blogging · community

Saying Goodbye

When I joined the Two Writing Teachers team in 2013, I never imagined what an important part of my life it would become. I had recently moved from Brooklyn to rural Vermont, I was pregnant with my son Jackson, and my daughter was just about to turn four years old. Eleven years of posting later,… Continue reading Saying Goodbye

graphic novel · Joy · student engagement · units of study

Graphic Novels: The Perfect Way to End the Year

Graphic Novels: The Perfect Way to End the Year. Learn how you can leverage all the work you've done in writing workshop all year long to ignite joy and engagement.

checklists · choice · games · partnerships · teaching tools · toolkits

Play Up Partner Time! 3 Quick Games That Yield Joy, Ownership, & Success

Finding small ways to infuse a playful spirit into writing workshop keeps me (and students) feeling excited about each day’s experience. When we tinker with new ways of approaching workshop learning routines, everyone wins! Today’s tips are focused on simple ways to play up partner time. 

collaboration · end of year reflection · Reflective Practice

Writing Teachers: It’s Time to Pass the Baton!

By taking a few simple steps and asking some easy questions, you can pass your knowledge about your current students on to the next teacher and prepare for a new group of incoming writers.

interactive writing

A Teacher’s Guide to Interactive Writing: A Book Review and a Giveaway

Interactive writing is the missing link to engaging writing instruction that's both effective and incredibly fun. Matt Halpern's new book, A Teacher's Guide to Interactive Writing, explores what it is, why it's effective, and how to get started.