How can my student become a strong writer?

Answer 1

What is a "strong" writer? Some would say it is a person who has all the syntax and grammar just right. Others would say that it is a person who can write a story that is completely engrossing. In technical writing, being a strong writer is a person who can write instructions and descriptions that meet the requirements of the readers. A strong writer is someone who knows their audience and gives that audience what they want when they pick up the piece of writing. Did the reader want a mystery novel or a research paper or the manual that came with their camera?

So how does a student become a strong writer? Three things help:

1. Reading as much as possible, and making sure the reading involves many different kinds of material written for many different purposes.
2. Understanding readers and what they expect to get out of reading something.
3. Writing as much as possible, making sure the writing involves many different kinds of writing for many different reader expectations.

Writing is hard, so you have to love doing it. If you don't love doing it, the three tips above probably won't help a whole lot.

Answer 2

As part of the National Writing Project, I share with all parents and students, that students need to write about "their" topics first! I've written a book that addresses the best strategies called- "Secret Strategies to Develop Your Student Into a Strong Writer."

Simply stated you have to build comfort in writing stamina (time spent writing), increase vocabulary and challenge students with interesting "connections" to the curriculum. I look forward to working with students who want to develop into proficient writers.