Why Writing Skills Matter, Even in the Age of ChatGPT

Sure, ChatGPT create an essay in a few seconds, and AI tools can spit out paragraphs - Shakespearean if you like. But writing is about more than just putting words on a page. It’s how we learn to communicate, process thoughts, persuade others, and express ourselves. It is how we become humans and not remain machines.

Writing isn’t just about the final product; it’s about the process of reaching there - to build clarity of thoughts, and connect with others. Even in a world with AI at our fingertips, students still need to build strong writing foundations to thrive.

In this blog, we will look into researcher Steve Graham and his groundbreaking work to help students become confident, effective writers. At BetterGradez, our coaches use Graham’s research-based strategies in our 1:1 ELA tutoring sessions to support students across grades. Here’s how we put Graham’s insights to work, shown through the stories of students who transformed their writing skills with these methods.

Jackson (3rd Grade): From Blank Pages to Telling a Story

Jackson’s mom called BetterGradez. Her son loved sharing stories aloud but froze the moment he had to write them down. He didn’t know where to start, and his short sentences lacked the coherency, the excitement of his spoken stories.

Graham’s Strategy: Start with Small, Manageable Steps

• Think Aloud & Brainstorming: For Jackson, our coach encouraged a warm-up where he talked about his ideas before writing. No pressure, just sharing.

• Graphic Organizers: We introduced simple story maps where Jackson could visually organize his thoughts, helping him shape a beginning, middle, and end.

The Result: With each session, Jackson grew more comfortable in writing. Soon, he was writing sentences, and small paragraphs. He took every story as challenge to express himself and go on an adventure.

BetterGradez Approach: Our coaches help third-graders like Jackson by breaking down writing into steps that build confidence and creativity. Graham’s research emphasizes the importance of building up skills gradually, and that’s exactly what we do.

Samantha (5th Grade): From Jumbled Ideas to Organized Thoughts

Samantha had tons of great ideas, but her paragraphs looked like a random word scramble, a game she played a lot with her siblings. Its like so many ideas but not able to put them together. Samantha needed help organizing her ideas and developing each thought clearly.

Graham’s Strategy: Embrace the Writing Process

• Teach Planning and Drafting: Our coach introduced Samantha to the idea of pre-writing. Using Graham’s “four-step” approach—plan, draft, revise, and edit—Samantha learned to structure her thoughts before diving in.

• Self-Regulation Techniques: We worked with Samantha to set small writing goals (“Let’s finish one paragraph!”) to help her stay focused without getting overwhelmed.

The Result: Samantha’s writing transformed from scattered thoughts into stories with clear beginnings, middles, and ends. By learning to approach writing in steps, she found it much less intimidating.

BetterGradez Approach: Our coaches guide students like Samantha through each step, helping them plan draft and continuously revise. By following Graham’s research-backed writing process, we make sure kids are learning how to write that makes sense and what other people want to read.

Ethan (8th Grade): Crafting Arguments and Building Confidence

Ethan excelled in math and science, but he was behind in writing persuasive essays. He had great ideas but struggled to present them convincingly. His parents signed him up with BetterGradez, hoping he could learn to express himself with more clarity and confidence.

Graham’s Strategy: Teaching Argumentative Structure & Purposeful Revision

• Use Argument Frames: Our coach introduced Ethan to a simple structure for argumentative writing: state a claim, support it with evidence, and finish strong.

• Revise for Improvement: We taught Ethan to see revising as a positive step. By focusing on clarity and supporting his claims with examples, he learned to present his arguments effectively.

The Result: Ethan gained confidence, learning to back up his ideas and organize his thoughts logically. Essays that once felt like struggles became another chance for him to express his ideas and opinions.

BetterGradez Approach: For eighth-graders like Ethan, our coaches teach argument-building techniques and help students see the value in revisions. Graham’s research shows that teaching self-regulation and structured planning can make a big difference, and we bring those tools directly to our students.

Putting It All Together: Graham’s Writing Strategies at Every Grade

Here’s how BetterGradez makes Steve Graham’s strategies accessible for all our students.

1. Explicit Writing Skills (Grades 3-5)

   • For younger students like Jackson, we focus on sentence-building and descriptive words. Writing can feel overwhelming, so we use Graham’s approach of explicit instruction to make writing feel achievable. Our coaches break down tasks and build up confidence.

2. The Writing Process (Grades 4-8)

   • Students like Samantha learn to see writing as a multi-step process. With Graham’s emphasis on planning, drafting, revising, and editing, our students build skills gradually. We use graphic organizers and structured feedback to support each phase.

3. Argumentative Structure (Grades 7-12)

   • As students enter middle and high school, they need strong persuasive writing skills. Graham’s framework helps us teach students to build arguments, support their claims, and revise with purpose. Our coaches give constructive feedback and teach students to organize their thoughts effectively.

Practical Writing Tips for Home

Here are some tips inspired by Graham’s research:

• Encourage Free Writing: Don’t worry about spelling or grammar—just let your child write for a set amount of time. This exercise encourages self-expression and creativity.

• Storyboarding for Fun: For kids who love storytelling, create a comic strip or storyboard. Visualizing their ideas first can make writing feel less intimidating.

• Praise Effort, Not Just Results: Whether it’s one sentence or a paragraph, recognize the effort they put into their work. Confidence-building is a huge part of writing success.

Why Choose BetterGradez?

At BetterGradez, we don’t just focus on writing skills—we build confidence, encourage creativity, and make writing fun. Our 1:1 coaching combines structure and support, with each session designed around Steve Graham’s and other researcher’s proven methods. Whether your child is just starting out or preparing for high school, our coaches work to make writing achievable and rewarding.