How to Help Kids Write (Implementing a Writing Office)

Written by Holly (Teach Starter)

Updated 3 years ago | 3 min read

Are you feeling like your students aren’t getting the most out of their writing sessions in the classroom? Looking for fun ways to help kids write in the classroom environment? A mini writing office may just be the answer!

A mini writing office is an interactive folder full of helpful writing resources you would normally display on a classroom display.

Use a mini writing office to develop your students writing skills.

Develop Kids Writing Skills With a Mini Writing Office

Sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, grammar, text structure, remember to use adjectives, don’t forget paragraphs… there is always so much a student must try to remember and implement in their writing. It’s no wonder so many kids struggle with writer’s block. If we put ourselves in our student’s shoes for a second and imagine being faced with a blank piece of paper and a list of things to remember, it’s no wonder many students feel overwhelmed!

The ability to sit down one-on-one with each student and have a writing conference would be the holy grail of teaching, right? The reality of being able to do this in a classroom full of thirty-something students every single writing session is very slim. As teachers, we also need to think about setting our students up for success when it comes to writing. Hence, helping them to feel more independent and confident in their own writing abilities.

Introducing an individualised student writing office, set up for differentiation success!

How to Create a Mini Writing Office

There’s not much to it at all. Purchase a packet of bright, vibrant manilla folders and find a little time to download, print and stick the mini writing office together (time being the operative word)! I don’t have time to do this for each and every student – I hear you say! Yes, it is a little time-consuming to set up – but the benefits are undeniable. You are in the driver’s seat and can decide what is going to work best for you and your students.

Here are some alternatives to setting up a folder for each and every student:

Set up text-type specific folders to be shared between your students.
Set up a mini writing office for your lower ability and higher ability students.
Use the writing office at a writing station during literacy groups (only 6-8 offices required)

Read how a mini writing office can help you develop your students writing skills

What Resources to Use for a Mini Writing Office

The beauty of creating a mini writing office is that you can pick and choose what resources you feel your students would benefit from having right in front of them while they are writing.

In our example of a writing office, we have included a variety of different resources that would help a student currently focusing on a narrative text.

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Writing checklists:

Check out our printable writing checklists that would work in a writing office:

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