Writing Tip #5 (of 9): Experience Success by Writing Short

Educators as Writers Series

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As a 5th and 6th grade teacher, I shared a simple expectation at the beginning of the school year: whatever we wrote, it could not be more than one page long.

The kids thought they were getting away with something. I can still hear the very 6th grade remark from one of my students: “Oh, I’ll TRY not to write too much.”

After a few writing sessions, many realized that one page was too limiting. “I am not done yet!” After a few weeks or so, I finally “gave in” and let them write more.

I was not messing with my students; I wanted them to experience success as writers from the beginning. By setting them up with a streak of success – a completed writing piece at each sitting – th…