Margin Notes

Part of a Series on Using Quickwrites in Grades 6–12 Literacy Classrooms

Quickwrites can be powerful tools to help students build or activate the background knowledge they need to comprehend complex texts. When used intentionally, quickwrites support adolescent readers by:

• Explicitly introducing key concepts that will enhance comprehension
• Activating prior knowledge to help students connect new ideas to what they already know
• Encouraging peer-to-peer learning through shared responses and discussion
• Providing formative assessment for teachers to identify gaps in understanding or areas that need additional support

In Practice:

Example: Restorative Justice Quickwrite PPT

In this example, students are preparing to read a central text about a young person engaged in community service. To support comprehension, the teacher uses a quickwrite to introduce the concept of restorative justice.

Before reading the main text, students explore different ways young people may be held accountable after committing a crime. This quickwrite serves as a pre-reading activity and sets the stage for deeper engagement and understanding.

As you review this quickwrite, consider:

• How does the shared text help build essential background knowledge?
• In what ways do the response prompts invite students to connect personally or critically?
• How does sharing responses as a class deepen understanding and create an entry point into the central text?