If you teach middle school ELA, you know the struggle.
There are book clubs to run. Novels to finish. Standards to hit. Skills to spiral. And somehow - writing is supposed to fit into all of that.
In a sixth-grade classroom where students are actively reading novels (my students are currently participating in book clubs), the week fills up fast. Reading instruction matters. Literary analysis matters. But writing practice? That matters just as much.
That’s where Writing Wednesday comes in.
How I Build Out My Week
Book clubs are the focus on Mondays and Thursdays. Students:
- Complete focused pre-reading tasks (vocabulary + predictions)
- Read two chapters aloud with their group
- Answer no more than 4 comprehension questions
- Write a RACE written response after reading
Tuesdays and Fridays shift to literary skill work, like:
- Plot diagrams
- Character analysis
- Creative summaries (we love journal entries from the perspective of a character and the 5 W’s news report summary)
- Focused response activities
And Wednesdays?
Wednesdays are for writing.
Why a Dedicated Day for Writing Works
After wrapping up argument essays at the end of January, it became clear that students needed extra support in foundational skills before jumping into a major research project and an informative essay later in the quarter.
Instead of squeezing grammar into random pockets of time, Writing Wednesday creates a predictable structure:
- Teach a focused grammar skill
- Practice the skill
- Immediately apply it in writing
Students aren’t just completing grammar notes and worksheets - they’re using those skills in real sentences right away.
What Writing Wednesday Looks Like (45-min Class Period)
- 3 min: warmup
- 12 min: focused grammar mini-lesson
- 10 min: partner or independent practice of skill
- 15 min: GrooveLit quick write + editing round
- 5 min: closure and clean up
The routine stays consistent, which means students know exactly what to expect. And that consistency builds momentum.
Starting With the Basics
Writing Wednesday begins with strengthening sentence-level skills.
- Subjects and predicates
- Sentences and fragments
- Fixing fragments
- Capital letters and punctuation (anyone else?)
Quick refreshers (often under five minutes of direct review) help students rebuild confidence before tackling more complex grammar concepts.
What’s Coming Next (in my class)
Based on student needs, upcoming focus areas include:
-
Capitalization and punctuation (with peer-editing of printed GrooveLit responses)
-
Independent vs. dependent clauses and subordinating conjunctions
Each skill is immediately practiced in writing, because grammar sticks when students actually use it.
The Best Part: Writing Wednesday is Flexible!
One of the biggest strengths of Writing Wednesday is flexibility.
This structure isn’t tied to a specific curriculum or program. It can shift based on:
- Current writing units
- Assessment data
- Upcoming projects
- Student skill gaps
- Even seasonal energy levels
Some weeks might focus heavily on conventions. Other weeks might lean into paragraph structure, elaboration, or revision strategies.
The routine stays the same, but the content flexes to meet instructional needs.
Why it Matters
Designating one consistent day for writing:
- Builds writing stamina
- Reinforces grammar in context
- Reduces overwhelm before big essays
- Creates a rhythm students can count on
Writing doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing unit. Sometimes, it just needs a consistent space to grow.
And sometimes, all it takes is one intentional day each week.