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Ten Tech Considerations to Support a Digital Writing Process

Student on a computer with a notebook and a pencil

Grab a hot beverage and sit tight. After taking two weeks off I've got a lot to say this week. Short on time? Who isn't? Read the headlines and look for the links...you won't regret it. I've got some good stuff to share to support you and your students in their digital writing process.

1. How much word processing is developmentally appropriate?

When considering developmental readiness for traditional writing tasks we think about both physical maturation of fine motor skills as well as the amount of literacy skill a student has acquired. To quote Lewis Carroll, we "begin at the beginning." We first create scribbles, then letters, our names, words used as labels, sentences, paragraphs, and so on. When our fine motor skills and literacy skills align we grow in our ability to write.

With a digital writing process, finding and typing letters on a keyboard still requires both fine motor skill and literacy skill, but we also need to consider the digital environment students navigate in order to complete a digital writing task. It is the combination of literacy learning, keyboarding skill, and digital navigation that makes a digital writing process a unique challenge. I find that students are not ready to type as much as their traditional curriculum would have had them write with a pencil. 

So what is appropriate at each developmental level? Read this brief document of word processing expectations. Be sure to check out my suggestions for other options that will help your students achieve the standards and meet the expectations of your traditional curriculum while using digital tools.

2. What do I need to teach the conventions of standard English?

Spacing 1 space between words 1 or 2 spaces between sentences and punctuations ending marks no space apostrophe 1 space after comma

When using a digital writing process students need to learn both what to capitalize and how to use the shift key. They need to learn when to use punctuation and where to find it on their keyboards. They need to learn to sound out words and ignore the red underline telling them they are wrong. Then they need to know how to write words with standard spelling and how to use the spell check.

I accomplish this by introducing or reviewing the convention and modeling how to use it on a computer at the same time. I follow my state standards when deciding what conventions to teach at each grade level and do not lower my expectations for conventions despite the additional challenge. 

Here are a few videos you may find useful that I recorded using my document camera. I will make similar videos when it comes time to introduce punctuation on the keyboard. 


Here are posters you can print and laminate or distribute digitally that review conventions at each grade level. I prefer these to more traditional ones because they show the keyboard keys needed when typing.

3. How can I support students as they learn formatting tools?

Your technology teacher has likely worked hard to teach students the tools they need within the district word processing software. It is important that literacy teachers continue that work when their students use a digital writing process. When left to figure out word processing software on their own students often develop bad habits that are hard to break—like using spacebar for... everything. These errors will eventually reveal themselves come editing time and make everything more difficult.

If your district uses Google Docs, I've got you covered! Use any of my videos from the Google Docs Learning Center to review the tools students will need before their writing task. Or share the link to the Google Docs Learning Center as a reference for whenever they need help.

Don't use Google Docs? Choose your favorite screencasting software to make your own library of videos. Start with the individual tools students will need in their next lesson. Then slowly build a library of videos. TIP: Keep your videos brief and focused on a single skill.

4. How can I help my students learn to use fonts appropriately and keep the focus on the quality of their writing?

Google Docs Font Guidelines Stick with two fonts. 1. The heading can be decorative and should be larger. 2. The main text should be plain, and easy-to-read.

Try sharing my Google Docs Font Guidelines for Elementary Students. You can use them in conjunction with this video, Using Fonts to Convey Meaning, or supply students with recommended font lists like these: Halloween Fonts | Plain Fonts. This will cut down on the time they spend playing with the formatting tools and put the focus back on the writing goal.

5. What tools are available for digital brainstorming?

Scholastic Story Starters Choose a Story Starters Theme: Adventure Fantasy Sci-Fi Scrambler

Brainstorming can be done in any word processing software. Students can use the numbers and bullets to create lists, or you can make a template for them by inserting a table to create as many rows and columns as students need.


