Which writing skills require not only teaching within the context of writing workshop but also more explicit teaching?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Spelling and handwriting need to be explicitly taught. When children begin to write, it is important that they be encouraged to use what they know about words and their sounds to write their pieces. Becoming a competent speller is a developmental journey, with all children progressing through five stages. At each stage, children need to be provided with spelling instruction; formal spelling instruction—being assigned particular words to study each week—will begin when the child reaches the fourth stage. Some of the words the students will study will be selected from their writing and reading. The teacher will add some words that share the same spelling pattern (e.g., if a particular student needs to learn to spell cough, rough and tough might also be added to the week's spelling list). There will be spelling tests on Friday for students who receive formal spelling instruction. There is some evidence that spelling instruction embedded in writing workshop and taught directly yields greater gains in spelling performance than either one alone. This is true for students who have special needs and those who do not. This is also true for nonnative English language speakers.