What action may be necessary if a student is struggling with foundational writing skills?

Administering a writing skills assessment is essential when a student struggles with foundational writing skills because it helps identify the specific areas where the student may be facing difficulties. This diagnostic approach allows educators to gather data on the student's current writing abilities, including their understanding of concepts like grammar, punctuation, and coherence. By pinpointing the exact issues, teachers can tailor their instruction to meet the student's needs more effectively, implementing targeted interventions that are likely to improve their writing skills over time.

While other options may seem beneficial, they may not directly address the teacher's understanding of the specific challenges the student faces. For instance, encouraging more independent writing might overwhelm a struggling student, and focusing solely on sentence structure could be too narrow of an approach without first understanding the broader context of the student's writing challenges. Reducing writing assignments might provide immediate relief but does not contribute to the student's skill development. Thus, the most constructive action is to first assess the student's writing abilities to inform future instruction.