Teach the writing process one step at a time, including pre-writing, writing, editing, revising and publishing. Prepare short lessons, including specific examples of each step, then give students time to practice. Show students how to use writing tools during a pre-writing lesson, such as graphic organizers or story maps. Break students into small groups for editing and allow them to share a piece they're working on and get feedback from others.
Encourage students to show, rather than tell. Use picture books to give specific examples of authors who do this well. Appropriate books include, "So Far From the Sea," by Eve Bunting or "The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales," by Jon Scieszka. Ask students to revisit a piece they're working on and edit for ideas by changing a sentence or paragraph that "tells" into one that "shows."
Allow freedom in topic choice. Students will feel greater ownership of their work when topics are self-chosen. If the goal is to teach students to write a descriptive paragraph, let them choose the topic.
Avoid grading every assignment. Let students keep a writing journal containing ongoing pieces where they can work on stories, poems, letters or paragraphs. Choose one or two pieces to grade each week or month. This takes pressure off the students and allows them to write freely and improve skills. Teach students that writing takes practice like any other skill -- the more you write, the better you get.
Teach mechanics such as capitalization, punctuation and sentence structure through separate mini-lessons and practice sessions. Avoid getting hung up on these errors when teaching young students to write narratives or paragraphs. Students can become frustrated or feel writing is too hard when faced with a long list of rules. Focus on the content of the piece until it's time to publish, then hold conferences with small groups or individuals to perfect mechanics.
Give opportunities for students to share their work. Young students may need practice time and should read the piece to an adult before presenting in front of a group. Reluctant students might start by sharing with a small group or having someone else read their piece. Celebrate students' accomplishments by praising their work, displaying it in the classroom or asking for positive feedback from the audience.