Resources and Activities for Teaching Writing
Develop your middle and high school students’ writing skills with this collection of free resources for teachers, parents, and homeschool instructors. Below, you'll find classroom activities, lesson plans, mentor texts, blog posts, and more. Most resources are ideal or adaptable for grades 8-12.
The following resources for teaching writing are provided for free from Write the World and our partners as part of our mission to empower educators as they build students’ literacy and prepare learners for success in school, career, and life.
We’re always eager to see and hear how YOU are using Write the World with teens! Reach out to educators@writetheworld.org to share your success stories, pitch a guest blog post, or to share student work.
This free calendar resource provides all the start and end dates for our upcoming competitions! View and download it here.
A compilation of information and resources on incorporating AI into writing, geared toward students and educators.
Character Study Questions
FictionDownload a pdf of character study questions writers can use to dig deeper into developing their characters. Read more on the blog.
A handout with AI chatbot prompt examples students can use to gain feedback and information on how to improve their writing - without asking chatgpt to write it!
Our monthly writing competitions are open to all students aged 13-19.
Download a flyer for our 2024-2025 lineup of competitions to share digitally with students, or print and put up in your classroom.
Science Writing Explainer Examples
Science WritingCompiled examples that show what an explainer does in the science writing genre.
5 ways you can support students in publishing their written works.
The SEL Benefits of Peer Review
Flash FictionHow incorporating peer review in your classroom can provide social emotional learning benefits for your students.
Flash Fiction Examples by Students
Flash FictionThese noteworthy flash fiction examples come in under 100 words and were all written by Write the World young writers!
Applicable ways to work towards culturally responsive and community responsive learning spaces.
A guide to the terminology, and examples of how to lay out a news story like a journalist.
Poetry Terms & Examples
PoetryA large glossary of poetry terms and examples for students to use, including techniques, forms and parts of a poem.
Here’s how to reframe the traditional step-by-step writing approach in a cyclical framework.
How to use daily writing prompts to build a culture of writing in the classroom.
Short Story Writing Resources
Short Story CompetitionResources for incorporating short story writing activities into the classroom.
Sci-Fi Writing Resources
Sci-Fi & FantasyResources for incorporating science fiction and fantasy writing activities into the classroom.
Climate Poetry Lesson Plan
Environmental CompetitionFlexible lesson plan to guide students through climate poetry writing.
Flash Fiction Resources
Flash FictionResources for incorporating Flash Fiction writing activities into the classroom.
Songwriting Resources
Songwriting CompetitionResources for incorporating songwriting activities into the classroom.
Climate Advocacy Writing Lesson Plan
Environmental Competition90-120 minute flexible lesson plan for climate advocacy letter writing.
Climate Flash Fiction Lesson Plan
Environmental Competition45-90 minute flexible lesson plan for flash fiction writing on climate topics.
Food Writing Resources
Food Writing CompetitionResources for incorporating food writing activities into the classroom.
Mentor texts from students on environmental writing topics.
Do some of your students need extra support with writing their college application essays?
Share our College Essay Program offerings with them and their parents!
Know any students who would be interested in a week-long online writing camp this summer?
Share our Summer Camp offerings with them and their parents!
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Global Writing Platform
On our platform, students can write, read, peer review, and enter monthly writing competitions. Educators can:
- Access writing prompts and resources, as well as student work from around the world.
- Refer students to competitions, college essay programs, and creative writing workshops.
- Create private groups—supportive spaces in which to facilitate writing instruction with your students.
Monthly Writing Competitions
Our monthly writing competitions, each dedicated to a different genre, are judged by professional authors. Students have opportunities to receive feedback from Expert Reviewers—trained writers and educators—prior to submission. And because we provide prizes in categories of Writing and Peer Review, students are motivated to showcase their peer-editing skills, too.
All competitions are inherently aligned with the U.S. Common Core State Standards “anchor standards” for writing. You can use them as an engaging form of test prep, to introduce students to new genres, or to provide an authentic audience for students’ work. From science journalism to scary stories, opinion essays to nature poetry—we offer something for every writer.
College Essay Programs
Help your students take the next step toward their college and career goals by referring them to one of our college essay offerings:
Write the World’s College Essay Course is fully asynchronous, with optional live support sessions, and is designed to support students step-by-step as they go from draft to done on their personal statement. With engaging prompts, video lessons, quizzes, activities, and more, we center on identity development as students prepare for their life beyond high school.
Write the World’s College Essay Review Service connects students with trained advisors who provide individualized, multi-paged feedback reports on teens’ draft college essays–all within 48 hours.
Creative Writing Workshops
Creative Writing Workshops bring students together from around the world through live virtual programming. Typically week-long, these workshops give students a chance to explore a genre in-depth—from poetry to writing for social justice to sci-fi. They’ll make new friends, learn from a talented instructor, and leave with draft writings they’re proud of.
JOIN WRITE THE WORLD
Create a Private Classroom Group
Create a private classroom group on the Write the World website to house your writing instruction in one central space.
Upload writing curricula, access our library of prompts, resources, and peer review questions, and facilitate the drafting, publication, and peer feedback process with your students. You can always invite them to share their work in the global community if and when they are ready.
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Teaching writing is challenging but rewarding. Helping teenagers become effective writers means developing communication skills that will serve them long beyond their time in the classroom. Research shows that:
- Adolescents who can effectively express their thoughts and ideas through writing are more likely to excel in their studies and future careers.
- Writing can be a therapeutic outlet for teens to explore their emotions and develop self-awareness.
- Writing encourages critical thinking and the ability to articulate complex ideas.
By teaching teens how to write persuasively and coherently, we empower them to become informed and engaged global citizens capable of making a positive impact on the world around them. Below, we share some of our favorite media, research, and resources on teaching writing in hopes that they will inspire your practice, too:
