How Grace Montessori is Educating The Writers of Tomorrow

According to a study by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), only 27% of eighth- and twelfth-graders were proficient in writing, revealing a significant gap in writing ability and reading comprehension nationwide. Our teachers at Grace Montessori School (GMS) witnessed this gap firsthand, seeing their young students struggle with topic sentences, paragraph structure, and understanding reading passages. Empowered to make a change earlier in a child’s education, they came across the “Think SRSD” writing course, which employs strategies and techniques to improve students’ writing, reading, and self-regulation skills.

What is Think Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD)?
Think SRSD is an evidence-based instructional approach used mainly for writing, but it’s also applied to reading comprehension. It teaches students how to use the writing process and equips them with the necessary skills and strategies to become self-regulated, successful writers. While it’s especially effective for students with learning differences, it benefits all learners. Through this self-regulation strategy, students learn:

• Goal Setting
• How to set clear, achievable writing goals.
• Self-Monitoring
• How to track their own progress using checklists or rubrics.
• Self-Talk / Positive Self–Statements
• How to replace negative thoughts with encouraging, productive language
• Self-Reflection and Revision
• Students evaluate their writing and revise based on criteria.

These skills are instrumental to a Montessori education as this strategy fosters independence in students’ learning journey.

What Does SRSD Look Like in the Classroom?
Since every child’s education is unique to them, there’s a variety of methods that SRSD encourages to improve students’ writing and reading comprehension abilities, including:

• Explicit Strategy Instruction
• Modeling writing strategies step-by-step before students practice independently
• Mnemonic-Based Writing Strategies
• Students use memory aids to organize their writing, such as:
  • POW – Pick my idea, Organize my notes, Write and say more
  • TREE – Topic sentence, Reasons, Explain reasons, Ending
• Think-Aloud Modeling
• Teachers verbalize their thinking while planning and writing to make the writing process visible
• Gradual Release of Responsibility

Teachers use these supportive classroom practices to shift instruction from teacher-led modeling to guided practice, with independent student writing being the final result. Through collaboration, support, learning differentiation and frequent feedback, students can celebrate their progress every step of the way.

The results? Confident, joyful, and effective writers.
Since implementing these strategies, GMS teachers have already seen tremendous results. Not only is there a large improvement in students’ writing samples, but there’s a newfound motivation and eagerness to publish their writing pieces.

The success of SRSD extends far beyond the walls of GMS. Because it addresses more complex skills that are missing from traditional classrooms, SRSD is three times more effective than traditional writing instruction. These results indicate that GMS students are not only receiving a well-rounded education but also gaining a competitive edge for their future.

At Grace Montessori, we’re proud to foster an environment that nurtures the whole child, preparing them for a future of success through a love of learning.