A Simple Way to Restart Writing in January

Getting Back in the Swing of Writing in January

January can feel… a little tricky.

Winter break is over, routines feel rusty, and suddenly students who were writing in December are saying things like:

“I can’t write a sentence.”, “I don’t know what to write.”, “This feels hard.”

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

January is one of those months where jumping straight back into full writing units can feel overwhelming—for both teachers and students. Instead of pushing for long writing pieces right away, this is a great time to slow down, rebuild confidence, and focus on writing skills in a simple, supportive way.

Why January Is the Perfect Time to Reset Writing

After a long break, students often need:

• A routine reset

• Short, familiar tasks

• Opportunities to feel successful quickly

  
  

When writing feels too big, students shut down. That’s why January is an ideal month to return to sentence-level writing, guided practice, and predictable routines that help writing feel doable again.

This isn’t about lowering expectations—it’s about rebuilding momentum.

A Simple, Scaffolded Way to Restart Writing

One of my favorite ways to ease back into writing in January is by using themed writing practice with a consistent structure.

Instead of introducing a brand-new format every day, students work through familiar activity types while the theme changes. This allows them to focus on the writing itself—not the directions.

Each January theme includes:

• Sentence corrections (capital letters, punctuation, spelling)

• Cloze and word-choice sentences

• Short quick writes

• One more open-ended writing prompt

The activities naturally move from more supported to more independent, helping students build confidence and writing stamina as the month goes on.

January Writing Themes Students Can Relate To

Using familiar, seasonal topics helps students connect to their writing without overthinking.

January themes include:

• Winter Weather

• Winter Animals

• Growth Mindset

• Classroom Expectations

  
  

Because the structure stays the same, students quickly learn what to do—even after a long break.

Perfect for Theme Days, Sub Plans, or Extra Practice

These January writing pages are incredibly flexible and easy to use.

Teachers often use them for:

✔ Theme Days

Choose one theme and use the pages across a day or week for a focused writing block.

✔ Easy Sub Plans

Print an entire themed set and leave it for a substitute. The predictable routine helps writing time run smoothly.

✔ Extra Practice or Centers

Use individual pages for writing centers, small groups, early finishers, or intervention—without extra prep.

This flexibility makes January writing feel calm and manageable.

Building Confidence Before Full Writing Units

The goal in January isn’t perfect writing—it’s confidence.

By practicing sentence-level skills and short responses, students begin to:

• Feel successful again

• Take small risks with writing

• Strengthen sentence structure

• Feel more prepared for longer writing pieces later

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January writing doesn’t have to be big to be meaningful. Sometimes, a gentle reset is exactly what students need.

A Supportive Way to Start the Year Strong

If you’re looking for a simple way to get writing back on track after winter break, I created a January Writing Activities pack for first grade designed to support this exact transition.

It’s ideal for:

• Writing centers

• Small groups

• Theme days

• Easy sub plans

• Extra practice during January

  
  

👉You can find the resource here.

Final Thought

January is about easing back in, rebuilding routines, and helping students feel capable again.

When writing feels doable, confidence follows.

Welcome back, and happy writing!