Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Low-stakes writing is nothing new in an ELA classroom. But middle school teacher Erin Comninaki found that even when she framed writing as practice, “students focused on ‘getting it right,’ rather than viewing every writing activity as a chance to grow.”
Her reluctant writers were of particular interest. Some struggled with getting started, while others over-worried making mistakes. Two years ago, she began using WeWillWrite (wewillwrite.com/), which allows teachers to create short gamified writing challenges where students compete anonymously to craft the best writing sample. The 2–5 minute writing bursts made writing feel manageable; students write anonymously so they’re free from the fear of judgment; and collaborative discussion in small groups ensures students uplift each other’s work while sharing the strategies that make their writing effective.
This doesn’t replace paper-based writing in Comninaki’s classroom. Rather, it’s a tool she can use to build confidence in her reluctant writers, while reminding students to embrace writing as a skill to practice and build—rather than a performance to nail for a final grade.
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#writingtools #teachertips #technologyintegration #gamebasedlearning
© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
Low-stakes writing is nothing new in an ELA classroom. But middle school teacher Erin Comninaki found that even when she framed writing as practice, “students focused on ‘getting it right,’ rather than viewing every writing activity as a chance to grow.”
Her reluctant writers were of particular interest. Some struggled with getting started, while others over-worried making mistakes. Two years ago, she began using WeWillWrite (wewillwrite.com/), which allows teachers to create short gamified writing challenges where students compete anonymously to craft the best writing sample. The 2–5 minute writing bursts made writing feel manageable; students write anonymously so they’re free from the fear of judgment; and collaborative discussion in small groups ensures students uplift each other’s work while sharing the strategies that make their writing effective.
This doesn’t replace paper-based writing in Comninaki’s classroom. Rather, it’s a tool she can use to build confidence in her reluctant writers, while reminding students to embrace writing as a skill to practice and build—rather than a performance to nail for a final grade.
Join the Edutopia community today to get articles, videos, and more delivered via email every Wednesday—all tailored to you and your unique role: edut.to/3wEVHUh
*Follow us here:*
Official Website: https://edutopia.org
YouTube: youtube.com/c/edutopia
Facebook: facebook.com/edutopia
Instagram: instagram.com/edutopia
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/edutopia.org
#writingtools #teachertips #technologyintegration #gamebasedlearning
© 2026 George Lucas Educational Foundation
