And the Winner is…

“Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out.” -@weareteachers

The literacy block was a success.  Shared and guided reading went smoothly and it is now time for the independent writing.  The open-ended question that has been posted is thoughtful and layered with Who, What, When, Where, and Why questions. There is even a How question for good measure.

Your wheels are turning as you imagine the creative, insightful brilliance that you are about to receive from your students. The thoughts of the simple inferences that your students will draw have got you tickled pink.

Then you notice that the pencils are not moving- the ideas are stalled as students seem unsure of how to respond to the overall question.

With short-answer and open-ended responses the answers are not just right or wrong.

Students have to support their answers- explain what makes them right and describe the path that led them to their conclusion(s).

Responses are fuller and more complex. It can be a lot for young writers to process.

Throughout both my professional practice and personal experience,  I have found the R.A.C.E. acronym to be a useful and simple way to support students as they practice writing competent and complete responses to open-ended questions.

This simple organizer offers a step-by-step process for students to practice many of the skills that lead to proficiency in reading and writing including paraphrasing, using text-based evidence to enhance an argument or point of view, and making connections (text-to-text, text-to-self, text-to-world).

There is no secret formula for teaching or developing literacy skills in the young readers and writers entrusted to us.

However, it is a phenomenal experience when we are able to provide students with something that can help them to discover the promise and potential within themselves.

Every student is a winner in this R.A.C.E.

Students will do more than earn a trophy- they will become great writers!