The PAWS program addresses early letter, word, and sentence writing with a new approach that has been used successfully in literacy education-having students coach one another. As teachers, we can not possibly make it around a room of 25+ students to give 1:1 feedback during handwriting instruction. In PAWS, we teach the students to provide feedback, both positive and corrective, to their peers.
Students are paired together to take on the roles of writer and coach. Each student writes, then switches papers with the partner to coach one another’s work.
Why PAWS instruction vs typical writing instruction?
- Focus on grade-appropriate transcription skills (letter writing, spelling, punctuation).
- Writing taught at various language levels (letter, word, sentence).
- Based on two theoretical and empirical frameworks for beginning writing—one focused on cognitive processes and the other connected with socio-cultural theory.
- Benefits of working with peer.
- Aligned with kindergarten Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Literacy (CCSS)
