Teaching Writing When You Don't Have Time

We’ve all had those days—staring at the schedule and wondering how on earth we’re supposed to fit in ONE.MORE.THING. Writing time is essential for our K-2 students, but finding the time to teach it effectively (or at all!)? That’s where things get tricky, especially when you might not have control over your own schedule.

In the craziness of a typical school day, squeezing in dedicated writing time can feel nearly impossible. But we know just how important it is—not just as a foundational skill, but as a way for our students to express their thoughts, emotions, and creativity. So, how do we make it work? Here are some realistic strategies that can you help prioritize writing in your classroom!

Integrate Writing into Other Subjects

This doesn't solve the problem of not having time to explicitly teach writing, and it doesn't replace direct instruction, but one of the simplest ways to make time for writing is to integrate it into other subjects. If you are simply looking to add more writing practice to your day, this can work. Be sure to give reminders and feedback on sentence structure to reinforce things like handwriting, capitulation, and punctuation. For example, adding in writing to science can be as simple as labeling a related picture, or documenting observations in a list.

Morning Work

I'm a soft start girlie, and LOVE morning bins, but last year I added in quick writes to our morning time (we had about 20 minutes). Students were able to complete a quick write in 10 minutes or under, and still get to a morning bin. These quick writes helped students get daily writing and reinforcement practice, and didn't feeling overwhelming (for them, or me!).

Create a Daily Writing Block

I know a lot of districts are changing how things are done, and this is getting more and more challenging. We used to be able to write our own schedules, now they are created for us down to the minute. But, if you have some wiggle room creating a dedicated daily writing block—even if it’s just 15 minutes—can have a big impact. Look at your schedule and identify any areas where you might be able to trim time from other activities. Could you shave a few minutes off transitions, reduce the time spent on less critical tasks, or even combine subjects? Consistency is key, and a daily writing block helps reinforce the importance of writing.

Make Writing a Part of Rotations

If you use rotations in your classroom, add a writing station to the mix. This could be as simple as a journaling center where students respond to prompts, or a more structured activity where they practice specific writing skills. The key is to make writing a regular part of their routine, so it doesn’t feel like an extra task. I add in daily editing or writing prompts most days, and more exciting things like sticker stories or book making at least once a week.

Combine Writing with Read Alouds

Easier said than done in a super tight schedule, but if you can find a few extra minutes you could pair your writing instruction with read alouds. After reading a story, spend a few minutes having students write a response, talk about their favorite part, summarize the story, or even create their own ending.

Prioritize Writing in Your Planning

Make writing a priority in your planning. If you have some freedom in your schedule, take a look when mapping out your week, start by scheduling your writing time first, then fit other activities around it. This small shift in mindset ensures that writing doesn’t get pushed to the bottom of the list.

Why It Matters

Our district cut our writing block with our most recent reading curriculum implementation, and I've watched our writing suffer. Our curriculum does have daily writing, but doesn't provide time for daily writing instruction, or for students to write about things that matter to them.

Creating time for writing isn’t just about meeting standards or preparing for assessments. It’s about giving students the tools they need to express themselves, to think critically, and to engage deeply with the world around them. Writing instruction doesn’t have to take hours each day, but it does need to be consistent, intentional, and integrated into the foundation of your classroom.