What is predictable chart writing?

Predictable chart writing is a type of modeled writing initially developed by Dr. Patricia Cunningham as a technique for helping all students, irrespective of their language skills, to be successful in the writing process.

Predictable chart writing is a fun and easy, shared group writing experience where teachers write with students over the course of one week. It is a way of providing some structure, while allowing students to generate their own ideas.

In the predictable chart writing process, the teacher provides a model sentence or sentence starter to which the students contribute one or two (or more) words.  Each student makes the sentence as complex or as simple as their writing development allows.

Predictable chart writing can easily be differentiated to support individual student learning needs. For example, some students will learn that what they say can be written in words. Other students will learn that writing goes from left to right, starting at the top of the page and working to the bottom. Other students will learn how to structure sentences using capital letters at the beginning and punctuation at the end. Teachers can focus on a specific skill to demonstrate as dictated sentences are being written down.

Which students would benefit from predictable chart writing?

• need to understand the concept of translating thoughts to paper
• use alternative pencils such as communication devices, Alphabet Flip Charts, and alphabet eye gaze sets
• are nonspeaking so have not been able to ‘drite’ (dictate for someone else to write)
• use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to help them to understand sentence structure and language selection in writing, and support them in using their existing vocabulary (example: favorite foods, favorite places, verb/adjective dictionaries or pages).

How can students benefit from predictable chart writing?