TRY THIS TOMORROW: QUICKWRITES TO PREPARE FOR A UNIT OF WRITING
Part of a Series on Using Quickwrites in Grades 6–12 Literacy Classrooms
Before students begin a new writing unit, they need time and space to generate ideas without pressure. That’s where quickwrites come in.
Quickwrites used before a unit of writing remove the stress of having to brainstorm a “perfect” idea right away. Instead, students explore diverse perspectives, reflect on experiences, and try out multiple possibilities in a low-stakes way with inspiration from shared text.
To generate a rich collection of possible writing ideas, incorporate a range of:
- Forms: poetry, prose, blogs, videos, infographics, images, audio
- Genres: help students see where this style of writing exists outside the classroom
- Topics: offer relevance to a wide range of student interests and identities
- Angles: provide different ways to approach a subject or style of writing
This variety ensures that all students find at least one entry point that resonates with them.
In Practice:
The following quickwrite series is designed to have students select a person to research for a non-fictional, informational writing piece.
You will notice they encourage ideas through video, image, prose, blogs and poetry.
You will also notice that it is encouraging students to consider athletes, influencers, hometown heroes, personal relationships and quiet influences in their brainstorming.
Quickwrites: Quickwrites to Brainstorm Ideas
Try it out!
- Decide the purpose for your students gathering ideas
- Search for texts in a variety of forms and topics that align with that purpose. You know the students in your room. Find texts that match those individual interests.
- Write invitations to respond.