What's expected, by grade
| Grade | What the writing standards ask | Typing |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | "Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing" to compose opinion pieces, informative texts and stories (W.K) | — |
| 3rd | Opinion pieces that support a point of view with reasons, using linking words such as because, therefore and since (W.3.1) | Keyboarding with adult guidance (W.3.6) |
| 4th | — | At least one page in a single sitting (W.4.6) |
| 5th | Opinion pieces with "logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details" (W.5.1) | Two pages in a sitting (W.5.6) |
| 6th | "Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence," using credible sources and a formal style (W.6.1) | Three pages in a sitting (W.6.6) |
Informative writing and narratives run alongside these in every grade. The step from opinion to argument in 6th grade adds evidence and credible sources to every claim.
What the research recommends
| Practice guide | Recommendation | Level of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary, grades 1–6 (guide) | Teach students to use the writing process for a variety of purposes | Strong |
| Teach fluent handwriting, spelling, sentence construction, typing and word processing | Moderate | |
| Provide daily time to write | Minimal | |
| Create an engaged community of writers | Minimal | |
| Secondary, grades 6–12 (guide) | Teach writing strategies with a Model-Practice-Reflect cycle | Strong |
| Integrate reading and writing to point out key features of good writing | Moderate | |
| Use assessments of student writing to guide instruction and feedback | Minimal |
The writing process the guides describe covers planning and goal setting, drafting, evaluating, revising and editing (secondary summary).
At home, by stage
Kindergarten to 2nd grade
- Count drawing and dictating as writing. The kindergarten standards do.
- Check the pencil grip: the elementary guide describes holding the pencil comfortably between thumb and forefinger, resting on the middle finger (summary).
- Practice spelling the words your child uses most, and build sentences together: start with "The dog ran," then ask where, when or why.
Grades 3–5
- Plan out loud before writing: what's your opinion, and what are two reasons?
- Practice linking words: because, for example, therefore.
- Build typing a little at a time, without looking at the keyboard. Spell checkers help, but the guide says students need to understand their limits.
Grades 6–8
- Ask for the claim in one sentence, then the evidence for it.
- Read a strong example together and point out what makes it work, as the secondary guide recommends.
- Keep a list of your child's repeated errors and work on one at a time.
Giving useful feedback
- Start with what works. Name one specific strength.
- Pick one or two things to change, tied to the assignment's goal: the claim, the order of reasons, or the evidence.
- Ask questions instead of rewriting. "What does this paragraph prove?" teaches more than a corrected sentence.
- Let your child choose topics sometimes. The elementary guide's community-of-writers steps include giving students choice and publishing writing beyond the classroom, even just to grandparents.
- Keep the pen in your child's hand. Thousand Acorns Tutoring doesn't write assignments for students; the goal is a better writer, not just a better paper.
Questions parents ask
How much should my child write each day?
In school, the federal elementary writing guide recommends at least an hour a day from 1st grade on: 30 minutes of teaching writing strategies and skills and 30 minutes of writing practice, which can happen in other subjects. At home, a few short pieces a week add practice without competing with homework.
Should my child learn to type?
Yes, by 3rd grade. California's writing standards name keyboarding in 3rd grade and expect a student to type at least one page in a sitting in 4th grade, two in 5th and three in 6th. The elementary writing guide recommends typing without looking at the keyboard.
What's the difference between an opinion piece and an argument?
Elementary students write opinion pieces that support a point of view with reasons. From 6th grade, students "write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence," using credible sources and a formal style.
Should I correct every mistake?
Usually not. The secondary writing guide recommends looking at a student's writing to target feedback, and focusing on one or two things at a time keeps the next draft manageable.
Sources
- What Works Clearinghouse practice guide: Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers, released June 2012, revised October 2018. Opened October 13, 2026.
- Practice guide summary (elementary writing), summary. Opened October 13, 2026.
- What Works Clearinghouse practice guide: Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively, released November 2016, revised December 2019. Opened October 13, 2026.
- Practice guide summary (secondary writing), summary. Opened October 13, 2026.
- Writing standards, kindergarten, standards text. Opened October 13, 2026.
- Writing standards, grade 3, standards text. Opened October 13, 2026.
- Writing standards, grade 4, standards text. Opened October 13, 2026.
- Writing standards, grade 5, standards text. Opened October 13, 2026.
- Writing standards, grade 6, standards text. Opened October 13, 2026.