Self-Regulated Strategy Development

Writing is an essential skill for success in school and beyond. We know that writing does not develop naturally but it can be taught. One of the most effective evidence-based approaches to teaching writing is Self-Regulated Strategy Development(SRSD). SRSD introduces strategies to help beginning writers develop the skills necessary to become successful, independent writers. More specifically SRSD provides instruction that enables students to self-regulate (goal setting, self-monitoring, self-assessment, & self-reinforcement) their thought processes and organize their ideas to narrative and persuasive writing pieces. Here are the stages of instruction provided with examples (more complete discussion of the stages can be found in the resources):

1. Develop Background Knowledge
   • Introduce the genre (story, persuasive)
   • Introduce self-regulation (self-instruction, goal setting)
   • Read and discuss models
2. Discuss It
   • Discuss significance and benefits of the strategies to be learned
   • Discuss all the steps of the strategy and mnemonic
   • Encourage buy-in/commitment from the student
3. Model It
   • Model planning and steps of the strategy
   • Model thinking aloud
   • Model self-instruction and self-reinforcement
4. Memorize It
   • Memorize the mnemonic
   • Memorize the elaboration of each step of the strategy
5. Support It
   • Scaffold student strategy use
   • Scaffold thinking aloud and self-instructions as they actually compose
   • This stage takes the longest
6. Independent Performance
   • Transition to covert (in the head) self-instruction
   • Self-regulation procedures continue, but can be faded
   • Use booster sessions and/or encourage generalization
      

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