The Pobble blog

In many classrooms, there are students who go beyond the expected writing standards and demonstrate exceptional skills. These Greater Depth writers are creative, confident, and capable of producing excellent work. However, teachers often dedicate much of their time to supporting students who need to meet the 'expected' standards, making it challenging to provide the necessary push and support for Greater Depth students to reach their full potential.

In this blog, we’ll explore straightforward strategies for supporting Greater Depth writers without adding to your workload. These actionable tips will help you provide the right level of challenge while keeping things manageable and effective.

What does greater depth writing look like?

Before diving into strategies, it’s important to understand what makes a writer "Greater Depth." These students:

• Use varied sentence structures and a rich vocabulary.
• Apply genre conventions creatively and effectively.
• Develop ideas thoroughly, maintaining reader engagement.
• Take creative risks and demonstrate independence in their writing.

Supporting these students means challenging them to push their writing further while keeping it engaging and fun.

1. Provide independent writing time with purpose

Greater Depth writers thrive when given the opportunity to work independently and explore their ideas. Give them the freedom to experiment with new genres or write about topics they’re passionate about. This doesn't require extra lesson planning—just regular opportunities for students to write creatively.

Actionable tip:

Use Pobble 365’s daily prompts to spark their imagination. The wide range of prompts encourages students to explore different genres and styles, ensuring they have fresh ideas to work with every day.

2. Set writing challenges, not extra work

Greater Depth students need challenges, but that doesn’t mean giving them more work. Instead of lengthy tasks, offer short, complex writing challenges that push their thinking. These tasks should encourage creativity and problem-solving without overwhelming them.

Actionable tip:

• Design quick, targeted writing exercises that focus on specific skills, like crafting compelling openings, using vivid descriptions, or writing with varied sentence structures. These focused tasks can be integrated into your lessons and allow students to practise key writing techniques without adding extra workload.

3. Offer feedback that drives growth

Feedback is crucial for all students, but for Greater Depth writers, it should focus on helping them refine their already strong skills. Instead of marking every technical detail, guide them to deepen their ideas and improve specific aspects of their writing.

Actionable tip:

Give feedback that challenges them to go further:

• “What would happen if you developed this character’s motivations more?”
• “How can you use punctuation to create more tension here?”

Keep it brief but focused on developing their writing.

4. Encourage creative thinking

Greater Depth writers enjoy being creative and exploring their own ideas. Allow them to take ownership of their writing by providing choices and opportunities for experimentation. This doesn’t have to add extra planning, it’s about giving students the freedom to think independently.

Actionable tip:

Give students a choice of writing tasks or themes each week. For example, let them choose between writing a mystery story, a sci-fi scene, or a persuasive letter. This simple strategy keeps them engaged without overwhelming you.

5. Incorporate writing across subjects

Greater Depth writers thrive when they apply their skills across the curriculum. It’s easy to integrate writing into other subjects without adding extra planning time. These students will enjoy having the opportunity to showcase their writing in a variety of contexts.

Actionable tip:

Use existing lesson plans to have students write about what they’re learning in history, science, or art. For instance, they could write a short story about a scientific discovery or a persuasive letter on a current environmental issue. This integrates writing into everyday learning and supports their development.

6. Celebrate their success

When students reach Greater Depth, it’s important to celebrate their hard work and progress. Recognising their achievements keeps them motivated and reinforces their pride in their writing. This doesn’t need to take up extra time, just a few simple ways to show appreciation go a long way.

Actionable tip:

Use Pobble to showcase their work. You don’t have to create extra projects, just share their stories, poems, or essays on a classroom display or a digital platform. Recognising their efforts fosters their continued growth.

Conclusion: Supporting greater depth writers without the extra workload

Supporting Greater Depth writers doesn’t need to add to your workload. By offering regular opportunities for independent writing, giving targeted feedback, and incorporating creativity into everyday tasks, you can ensure these students stay engaged and continue to excel. These strategies can be seamlessly integrated into your existing classroom routine, helping you support all students effectively without feeling overwhelmed.

By nurturing these writers, you not only challenge them but also help create a classroom environment where all students can thrive. The key is balance, providing opportunities for growth without overloading yourself or your students. Use these simple strategies to keep your Greater Depth writers engaged, challenged, and motivated.