Writing partners can be an important source of inspiration and support for your kids. It’s the rare kid who truly wants to work alone all the time. Writing requires an audience, someone to give a response, someone to read your work.
There’s no need to wait to get writing partners going. There are no “prerequisites” to being a writing partner, no such thing as “not ready.” Kids can start out by simply sharing and talking with whomever they already sit next to, and later you can assign formal, longer-lasting partnerships.
In case you haven’t started up writing partners, here are some of my favorite lessons for getting partnerships up and running.
1. Start simple by teaching active listening. Teach kids to put one piece of writing in the middle. Teach them both to hold the edges of the paper ( I know it seems silly, but it makes a HUGE difference). Teach them that they both have a job. The writer needs to read their work with their best, most expressive, storytelling voice. The listener needs to listen for the big important things that are happening. The listener can retell the story back to the writer to make sure that it’s all making sense.
2. Teach kids a few simple prompts kids can say to their partner to compliment the writing. “I noticed that you…” “Your story makes me picture…” and “Your story made me feel…” are some great prompts to start with. Model a growth mindset and encourage kids to recognize and name hard work when they see it, rather than praising each other for talent or natural ability. Kids can use your writing strategies charts to get ideas for supportive compliments.
3. Teach kids a few simple prompts for helping their partner improve the writing. “Say more about that…” “What did you really mean?” “Can you explain that?” are good starters. Kids can use a simple checklist or chart to get ideas for helpful suggestions to give.
4. Teach kids that they can tell their story aloud to their partner to rehearse it. Telling the story 2-3 times before you start sketching/writing is a GREAT strategy no matter how young or old.
5. Teach kids to ask each other questions when they are stuck or they aren’t sure what to do. “Can you help me?” “I’m confused.” “What can I do now?” are questions that kids can ask each other. Sometimes they’re afraid to ask their partner until you explicitly teach it.
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 
Love this! Will be using this for Writer’s Workshop with my 1st graders starting Monday. Thank you so much! 🙂
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Love this! Will be incorporating these ideas into Writer’s Workshop with my 1st graders. Thank you so much! 🙂
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Never thought of #4! I can imagine the things they notice about their own writing as they rehearse it. Can’t wait to add these ideas in this week!
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This post was very timely. My colleagues and I are using more long term writing partners for the first time. These five lessons are a great starting point to help partners make the most out of the experience.
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I remember teaching my students how to work as writing partners. My gosh, it’s so hard. Thanks for breaking down the process. This is quite useful to anyone who is doing it for the first time or needs a different way of getting partnerships launched.
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I love this Beth! You had me at active listening – what an important skill to teach, for life and always. I can see how having them both hold the page would make a huge difference, a physical representation of their shared responsibility.
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