This Tip for Tomorrow explores the art of essay writing beyond the traditional structure and formula. Stacey delves into "writing to think" and how students can infuse microstories into their essays to enhance their ideas. From choosing relevant stories to crafting concise microstories, she provides practical guidance on engaging the reader and connecting these stories to the central message of the essay. By balancing storytelling with other writing techniques, students can create impactful...

In this episode, we address the challenge of finding enough time to teach writing workshop daily in elementary school. We discuss the importance of writing instruction for students' literacy development and provide practical strategies for teachers to maximize their writing instruction time. This episode covers topics such as establishing efficient writing routines, ways to prioritize writing instruction, integrating writing across the curriculum, utilizing technology for writing instruction,...

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform. You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. Melanie Meehan: [email protected] Stacey Shubitz: [email protected] Email us at [email protected] for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities. For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

This Tip for Tomorrow episode explores ten practical tips for keeping minilessons brief and effective. Stacey discusses the importance of preparedness, including having all teaching materials ready and communicating clearly with students about what they should bring to the meeting area. She highlights the benefits of assigning "talking partners" and minimizing interruptions during the lesson. In addition, she delves into using checklists, teaching management skills, recording lessons for...

Sarah Valter, one of our TWTBlog co-authors, joins Melanie this week to discuss ways to inspire word explorers, the children in our classrooms who, for various reasons, need additional support or scaffolding to commit words to the page. For more inspiration, check out these books, podcast episodes, and blog posts: Discover What Writers REALLY Need By KidwatchingEmbrace an Asset-Based Approach: A Digging Deeper DialogueEvery Child Can Write: Entry Points, Bridges, and Pathways for Striving...

Give the kids the freedom to tell many kinds of stories during a narrative writing unit. Melanie shares three ideas you can use to help students have a surge of writing during a narrative writing unit. Go deeper with these posts from the TWTBlog archives: Continuing Along the Narrative PathwayLet's Pretend!Narrative Writing: Expand the Possibilities of Genres You TeachSome Narrative Writing FunTapping Into the Power of Some New Mentor Texts***** Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us...

Join us to explore the potential of minilessons as a forum for whole-class instruction. Peeling back the layers, we delve into the art of teaching writing behaviors, behaviors, strategies, and more in ten minutes or less. We thoroughly examine the four essential parts of a minilesson: connection, teach, active engagement, and link, shedding light on how each part impacts young writers.  Past #TWTBlog Posts and #TWTPod Episodes: Mastering the Art of a Successful Writing Workshop: A Digging...

In this episode, Stacey shares five valuable steps for cooperating teachers who are hosting with student teachers in leading a writing workshop for elementary school students. Stacey begins by sharing her personal experience and the challenges she faced when initially handing over the reins to student teachers. The five steps for empowering student teachers are: establishing clear expectations, modeling effective teaching practices, gradually increasing responsibility, providing constructive...

Unlock the secrets of a successful writing workshop! Dive into the dynamic framework that increases student growth. Every workshop begins with an engaging minilesson and ends with intentional sharing time. Discover the power of independent writing time with conferring, small group work, and the short, but mighty mid-workshop interruption. Listen until the end for several tips for maximizing your writing block and fitting it all in.  Read more about the fundamentals of the writing workshop: A...

Delve into the essential elements of building your conferring toolkit! Melanie explores the valuable tools, demonstration writing, and paper choices you'll want to stock in your toolkit. She'll even share a suggestion about the surprising impact of mints! Unlock the key to effective conferring by equipping yourself with everything you need to confidently engage and support your students.  Go Deeper Archive of TWTBlog Posts About ToolkitsBuilding Toolkits for Writing Instruction: A Digging...

Discover what a conferring toolkit is, why it's essential, and how to create one that suits your needs. This episode will share must-have items, tips for organizing, and the benefits of incorporating digital setups. Get valuable advice on updating your toolkit, embracing change, and capturing photographs of your resources. Remember, tools don't teach—people do. So let us help you get started building your conferring toolkit today! ***** Items We Mentioned in the Podcast: Chart Podcast...

Join us as we explore how filling out conference cards alongside students makes them more responsible for their learning journey.   Also, conference cards are an excellent way to check what's been taught, and what's been accomplished between writing conferences and plan the next steps for student success!  Some useful links: Conference cardsA Few Ideas for ConferringRecord Keeping: A Digging Deeper DialoguePlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite...

In this episode, we explore the concept of greenbelt writing and its profound impact on young writers. We discuss why children must be free to play with words without grading pressure. We discuss how allowing kids to choose their preferred genres empowers creativity and fosters a genuine love for writing. Through discussion, we share the true essence of greenbelt writing—an unmanicured and imperfect form of expression that prioritizes the growth and well-being of the writer. We explore how...

