Evidence-based recommendations for teaching writing.

We present 11 evidence-based practices for teaching writing to students. These include recommendations for teaching writing to younger students (aged 5–11) and older students (aged 6–18). The recommendations are based on findings from close to 1000 investigations. The proposed recommendations are (1) students need to write, but writing is not enough; (2) students need to be supported as they write; (3) foundational writing skills (handwriting, spelling, grammar and sentence construction) need to be taught; (4) students become better writers when strategies for planning, revising and editing are taught; (5) teaching creativity, critical thinking and imagery can enhances writing; (6) teach students how to write summaries; (7) enhance students' knowledge about writing; (8) use twenty-first century writing tools in the classroom; (9) have students write across the curriculum; (10) connect reading and writing instruction and (11) creative a motivating writing environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]