"Writing minilessons are brief, focused, explicit lessons that help children understand and apply the characteristics of effective writing and nurture their ability to write with purpose, imagination, and voice. Each minilesson engages children in inquiry that leads to the discovery of a general principle from The Literacy Continuum. Why are writing minilessons important? As an instructional context, writing minilessons: Focus learning on a single idea so children can apply the learning and build on it daily Foster community through the development of shared language Use an inquiry approach to support active, constructive learning Make connections using mentor texts from interactive read-aloud and shared reading Create relevance by linking to previous learning experiences Expand students' writing competencies and link them to reading Generate anchor charts for student reference Nurture student independence with opportunities to extend learning".