Targeted Writing Lessons (TWLs) are exactly that—a collection of instructional resources targeted to specific student needs in writing. Each of these lessons is intended to respond to a demonstrated need by providing a small bit of direct instructional information, followed by a clear task requiring students to use or practice that instruction in the context of a writing response they are already developing. The lessons close with recommendations to students about how to integrate this writing into the draft they are writing or revising

How Should They Be Used?

The idea behind TWLs is that students should have an opportunity to learn and practice writing skills in the context of writing tasks they are already working on. Rather than piling on new and inauthentic writing tasks, the TWLs seek to amplify the writing and revision process of existing work.

Teachers can determine which TWLs best fit their students’ needs by reviewing student work with the Inquiry By Design integrated ELA rubric: each score on the rubric corresponds to skills and lessons in the TWL list. The list of TWLs under each rubric score reflects the skills a student needs to develop in order to reach the next highest score on the rubric.