How to Improve Writing in Middle School: 5 Easy Steps

Writing craft is a place where young people can begin to see themselves as authors and practice sharing their voices with the world, and middle school is ideal for embracing creativity in the writing process. 

We all have stories to share, and the effort of learning how to express our ideas clearly is well worth the investment of time. With the connected nature of reading and writing, it is even more beneficial to include opportunities for children to share their thinking on paper. The practices of reading and writing are deeply connected.

This post outlines some tips for middle school writing activities.

Writing Process in Middle School

It is essential to note that quality writing does not just happen in the first draft. Strong compositions take time, effort, revision, and patience. Anne Lamott centers this idea in her TED Talk, “12 Truths I Learned from Life and Writing” and in her book Bird by Bird. Encourage the freedom to make mistakes and revise.

The myth of the magical page can hinder young writers from making progress if they do not feel that their ideas match up to what they expect to appear on the page, and the courage to begin that first line sometimes begins with the knowledge that perfection does not have to be present immediately. Start with one line, then add a bit more. What does your reader now know and what do they need to know? Short nonfiction writing can activate and inspire knowledge as a middle school activity.

Like all art, strong writing takes time and is, indeed, a process.

Embrace the Creative

It is worth noting that the essay in expository and persuasive format is a necessary ingredient for middle school students to master. Moving from summary to analysis can be a challenge for young writers, and practice combined with quality feedback can help children move to new areas in writing. 

Middle school writing prompts can include imagining life from the perspective of a cherished object, including certain vocabulary for challenges, and writing in different forms of prose and poetry.

At the same time, the creative nature of writing lends itself to several approaches. Even with essay responses, creativity can be present and can infuse composing with a sense of fun and energy. Ekphrastic responses and poetic exploration, including the writing moves that are found in popular songs and stories, can be encouraging.

To be effective in all explaining, analyzing, and arguing in writing, middle school writers can continue to maintain creative expression, as well.

Read Widely – and For Fun

Yes, writing is work. Like all art, however, it can also be playful and fun. Noticing the writing moves of favorite writers is like studying the plays that talented athletes display or learning how to stitch fine works from a master of their craft.

What is the perfect material to read? Simple: The work that we are most drawn to and interested in. That could be romance, adventure, comics, books based on media characters, fairy tales, and more. The key is to read a lot and read widely as much as possible. Celebrate the written word, curate words and writing moves that bring joy, and note all of these over and over.

Then, encourage your child to try them out in their writing.

Attend to Grammar, But Also Ideas

With the idea of perfection and the pristine draft in mind, young writers can be encouraged by placing grammar in its proper place – namely, as a part of the presentation of writing. Strong grammar is helpful in the writing process and children should focus on making sure their writing appropriately fits the intended audience.

Strong grammar is largely in service of other parts of the writing – conveying ideas with clarity, making sure that an audience is identified, and conforming to expectations of particular writing modes. One need not possess a complete and exhaustive knowledge of grammar to engage in writing.

What is more important at the outset is having the courage and welcome space to share ideas – and then the details can be worked out as young writers grow.

Write (and Compose) Relevantly

Finally, writing can include a range of creating and responding, including composing. Speech to text functions and assistive technologies are wonderful for children who find reading and writing difficult, and sometimes the ability to generate an idea through art and illustration can then lead to finding the words that best fit a composition.

When writing, connecting topics and focus for writing to relevant and authentic purpose can be a foundational step. If a child is interested in a particular topic, writing can be an ideal way to practice and gain experience with language; conversely, if a child wants to know more about a topic, the reciprocal relationship holds true.

Development through the middle school years is characterized by a growing awareness of global issues – the idea that we should practice thinking from the perspectives of those around us. The capacity for abstract thinking is growing during this phase of life, as well.

Why not engage writers with ways to think about shaping the world or engaging with trending conversations?

Writing is, after all, a miracle of the human species and is our chance to share what is most important and unique about our lives with audiences within immediate and long-range reach. Families and youth can grow and keep growing as writers and composers as they engage in middle school writing activities.