Writing Strategies- Conferencing ( Entry 5)

" As instructors, we must be able to navigate which instructional strategies will best meet the learning needs of the students at that moment in time "~Neil Haave, professor at the University of Alberta. Therefore, teachers need to take the time to get to know their students to implement strategies which best caters to their needs.

There are many writing strategies teachers can embark on to help improve students' writing. For instance, there is free writing, process writing instruction, paragraph structure instruction, vocabulary instruction, and much more. Depending on the area of need of the students, teachers can decide which writing strategy is appropriate at a particular time. 

Today, the writing strategy that will be the topic of conversation, is conferencing. This strategy plays a major role in teachers providing adequate assistance for their students in their area of need. Conferencing involves peer and teacher conferencing whether one-on-one or in small groups. It helps teachers to figure out problems students may have with their writing and helps the students set goals for themselves. It also gives them time to discuss their writing pieces with their teachers and get feedback.

Additionally, it also encourages students to do flash drafting, where they focus on smaller segments of writing at a time so they are not overwhelmed. Furthermore, weaker students can receive more assistance. The benefits derived from writing conferences can therefore be seen as beneficial not only to the students but to teachers as well. When embarking on writing conferences, teachers must always inform students that they should consider the topic, audience, purpose, and examples. They should also consider whether they are writing to persuade, inform or entertain.