate words• Write word list on top of the page• Let students use word bank to generate

thoughts• Accept spelling & • Punctuation attempts

How will you use quick writes?

• Share with a partner when and how you could use quick writes in your classroom