English and Writing Strategies (Grades 4-Postsecondary)
We teach students strategies that assist with every phase of the writing process.
We teach the academic language skills and strategies students require for academic success, customized for each student’s grade and curriculum level.
In the elementary grades, our students learn how to write complete sentences and paragraphs, the correct use of punctuation, research-informed writing strategies, and tactics for revising and editing their work. We help them understand the responsible use of artificial intelligence and how to implement assistive technology. We also provide help in navigating writing assignments connected to the curriculum.
In high school and postsecondary environments, we show students how to develop a thesis statement, incorporate tools to edit and strengthen their writing, and how to understand different text forms. Students learn how to plan, organize, write, and revise academic papers, cite and reference sources using various styles (i.e. APA, MLA, Chicago), and cultivate critical thinking skills.
Our program helps students learn to execute their academic writing assignments effectively.
We help students acquire and improve their academic writing skills, think critically, present complex ideas logically, and boost their creativity and confidence.
These skills serve students while they are in school and beyond graduation, when the student is managing the demands of the workplace and a career. Our program is tailored to students who want to enhance their writing skills as well as those who require remediation.
Evidence-based research shows that struggling writers can improve their skills dramatically if they receive the detailed, explicit instruction they need (Graham & Harris, 2005).
Academic Writing Strategies teaches students strategies that assist with every phase of the writing process, from brainstorming and goal setting to proofreading and revision—strategies that have been researched and proven to work with students at all levels, and especially those who are challenged by learning disabilities. Together, the student and tutor will identify the greatest roadblocks to the student’s writing and choose the writing strategies that will best address their challenges. Our strategies are evidence-based and introduced gradually as the student demonstrates understanding.
Reasons for Roadblocks
Writing requires a high level of abstraction, elaboration, and reflection. Not all struggling writers face the same challenges, and so student support must be individualized. Other students simply feel disconnected from the assignment. They may feel it is not relevant to them or they may not have the background knowledge or expertise to write on a required topic.
Students who struggle with writing may be having difficulty with:
- Decoding
- Spelling
- Word retrieval
- Syntax
- Weak vocabulary
- Limited knowledge of the subject matter
- Executive function deficits
- Written expression challenges
- Slow processing speed
- Graphomotor skill
- Generating ideas, clarifying their thoughts, and efficiently and effectively expressing themselves
- Getting started (initiation)
The Role of the Academic Strategist
Our academic strategists are allies who partner with students to teach research-informed approaches—grounded in science—to overcoming executive function barriers.
They provide students with the resources, tools, strategies, accommodations, and external scaffolding they need to master the skills required for independent learning and reduce their cognitive overload. It is our experience that when students are taught the science of learning and see the sense in using a research-informed approach to their academic work, and when they also can practice these new skills, we can assist them in developing a more effective approach to learning. Research has demonstrated that external “scaffolding” influences the development of executive function; these skills can be supported, trained, and strengthened over time with research-informed interventions and consistent reinforcement.
The role of the academic strategist is multifaceted. Academic strategists support students using a holistic approach to help strengthen their self-regulation and executive functioning skills and improve their academic performance. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Individuals require different strategies and learners have a variety of needs. Academic strategists share options for increasing efficacy and create personalized learning plans for students that will help them identify and understand their strengths and challenges, assist them in developing specific learning strategies to meet the demands of academic life, and support their executive function challenges. Students receive support with goal setting, time management, understanding and getting started on assignments, advocating for accommodations, the use of assistive technology to lighten cognitive load, reading and annotating effectively, studying for tests and exams, and developing writing strategies.
Our Academic and Writing Strategy Sessions Focus on:
Co-creating personalized action plans for student success, analyzing progress, and developing strategies to optimize performance
The cognitive science behind how the brain learns (how to work smarter, not harder) and misunderstandings about learning
Reducing cognitive load to increase motivation and academic outcomes
Deepening the student’s understanding of, and the ability to use, assistive technology (if needed)
Assisting students with advocating for and accessing accommodations and support (if applicable)
Teaching executive function strategies that enhance organization, planning, initiation, and creating effective routines and structure
Teaching academic (learning) skills, including how to study, high-level reading strategies, and note-taking strategies
Teaching writing strategies and pairing those with the use of assistive technology, as necessary
Are you looking for more information about Academic and Writing Strategies?
Writing and Executive Function
The writing process demands a lot from our brains, requiring us to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. Memory, attention, and language are all activated, and we call on our executive functions to plan, organize, monitor, and revise text as we write.
Many students with executive function challenges, ADHD, and learning disabilities have a hard time organizing their writing, identifying the most important ideas, and putting those ideas into logical order. Students with working memory issues have trouble identifying meaning, purpose, and audience while they’re writing. Their final product is frequently disorganized and can lack structure. It is important for these students to understand how to retrieve information effectively, create automatic skills, and stay motivated in order to accomplish their writing goals.
Writing Requires Direct Instruction
As with learning to read, students require explicit instruction in order to learn how to write effectively, but they don’t always receive it. Teachers may lack the available resources and extra time to provide direct writing instruction.
Students are usually assigned frequent writing activities, but this tactic does not necessarily produce capable writers. Elementary school writing tends to center on creative writing and self-expression and not on direct instruction for how to write and communicate. Students need to learn how to write effective sentences and paragraphs before they can competently experiment with creative writing forms and styles.
Teaching Writing Strategies
Evidence-based research shows that struggling writers can improve their skills dramatically if they receive the detailed, explicit instruction they need (Graham & Harris, 2005).
Such strategies can improve the writing skills of students with learning disabilities, although they are equally effective for individuals who just need extra help. The Academic Writing and Strategies Program gives students the tools and techniques to assist with every phase of the writing process, from brainstorming and goal setting to proofreading and revision-strategies that have been researched and proven to work with students at all levels, especially those who are challenged by learning disabilities. Together, student and strategist identify the most pertinent obstacles to the student’s writing and choose the writing strategies that best address these challenges. Our strategies are evidence-based and introduced gradually as students demonstrate increased understanding. Students are taught how to execute their academic writing assignments. Our program is tailored to students who wish to enhance their writing skills as well as those who require fundamental remediation.
Lifelong Impact
Strengthening students’ academic writing skills has many benefits. It boosts creativity and confidence, and helps students think critically and present complex ideas logically.
These skills are not only useful in school but will be needed after graduation as the student pursues their career. Evoke provides students with a solid foundation of skills and strategies that enables them to understand the role executive function plays in writing and helps them develop confidence in their skills.
