Graphic organizers are a key tool in teaching struggling writers how to organize their ideas in writing. Examples of graphic organizers include four-box charts, cluster clouds, story maps, timelines, inverted pyramids, sequence charts and mind maps. These organizers typically start with students writing one or two words in a graphic element and then slowly building on it by adding more words according to the picture set up in the organizer. Students can then take these collections of words and transfer them to a narrative in a way that is less painful than starting with a blank sheet of paper.
Teachers can intervene to develop writing fluency among their students by providing daily writing prompts. These prompts can have students write a single paragraph or as much as 300 words. Writing prompts can take the form of a question or give a statement for students to respond to. Some teachers will even make writing prompts interdisciplinary by having students write their feelings about a passage of music, a painting or an article from the day's newspaper. Other prompts can be highly imaginative such as asking students to create a new ice cream flavor or name a new planet. Students can be required to keep a writing journal or simply use a fresh sheet of paper each day.
For some students, especially those with dysgraphia or dyslexia, the actual forming of letters is a challenge. They may draw letters and numbers backward or have difficulty with any assignment that requires them to physically write out information. Highly effective interventions include letting students first dictate what they need to write into a recorder, letting students dictate to teachers, and providing computer keyboards and teaching students to type. These interventions can reduce the frustrations and help them then transcribe their work from a recording to paper.
Teaching proofreading skills can help struggling writers improve their skills, especially if they are given the opportunity to proofread other people's work and have to give an explanation for why they make the changes that they make. Proofreading interventions can include giving students a checklist of things to look for, focusing on one area of proofreading at a time or providing a memory aid for students. One proofreading memory aid that teachers use is SCOPE: spelling, capitalization, order of words, punctuation and expression of complete thoughts.