Interested in Quill but not exactly sure how to use it in your classroom? Here are some Best Practices guidelines for using the program.
When to use Quill:
Use Quill 2-3 times a week as a supplement to your core English-writing instruction for grades 2 and up. Ask your students to apply their learnings to the other writing they do in your class.
Quill is a helpful supplement to ELL instruction. Using a personalized tool ensures that no concept is glossed over (especially helpful for native English speakers teaching ELL).
Quill combines well with the WITsi strategy for ELL students, helping them move past very basic sentences into compound sentences.
Quill activities can be used as mini-lessons, small group activities, or independent practice.
How to use Quill:
Instruct your students to spend as much time as they need working through each sentence. Quill requires thorough and precise writing, which takes time.
Quill works best for students who can type at a rate of at least 25 wpm. Have students who type below that speed use Quill in conjunction with a typing program (we recommend typing club).
When your students make errors using Quill, don’t point out these exact errors. The program provides multiple opportunities to fix mistakes. Instead, ask questions: “What do you think you might have missed?” “What parts of the sentence confused you?”