The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) Practice Guide, "Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers," offers educators four specific, evidence-based recommendations that address the challenge of teaching writing in elementary school. This summary focuses on the first of the four recommendations: Providing adequate time for students to practice writing is an essential element of any effective writing instruction program. Even so, recent surveys of elementary teachers have shown that students spend little time writing during the school day. Instructional time dedicated to learning writing skills and strategies is necessary for students to become effective writers. Students also need opportunities to practice what they learn so that they can gain confidence in their writing ability. During these writing opportunities, teachers can better identify students' difficulties and aid them in learning and applying writing skills. This brief document provides steps to carry out the recommendation and identifies potential roadblocks and suggests ways to address them. [For "Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers: A Practice Guide. NCEE 2012-4058," see ED533112.]