A study on ways to improve student writing is among the top ten education studies of 2023, according to Edutopia a free source focusing on what works in education. Edutopia is part of the George Lucas Educational Foundation.
The study found that providing students with rubrics and/or mentor texts can lead to higher writing grades. It also lowers the amount of time teachers need to grade student writing.
In the study, high school students’ essays were graded on “clarity, sophistication and thoroughness.” Then students were divided into small groups and told to use rubrics or mentor texts to revise their essays for a final grade. Using these guides helped students improve their writing without more teacher involvement.
Rubrics and mentor texts increase the efficiency of teacher time, can be used over and over again, and “enhance self-feedback,” leading students to become more independent writers, according to Edutopia.
English Writing Teacher 