This week, we're diving into a game-changing strategy to help students struggling with spelling. Not only will it provide immediate assistance to kids when they need it, but it will also become a strategy for monitoring student progress. You won't want to miss this episode that will empower you and your students on the spelling journey! Link to the keyrings mentioned in the episode. Check out more Two Writing Teachers blog posts about spelling. ***** Please subscribe to our podcast and...

Learn how to kick off the school year with successful writing partnerships. Discover the benefits of pairing young writers together. Get tips on how to pair students effectively, teach effective communication, and make writing partnerships joyful. Take advantage of this valuable information to help your students grow as writers. Elevate your writing partnerships with our top #TWTBlog posts. Whether you’re just starting or looking to strengthen your skills, we’ve got you covered with our...

Are you a teacher who sometimes forgets to compliment your students during writing conferences? Don't worry. You're not alone! But compliments are an essential part of building confident and competent young writers. In this episode, Stacey explores ways to make space for compliments during those limited conference times. Learn how to start your conference with research and build on a student's strengths. Discover sentence stems to help you give sincere and impactful compliments that will...

Teachers' expectations of their students can significantly impact their outcomes, so it's vital to have an asset-based approach. Using an asset-based lens, we look for the positive things students can do rather than focusing on their deficits. This shift can occur in teacher-teacher and teacher-student interactions, such as examining student work with a positive lens and emphasizing the importance of compliments and positive feedback. In this podcast, we'll explore how these shifts in...

Ready to create a thriving writing workshop in your classroom? Our latest podcast episode has got you covered! We discuss the components of a successful writing workshop approach, including ample writing time, building a strong community, mentor texts, & more. Plus, we explore how to infuse joy into the workshop so it's fun for students. Tune in to learn how to nurture your students' love of writing and help them find their own writing process. Grab a coffee, hit play, and remember to...

Are you a literacy coach looking to take your professional development to the next level, or are you a classroom teacher who wants more out of the PD you receive? Our latest episode has got you covered! Tune in for various ideas, from incorporating dedicated writing time into PD sessions to searching for mentor texts as a faculty member. More nuanced options, like video studies and lab sites, are discussed. This episode has inspiring ideas to help you take your PD to the next level.  What's...

Summer vacation can be when children's writing lives take a backseat to other activities. What if we could help our students pursue writing that interests them during the summer break? Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski, a former #TWTBlog co-author, joins us to discuss how to keep students writing during the summer months. Join Kathleen and Stacey as they explore practical strategies for encouraging and supporting our students' writing lives during the summer months. From journaling to blogging to...

There are many ways teachers of writing can use A.I.! From exemplar and demonstration texts to feedback on your in-process writing, to providing starting points for curriculum documents, this episode will provide you with some ideas for using A.I. to maximize your preparation time. Where to access Chat GPT: https://chat.openai.com/chat This requires you to set up an account, but you can also access many of the features at poe.com. Books, blog posts, and other resources mentioned in this...

It's essential to keep mentor texts meaningful for students so they can learn how to use them effectively and independently. In this episode, Stacey shares four practical strategies to encourage children to return to mentor texts repeatedly. These include whole-class text studies, the "return and reflect" process, using craft move charts in picture books, and encouraging students to "read like a writer" when they're reading for pleasure. By implementing these techniques, teachers can help...

Are you ready to help your students take their spelling skills to the next level? We discuss spelling development and the benefits of invented spelling, word sorts, and personalized word walls. We also explore practical strategies that empower kids to become confident spellers and make the most of an "Editing Minute." Whether you're a teacher or a parent, our episode contains valuable tips to help your students succeed. Tune in now! Go Deeper:Be the First Reader of Your WritingBeyond the...

Libro.fm Offer: Use the TWTPod Code Receive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership. Credits can be used on your choice of more than 275,000 audiobooks on Libro.fm.After your first month, you’ll pay $14.99 USD for one audiobook credit per month, and each payment supports local bookstores. Members also receive 30% off when buying audiobooks à la carte. Pause or cancel at anytime and keep your audiobooks. Engaging with good writing helps students develop a vision...

Independent writing projects are among the best ways to infuse joy into your writing workshop. These projects are a blessing for students who love to write, but they’re also a way to hook striving writers.  A Few #TWTBlog Posts About Independent Writing Projects: Closing the Summer Writing GapFrom the Classroom to the World: How a Young Writer is Making Her Voice HeardHow to Reinvigorate Writing Workshop With Joy Through Independent Writing ProjectsIndependent Writing: 10 Ways to Get...