Writing is more than a subject—it’s the foundation for thinking, learning, and expressing ideas across everything first graders do. Mastery of writing skills at this stage is urgent and essential, setting the tone for their future success in every academic area. In this session, we’ll explore wicked good strategies that integrate writing seamlessly into all parts of your day, from math and science to social studies and beyond.
You’ll learn how to make writing a natural extension of your teaching, empowering students to explain, explore, and create in meaningful ways. With practical tools and approaches, you’ll be able to support struggling writers while pushing all students to take risks and find their voice.
Don’t leave writing to chance—make it a popular and transformative part of your classroom. Together, we’ll create a classroom of first-grade writers who are dancing through writing, and you’ll leave with magical strategies to help them succeed.
With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
Print all upper- and lowercase letters.
Use common, proper, and possessive nouns.
Use singular and plural nouns with matching verbs in basic sentences (e.g., He hops; We hop).
Use frequently occurring adjectives.
Produce and expand complete simple sentences in response to prompts.
Graham, S., & Hebert, M. (2011). Writing to read: A meta-analysis of the impact of writing and writing instruction on reading. Harvard Educational Review, 81(4), 710-744.
Sedita, J. (2019). The Writing Rope: The Strands That Are Woven into Skilled Writing. Keys to Literacy.
Sedita, J. (2022). The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects. Brookes Publishing.