The Writing Continuum

Brenda Hill
Mar 16, 2009

Writing is an expected form of communication and students are asked to write for many different reasons from many different perspectives throughout school and across all grade levels. The writing process is a most effective tool for helping students improve written products. Many states and districts have writing benchmarks or required writing products for each grading period. According to the research, instructional practices critical to raising student achievement are: 

~ All types of writing are required with an emphasis on "writing to inform".

~ There is a consistent district (school-wide) teaching of writing.

~ There are consistent (school-wide) assignment patterns for writing. 

High expectations should be established for students and a continuum (K-12) implemented, requiring more of students over time and building from one grade level to the next. There will be times when written products are brief statements (1-2 sentences-summary point writing) or paragraphs about new learning that will not need to go through the writing process. There will be other times when students are expected to write and take the written products through the steps in the writing process. During the process each student develops an understanding of the writer's craft. Steps in the writing process include:

  • Prewriting - generating and organizing thoughts and ideas

  • Drafting - the first attempt in putting ideas on paper

  • Revising - checking organization, flow, or quality

  • Editing - checking grammar and spelling

  • Publishing/sharing - creating a product that it is ready for its final destination or for publishing - sharing completed written product with an audience


Students should begin using the writing process in kindergarten, or, most definitely, by the beginning of first grade. Teachers must explicitly teach and model with think alouds before students are expected to understand, implement, and use this process independently. Multiple opportunities should be given across all grade levels for students to improve writing by consistently using the writing process. Good luck in your future endeavors of teaching writing so ALL students can be successful lifelong learners!!!

The Learning-Focused Literacy Collection provides resources for helping students improve their writing.