What is the focus of interactive writing in a classroom?

Interactive writing is centered around collaboratively composing text with active participation from students. This approach allows children to engage in the writing process as a group, making contributions and discussing their ideas. By involving students in the actual creation of the text, they can see their input valued and incorporated, which fosters a sense of ownership and boosts their confidence in writing.

This method helps to develop emergent literacy skills by modeling writing strategies, encouraging discussion about language, and enhancing understanding of text structure. Students learn not only from what they contribute but also from the collaborative experience, as the teacher guides them through decision-making about word choice, phrasing, and punctuation.

In contrast, the other options do not capture the essence of interactive writing. Independent, silent writing does not promote collaboration or student dialogue, while dictation focuses on reproducing text rather than co-creating it. Emphasizing spelling accuracy alone can restrict the creative process, as it could discourage children from trying to express their thoughts if they are overly concerned about making mistakes.