What is guided writing?

Guided writing is designed to provide targeted support to learners as they develop their writing skills. In this method, a teacher works with a small group of students or even one-on-one to focus on specific writing strategies or areas of improvement. This personalized attention allows the instructor to tailor their feedback and guidance to meet each student's needs, fostering an environment where students can practice and apply new skills in a supportive setting.

Through this approach, students engage in writing that is often based on shared experiences or structured prompts, allowing them to explore and develop their ideas with the teacher's oversight. This technique not only helps in skill development but also builds confidence as students receive immediate feedback and support throughout the writing process.

By contrast, approaches such as writing independently do not provide direct support while students are composing, and methods that are aimed at the whole class or advanced students tend to lack the targeted, individualized instruction that characterizes guided writing.