Writing Stamina Goals: Support Students with Write About Data

We learn to write by writing on a daily basis. 

-Ralph Fletcher

When students write MORE, they have more opportunities to develop an identity as a writer and improve their writing. For the same research-based reasons you surround your students with opportunities to do more reading, it is imperative to support their daily writing with engaging and focused time to write.

Write About provides quick access to data for how much students are writing.

This evidence can be used by all stakeholders– students, teachers, parents, and administrators– to monitor and celebrate student growth as a writer.

Immediately from the student Home page, students see a monthly check-in:

• Have students self-select, monitor, and adjust word count goals that grow month over month towards a yearly grand total!
• Balance conversations about the volume of writing with the quality of writing. They both matter!

Productivity is the foundation of anyone's skill as a reader or writer. 

-Nancie Atwell

As students are writing, they see their word count grow:

• Sometimes, setting a minimum word count for a writing purpose may be appropriate. Use this "assigned" volume carefully as you challenge and scaffold. When students take ownership of their own word counts, the results are always better than simply "because the teacher said so."
• The ideal length of a Post will, of course, vary depending on each writing purpose and each writer.

Low-stakes writing is important because it builds muscles that strengthen other kinds of writing. 

-Ralph Fletcher

Teachers and School leaders can quickly filter and view writing stamina data either by class or by student.

Learn more about the School features that can support your Community of Writers!

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