Help students see how far their writing has come

Bring earlier drafts back into the conversation and celebrate the decisions behind better writing.

Teaching & Learning8 September 20261 min read

Compare a specific skill

Choose two pieces of writing and look for one feature, such as paragraphing or descriptive detail. Ask the student to find an example in each piece. Discuss what changed and what the newer example allows the reader to understand.

Let the writer explain

Invite students to finish the sentence: “I used to … and now I can …”. Ask them to point to evidence. Keep the reflection specific, and use it to choose a manageable next goal rather than treating every later piece as automatically better.

How to give writing feedback students can actually use A practical writing-feedback routine: choose a focus, discuss a worked example, revise a passage and check independent use in a later task.
Build a spelling routine that fits your school day Plan spelling practice around explicit teaching: model a word pattern, inspect written attempts, revisit missed words and check transfer into writing.
Find your next writing lesson in your students’ work Turn a class writing pattern into a focused lesson: inspect the drafts, model one decision, form flexible groups and check a fresh piece of writing.

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Compare a specific skill

Let the writer explain

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Give every writer in your school a boost