Get Excellent Student Engagement Through Choice Writing

Middle school students love activities that help them feel independent, and while that can be done, it is important to provide structure to the activity.

One way to give students some independence and keep them engaged is through choice writing.   

When I first started teaching, the buzzword everywhere was differentiation. I attended countless workshops on how to reach every learner, but one strategy has stayed with me year after year: RAFT writing. 

RAFT stands for: 

• Role
• Audience
• Format
• Topic

This type of writing is one of the simplest ways to offer meaningful choice in writing without creating a separate assignment for every student. Instead, you have one writing task with several options, each tied to the same theme or text, so students can choose the path that best fits their interests and strengths. 

Student Engagement Through Choice Writing

Here is an example RAFT choice board that I created based on a DRA assessment booklet story titled “Northern Spirit”. In the story, the main character, Jason, moves from Montreal (an urban metropolis) to the Yukon (a remote territory in northern Canada) and has difficulties adjusting to life there.

This is an example of a RAFT assignment based on a reading, but keep in mind that writing assignments don’t always have to follow a reading. They can also be based on seasons, holidays, topics learned in class, etc.

For this example, students would read the story and then answer the assessment questions. Then, to take their learning further, they would complete a RAFT writing assignment with four choices. Students would choose one of the lines and follow the Role, Audience, Format, and Topic for that row. 

All four options ask students to pull information from the text and, when necessary, from additional sources. Regardless of the format they chose, I could still assess the same skills: understanding the story, organizing ideas, using text evidence, and communicating clearly. 

Students need a choice to keep them engaged in their writing, but they also need structure and clear guidelines. This type of assignment provides the best of both worlds, providing both student choice and structured guidelines, therefore limiting unwanted behaviours in your classroom.

When to Use RAFT Writing

RAFTS are a simple, flexible tool you can use with fiction, non-fiction, science, social studies, novel units, and even math. When you have student engagement through choice writing, not only are your students happy, but the quality of their work gets better, and students are given a way to reinforce learning and better understand the material.

For more ideas on when and how to use RAFT writing strategies to encourage student engagement through choice writing, check out this blog post: Creative RAFT Writing Strategies for Middle School.

If you want a low-prep way to boost engagement, try a ready-made creative writing resource.

Try RAFT Writing With This Complete Resource

If you’re looking for engaging, no-prep creative writing prompts that encourage imagination and support an inclusive classroom, this Creative Writing Prompts Bundle is your year-round solution. With seasonal and holiday-themed writing prompts designed in a RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Topic) format, students get to explore character-driven writing in fun and meaningful ways.

Perfect for upper elementary and middle school classrooms, this resource includes print and digital formats, making it easy to assign in-person or online. Plus, all you have to do is photocopy and teach – no prep required.

This resource includes nine creative writing assignments:

• Halloween Writing Prompt
• Christmas Writing Prompt
• Valentine’s Day Writing Prompt
• Easter Writing Prompt
• Fall Writing Prompt
• Winter Writing Prompt
• Spring Writing Prompt
• Summer Writing Prompt
• Back to School Writing Prompt

Here’s what teachers have said about this resource: 

“I have used many of these writing activities with a variety of my classes and always love seeing what students come up with.  They love getting a chance to let their creativity and humour shine through!” – Joanne H.

“This writing resource is a game-changer. It keeps my students engaged with creative, meaningful activities that build real writing skills. Prep is minimal—perfect for busy days—and everything is easy to implement. My students are writing more confidently and enjoying the process. A must-have for any writing teacher!” – Sixth Grade A.

Whether it’s September and you’re building writing stamina or June and you need high-engagement and interesting tasks, RAFTs work all year.

Additional Choice Writing Resources

• Pet Memes Writing
• Creative Writing Prompts

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