Building Confident Writers with Superkids

Writing is an essential skill that students must master to succeed in everyday life. However, learning to write can be challenging because it’s a complex process that combines many different skills. To write, students must form letters, encode words, and construct complete sentences—all while applying proper mechanics. At the same time, they need to think critically, reason, form opinions, and imagine as they translate their thoughts into written words.

Because of this complexity, learning to write requires explicit instruction and plenty of practice. This issue is dedicated to supporting expressive writing through targeted instruction and meaningful practice opportunities.

Plus, you’ll find a special invitation—just for Superkids schools—to learn more about the new edition of the program. Don’t miss out and register today!

Expressive Writing in Superkids

In Superkids, expressive writing is a key focus, seamlessly integrated into every lesson step. Daily Routines provide essential handwriting practice to build fluency, with second-grade routines expanding to include writing prompts. Word Work lessons establish the foundational skills for writing, such as letter formation, spelling, grammar, and mechanics. Post-reading activities include reader response prompts found in Practice Pages, independent activities in Teacher’s Guides, Library lessons (K, 1), and Book Talk Journals (2).

We have tips for some of these elements below, but first consider the structure of writing lessons and role of modeling within those lessons.

Every grade level features writing lessons in each unit, focusing on a specific text type or genre. These genres are revisited multiple times, giving students opportunities to apply new skills and deepen their understanding with each encounter. The lesson structure is consistent across grades: instruction and modeling, practice and application, and sharing.

While it might be tempting to shorten the modeling step to save time, Superkids coaches emphasize its importance. Modeled writing is essential for demonstrating key mechanics like spacing, punctuation, and capitalization. More importantly, it reveals how skilled writers think. By thinking aloud as you write, you guide students through the cognitive process they will need to become confident, independent writers. This step is foundational to their growth as skilled communicators.

Providing Feedback

It is important to provide feedback—both informally and formally―to each student as they develop as writers. Find ideas below that will support your young writers as they work through and complete writing assignments.

One-on-One Conferences

Writing conferences are one of the most effective ways to provide children with the individualized instruction they need to progress as writers. One-on-one conferences can be scheduled with students on a rotating basis. These conferences are discussions with a child about a piece of writing the child is working on or has just finished. The goal is not to perfect the piece, but to encourage and develop the student as a writer. Student conferencing forms can be found on the Materials page in the portal. Use these forms to summarize the discussion and list any skills the child will work on improving.

On-the-Spot Conferences

A less formal conference can take place with multiple students as they practice their writing each day, providing brief on-the-spot instruction at the point of need. Here is an example of what a quick spot conference may sound like using the image at the top of this article:

• Oh, you have a loose tooth! I like the way your sentence tells just what you are showing in your drawing, and you also remembered that the word have is spelled with an e at the end.
• I see that you used both uppercase and lowercase letters when you spelled the word have. What do you remember about when to use a capital letter? (Names and the first word in the sentence)
• Are there any names in your sentence? (No) So which word is the only word that needs a capital letter? (I)
• Do you think you could change the other capital letters to lowercase?

Grading Student Writing

Many Superkids teachers have expressed that grading student writing can feel subjective and is challenging. To support you in this process, the program provides helpful tools for formal writing assessments.

• In kindergarten, six writing expectation documents are included to guide you in evaluating students’ writing as their skills progress through the units.
• In first and second grade, each unit features a detailed, genre-specific rubric to help you determine whether a student’s work is advanced, proficient, or emergent.

These resources are designed to make grading more consistent and objective, while also supporting your students’ growth as writers.

Supporting All Writers

Children develop writing skills at their own pace, so it’s natural to see varying skill levels within your class. Some students may struggle with generating ideas, while others might face challenges such as letter-writing fluency, encoding, or mastering grade-level mechanics. To support all learners, it’s essential to assess each child’s needs and provide targeted, individualized instruction during writing assignments and one-on-one conferences. The goal is to help every student make steady progress as a writer.

Here are some strategies for differentiating writing instruction based on students’ skill levels:

Below-Level Writers

• Provide as much individualized attention as possible.
• Focus on additional instruction in basic mechanics, letter formation, and encoding.
• Allow these students to work at the small group table. Discuss their ideas and stay with them until they’ve written their first two sentences.
• Adjust assignments as needed to meet their individual needs.
• Use differentiation tips in the Teacher’s Guide for extra support tailored to the lessons.

On-Level Writers

• Continually assess to identify specific areas for improvement (e.g., mechanics, content, sentence structure, organization).
• Ensure students clearly understand the task and the type of writing required.
• Encourage students to share their writing plan with you orally before forming and writing sentences.
• Regularly check in to offer encouragement and guidance.

Above-Level Writers

• Provide extra time for planning and revising their work.
• Encourage writing beyond the minimum requirements, while still emphasizing quality over quantity.
• Support self-assessment using child-friendly rubrics.
• Offer greater choice in writing topics and projects to align with their personal interests.
• Refer to the Teacher’s Guide for tips on challenging advanced writers within specific lessons.

By tailoring your instruction to meet each student’s needs, you can foster growth and confidence in every writer in your classroom.

Come Learn About the New Edition of Superkids

Curious to learn what’s new in The Superkids Reading Program © 2026? Join us for a webinar on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET or Tuesday, February 4, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET where we will explore program revisions and enhancements. There will also be ample time for participants to have questions answered by our Superkids experts.

We are offering two sessions to accommodate your busy schedule, but the content for each session will be the same. We hope you’ll register to join us for one of the sessions.

Seeking Super Presenters

Are you a Superkids teacher interested in presenting at the 2025 Superkids Schools Conference?

We’re seeking Superkids teachers to share effective practices, classroom tips, and innovative ideas that elevate instruction while using the program. One of the most inspiring aspects of the conference is learning directly from passionate educators like you!

Whether you want to present individually or team up with your amazing colleagues, we’d love to hear from you! Contact Zaner-Bloser’s Professional Learning Services team (professional.development@zaner-bloser.com) to learn more about this exciting opportunity.