The Never-Fail Method in a Nutshell

I developed this method of teaching writing while I was an instructor in a developmental education program for adults. There was a wide range of learner levels in the program, ranging from people who could barely read at all to people working at a level equivalent to Grade 10. Class size varied from 12 learners at the basic literacy level to 28 at the higher levels.  

I present the method here as I practiced it with classes of learners, but it is easily adapted to working one-to-one, or with very small groups. Usually there were English language learners (ELL) mixed in with native speakers in the groups, and I have also used this method working one-to-one with English learners.  

The Never-Fail Writing Method helps learners improve their writing by focusing only on their successes, and ignoring all errors. The practitioner finds small examples in learners’ writing of things that are done well, and uses those examples as a the basis for teaching how to write.  

The principles behind the Never-Fail Writing Method are few:  

• Give specific, detailed feedback to learners about what they have done well.  
• Give the feedback to each learner in a group of other learners, whenever possible, so they can learn from each other, so your work with one learner’s writing can benefit everyone.  
• Ignore all mistakes. 

There are only a few deceptively simple steps in the method.