Are You Teaching TOO MANY Writing Strategies?
I see it all the time. Teachers are handed a dozen different approaches (OREO, RACE, PEEL, TREE!) and we end up layering new strategies on top of old ones. Students can’t remember which acronym goes with which assignment, and instead of building mastery, they’re juggling confusion.
Let’s simplify. Let’s tighten your writing program so students know it, own it, and grow with it year after year.
The Power of Fewer, Deeper Skills
Imagine if students used the same structure every year with the same core components, but their goal was to go deeper each time.
By middle school, they wouldn’t be relearning how to write. They’d be refining what they already understand.
In my classroom (and in the Structured Writing Workshop), everything fits into four powerful components:
1️⃣ Daily ELA 3-A-Day Warm-Ups
These are the non-negotiable foundation of every day.
Students complete three quick tasks designed to build automaticity and confidence:
Sentence Combining – Turning short, choppy sentences into strong compound and complex ones.
This is directly supported by The Writing Revolution. It trains the brain to “think in sentences.”
Grammar Focus – Practicing one language skill for an entire week (not a new one every day).
Whether it’s Greek and Latin roots or verb moods, the goal is accuracy through repetition.
Quick Write – The “dessert” of the routine — a short, creative scene that builds voice, stamina, and flow. And perhaps most import... CONFIDENCE!
Students write from a picture prompt or funny scenario and practice dialogue, imagery, and tone.
These three warm-ups keep writing daily, playful, and productive.
2️⃣ Weekly Writing Workshop Skills
Once a week, we zoom in on one of the Six SUPER Skills that bring writing to life:
Voice, Hooks, Sentence Complexity, Figurative Language, Vivid Imagery, and Show, Don’t Tell.
Each week’s mini-lesson focuses on one skill in depth, giving students time to experiment with it across genres.
And here’s the key — these aren’t just narrative skills.
- Voice shows up in argument writing through confident tone.
- Hooks make any essay more engaging.
- Sentence complexity improves flow in every genre.
- Figurative language strengthens comparisons in reasoning.
- Vivid imagery clarifies explanations.
- “Show, don’t tell” pushes students to prove their claims with detail.
When students practice these year-round, their essays start sounding authentic, not formulaic.
3️⃣ Weekly CER Practice (Claim, Evidence, Reasoning)
Instead of juggling acronyms like RACE, PEEL, or ACE, I use CER for everything.
It’s simple, consistent, and powerful.
Students learn to:
- Make a claim (their answer or position)
- Support it with evidence
- Explain their reasoning
Once this foundation is solid, we can layer in hooks, transitions, and real-world connections.
CER becomes the heartbeat of every paragraph... from science responses to literary analysis.
4️⃣ Game Day: Essays
Finally… the big game.
Essay writing isn’t where instruction starts. It’s where everything comes together.
By this point, students have been practicing the skills, structures, and stamina needed for success.
When we build up gradually through ELA 3-A-Day, Workshop Skills, and CER, essay day no longer feels intimidating.
We even deconstruct model essays first. Students cut apart sample paragraphs and rebuild them in logical order. Then they create their own rubric predictions based on what they noticed.
It’s active, visual, and empowering. This is how you use constructivist teaching theory in writing!
✨ Final Thought
A structured writing program with these four components:
- Daily ELA 3-A-Day Warm-Ups
- Weekly Workshop Skills
- Weekly CER Practice
- Essay Game Days
…creates consistency, confidence, and long-term growth.
Students know what to expect.
You know exactly what to teach.
Your students don’t just write... they become writers.
📘 Free Resource for Teachers
Ready to simplify your writing instruction and finally see consistent progress? (plus a twinkle of joy in their eyes!)
Take my Free Structured Writing Crash Course... a short, high-impact training that walks you through the 4 core components of a writing program.
Happy writing!
— Robin, The Structured Writing Teacher™