If your students need help with generating ideas you can also try one of these tools:

6. What tools are available for planning and organizing writing?

Word Processing Software

Problem/Solution Narrative Graphic Organizer Character Setting Lead Up- What are the characters doing before the problem happens? Problem- What happens? What do the character do? Solution- How does the problem get solved?
Simple planning documents can be made in regular word processing software. You can create boxes for students to write in using the Insert Table tool. You can change and hide the lines of the table as needed, merge cells together, and change the background color of the cells until you have created something functional and pleasing to the eye. However, you should be selective in which kinds of organizers you try to recreate in Google Docs or Word. If you want students to write on top of shapes and images try one of the other options underneath the samples below.

Here are two samples I've created:

Presentation Tools

Copy of OREO Opinion Writing

For fancier looking graphic organizers I'd move away from word processing software, which will become frustrating with images jumping around on the screen. Many teachers have figured out they can use presentation software like Google Slides or Powerpoint to create digital worksheets. One benefit of creating in this software is that you can add images to the background of a slide that students will not be able to edit accidentally and can easily write on top of. Using this method you will be able to use your favorite PDFs and print-based graphic organizers by snapping a picture and setting the image as the background. A word of caution, however, most print-based worksheets are made in the portrait orientation and therefore are the wrong direction for a computer screen. They become too small or frustrating for students to use. Landscape orientation is the best for digital worksheets because it mirrors the orientation of a widescreen device. 

Here are two samples I've created:

Checkout this file of 100 graphic organizers that are already picture files! Shared by Ernest Gonzales on Twitter @ergoEDU. Save the file to your Drive and use them as your slide backgrounds or with the other options below.

Other Options

Jamboard and Seesaw are two other great options for graphic organizers. Both of these tools will allow you to upload graphic organizers that students can write on easily. Again, I steer away from organizers that are in the portrait orientation and select files that are landscape instead. Otherwise, I'll make my own version.

Here are two Jamboard samples I created using Ernest Gonzales's templates shared above:

Here are two Seesaw samples I found:

7. What resources are available for mini-lessons on craft and structure?

I am surprised I wasn't able to quickly find a large set of resources for you. In my mind there should be some great library of mini-lesson videos as teachers around the world teach similar lessons on craft and structure. Why are we not sharing these with each other yet?! Use the comments below to share resources you've made or gathered for craft and structure mini-lessons.

Here are two resources I have for you:
This link takes you to second grade lessons on CCSS W.2.5, which has several excellent choices for craft and structure lessons. To change grades click on English Language Arts in the blue navigation bar. I recommend checking the fifth writing standard at your grade level (i.e., W.3.5, W.4.5), but you may find other craft and structure lessons organized under different standards.

8. What tools and resources are available for editing and revising writing? 

Dictionary and Thesaurus

Editing and revising writing is far easier in a digital writing process than with handwritten copies. Here's my short list of related technology skills for my students. We use Google Docs, but I know Word also has robust tools for editing.

  • I can move the cursor and click where I need to edit.
  • I can cut and paste to reorganize sentences. See my post on keyboard shortcuts.
  • I can make a comment.
  • I can reply to a comment.
  • I can resolve a comment.
  • I can use the spelling and grammar tools.
Teachers and peer editors should also learn how to write comments on student work and can make use of the Suggesting feature.

Need a kid-friendly dictionary/thesaurus? Try out wordsmyth.net.

9. What tools are available for digital creation and publishing? 

Students working in traditional word processing software can certainly consider their work complete after that step. They can easily share their documents with their classmates and teachers. Here are a few more options that make a really impressive final product:

Storyjumper Age 7+
Book Creator (iPad app also available) Age 8+
Puppet Pals HD and Puppet Pals 2 Apps Age 6+ Free versions are also available 

10. How can I leverage technology to give my students an authentic audience for their writing?

Have them blog and engage in collaborative projects with classes outside of your school! There are a lot of great blog services out there for you to use with your students.

I love Richard Byrne's comparison chart of 6 blogging services he updated last year. My only correction to his list is that Seesaw does allow for multiple administrators as long as the individuals are co-teachers in your Seesaw class. 
I've used both Seesaw and Blogger with students and have enjoyed using them both!

Photo by Katerina Holmes from Pexels
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