Model the different types of pre-writing activities that students can utilize, such as brainstorming and free-writing. Brainstorming involves writing down key words or concepts in a random matter, while free writing asks the student to write their thoughts down as they would in a journal. Introduce the concepts and show an example of each.
Give the students a topic, and practice each pre-writing technique with the entire group. This could entail having students call out words in order to brainstorm ideas on a particular topic, such as sports or world peace, while the teacher writes each of them down on the board.
Allow the students to practice each activity independently, that way the students can figure out which process works best for them individually.
Ask the student to share which process worked best for them, and which one they would prefer to use.
Have the students practice with the process they feel the most comfortable with.