The start of a new school year always brings a mix of excitement and challenges. One of the biggest ones is figuring out how best to support struggling writers in your class.

Whether it’s spelling, finding the right structure, or just getting started, writing can be a real hurdle for some learners.

Here are my five top tips for using DocsPlus to boost confidence and writing output – without creating extra work!

Remove anxiety around spelling with supportive tools

For many learners, not just those with diagnosed dyslexia, spelling struggles can be a real hindrance and demotivator.

By offering a spelling support tool that students can use independently, you can reduce potential anxiety around written tasks. This gives them the confidence to attempt more complex words, sentences and ideas.

DocsPlus has some brilliant tools that can make a big difference:

• Spell check – Misspelt words are underlined in red, and learners can right-click to see the suggestions. Or if they prefer, they can use the ‘Spell Check Document’ option to go through corrections one-by-one. This option can be especially helpful for learners with ADHD, dyslexia, or slow processing. It’s also useful for learners who simply find scanning a whole page overwhelming.
  
  
• Wordbars – Wordbars are a bank of words that sit at the bottom of the learner’s Document. Instead of pausing their work to try and spell tricky words or only using simple words for fear of getting them wrong, they can click on a cell to instantly insert the word into the Document.
  
  
• Predictor – The Predictor gently motivates learners to overcome blank page syndrome by suggesting the next word in the sentence. All students need to do is type the first few letters of a word, and the Predictor offers context-appropriate and grammatically correct suggestions. This helps them continue their piece of writing without being held back by spelling difficulties.
  
  
• Speech feedback - This tool allows students to hear their written words and self-correct. Often, by hearing a sentence, learners can spot misspelt words or incorrect syntax without needing feedback from a teacher.

Develop subject-specific vocabulary with Wordbars

Getting to grips with subject-specific vocabulary can be tough. Year 7s often struggle with the jump to KS3 language. KS3 and KS4 learners face new GCSE terminology. Even Sixth Formers can find it hard to strike the right tone in long-form essays.

That’s why my next tip is to remove one element of that challenge by giving students a way to remind themselves of the key vocabulary whenever they need it.

Wordbars are a really easy way to do just that!

As mentioned above, Wordbars hold the key words learners need at the bottom of their Document. They are great for embedding Tier 3, subject-specific vocabulary like ‘photosynthesis’ or ‘bourgeoise’. This is useful because, unlike Tier 1 or 2 words, students don’t usually learn Tier 3 vocabulary through frequent exposure.

This allows learners to demonstrate their understanding of the topic without worrying about spelling or remembering subject-specific words.

DocsPlus users have access to a plethora of ready-made Wordbars from LearningGrids, which align with the secondary school curriculum. If you can’t find one for your specific topic, it's easy to create and edit your own.

If you’re looking for other ways to use Wordbars, you could always:

• Use an AI generator to create a list of the key vocabulary from your lesson materials and turn it into a Wordbar.
  
  
• Show your class how to create a Wordbar from an existing WorkSpace. This will allow them to easily use key phrases from the planning stages in their written tasks.
  
  
• Create a subject-specific Wordbar as a whole-class activity so that everyone knows the key words for the topic.

Encourage independence and reduce reliance on adult support

As teachers, we often feel guilty about being pulled from student to student in a large class. While you want to answer every student's question, that can be tricky in a class of up to 34 children. This can be demotivating and a problem that feels impossible to resolve (unless you’ve learned to clone).

You can alleviate this issue and build the confidence of your learners by giving them a way to get the support they need without relying on teachers or support staff.

DocsPlus offers a lot of the support that learners typically ask an adult for.

Here’s how DocsPlus can help your learners get answers to these common writing questions:

• Can you explain the task again?’ - The student can re-read or listen to the lesson instructions as many times as they need using the DocReader.
  
  
• ‘How do I structure that?’ - The student can follow a writing frame or essay planner from LearningGrids.
  
  
• ‘Can you proofread this?’ - The student can use the Spell Check and listen back to their work to hear any errors they missed while writing. 

Pete Dennett from Springfield School in Portsmouth describes the success they’ve had with DocsPlus and student independence:

“Since using DocsPlus, I’ve noticed the confidence students have accessing their work. One of the biggest barriers they had before was that feeling of not getting things right or being able to put their hand up and say they were struggling with something.

“DocsPlus has enabled students to be independent, so it really does help students tell us what they know - often students are missing out marks in exams - because they know it! It’s about getting the ideas from their head down onto paper. DocsPlus supports with that.”

Reduce cognitive load with structured support

A lot of cognitive effort goes into writing essays and long-form answers.

To write successfully, learners must take in new information, understand it, analyse it, and ensure they cover each key point. Then when it comes to writing the essay, they have to pay attention to spelling, grammar, and syntax.

That’s a lot - even for students who don’t struggle with writing!

You can help your struggling writers succeed in long-form assignments by removing some of that mental effort (Sweller 1988). This way, they can focus on their ideas and not get overwhelmed by the different elements of writing.  

Here is an example of how DocsPlus can be used to simplify every step of the long-form writing process.

1. A student writing a history essay can use a WorkSpace for planning and keeping track of key dates.
   
   
2. They can then seamlessly transfer it into the main Document, without the need to re-write information or bounce between different screens.

3. They can use the DocReader to refer to primary and secondary sources. And, with the speech feedback enabled, they can focus on the content and not the process of reading it themselves.
   
   
4. Finally, when it comes to writing, they can use the Predictor, which will suggest the next word in the sentence, so they don’t get distracted by trying to spell or remember the word they’re looking for.

Offer inclusive approaches to planning and organising ideas 

Do your planning materials work for all your learners? The range of WorkSpaces in DocsPlus allows students to visually organise their thoughts in a way that suits them. This makes it easier to structure essays, reports, and creative writing.

Students can choose from visual diagrams, linear outlines, or a combination of both. Whatever they prefer, there is a WorkSpace for them.

Plus, they can create their own using the blank WorkSpace and arrange their thoughts in a way that is entirely personal to them.

For visual thinkers, this approach can mirror how they naturally process information. And for students with executive functioning difficulties, it provides a clear, manageable way to break down complex tasks into smaller, more achievable steps.

This flexibility ensures that every learner can find a method that works for them.

So, what's next?

The right support can help struggling writers to express their ideas and thoughts on the subjects they’re studying, without being held back by spelling, structuring, or wondering what to write next.

Want to learn more about using DocsPlus to support learners throughout their secondary education? Take a look at the resources below!

• Supporting struggling readers to access the secondary curriculum
  
  
• 5 benefits of using DocsPlus for exam access arrangements
  
  
• DocsPlus through the writing process

For specific advice about your classroom, you can book a customer care meeting if you’re a DocsPlus user.

Or, if you’re interested in learning more, you can book a free discovery call.