Loving To Write Informational Pieces

My kids LOVE to write. When I say love, I mean love. The usual “come to the carpet for Writing Workshop” is usually met with groans, not because it’s time for writing, but because my kids just want to write. They know it’s time for a mini-lesson, and they just want to write. Narrative writing, informational writing, opinion writing… they love it all!

I don’t tell you this to brag or to pat myself on the back. I am blessed to have kids who love to write. And I still have students who struggle and need extra supports to write. But they LOVE to spend time jotting down new notes and stories in their journals. I want to share my successes with you so that you can be successful too!

Here are some simple tips to get them writing and LOVING to write!

TIP #1: Allow students to bring in their own notebooks. I love to write, and I love to pick out a fun new journal that I love when I run out of room in my journal. Because I get to pick a journal that brings joy for me, I am able to write more (and better) because I love my journal. For students who don’t (or can’t) bring their own notebook or journal, I buy some cheap composition notebooks and then give the students time to craft. A little construction paper, glue, and buttons come together to make a design kids can stand behind.

TIP #2: Let them pick their own topics. In my class, we call this our Passion Topic(s). Informational text can be tough, and I am well aware that eventually, students will have to learn to write about things they don’t have a choice on. However, to help build foundational skills in my 4th grade classroom, having choice in a topic is critical to getting my students loving my writing block. I do set parameters (for example, we write historical informational texts, and I let them choose anything that has some connection to Ohio). Even a choice between three different topics is still a choice!

TIP #3: Write in color. I was guilty of saying that my students had to write using pencil only, as it was “the academic way”. However, pens are fun (hello flair pens!) and make writing awesome. Check out this blog post for more information on this.

With just a few minor tweaks, you can easily turn writing workshop – especially your informational text unit – into something amazing!

Check out these other great ideas to spark a love of learning in your upper elementary students!