Unlocking the Power of Differentiation: Lessons Learned from Children's Writing in First Grade Sessions

Abstract

The current article examined the importance of hands-on writing lessons for first-grade classrooms. The author offered guidelines on differentiation strategies, explaining how resources, instructions, and activities can be modified to the needs of individual students. The author highlighted various areas of focus, such as creativity, differentiation, phonological awareness, and autonomy, using first-grade students’ writing samples. Children’s work samples were obtained from a pilot program called Developmentally Engaging Learning and Teaching Approaches (DELTA) with the goal of moving away from worksheets to hands-on learning. The information provided in this paper will be beneficial for educators teaching students from pre-K to third grade. The article ends with recommendations and implications for educators who work with young children.