New Blog Series: Starting with What Matters Most in Writing Workshop

It was only days until the close of the school year.  I stood in the back of the classroom and watched as Dennis worked with purpose and independence.  During the first semester of the year, Dennis and I shared several conferences discussing how writers get ideas. Each time as I walked away, I hoped this would be the time Dennis would generate a topic and begin writing.

Now, as I watched Dennis and the other students, I couldn’t help but feel pride as the students chose tools, collaborated with peers, and worked true to their process as writers. I noticed similarities in the steps the writers took, but it was evident Dennis and the other students were true to who they were as writers and each one had developed an identity as a writer.

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Over the next eight days, my friends and I here at Two Writing Teachers will share what goes into developing writers who work with agency, purpose, and independence in our blog series, Starting With What Matters Most.  Set a reminder or mark your calendars, you won’t want to miss a day of these timely posts.

• Later today, in a separate post, I will share how my class and I work to find our writing audience.
• Tomorrow, Kathleen will share how she works to help writers create a writing identity.
• On Wednesday, Lisa will share the importance of notebooks in a writing workshop.  
• On Thursday, Melanie will talk about the tools to develop independence and repertoire in writing.
• On Friday, Stacey will share ideas on how to make writing a priority in your schedule.
• On Saturday, Beth will post on the effect of play in our minds and joy in our hearts in a writing workshop.
• On Sunday, Betsy will share the power of talk in writing.
• On Monday, Dana will post the on the value of work habits in writing workshop. In addition, we’ll host a “Starting with What Matters Most” Twitter Chat on Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. EDT/5:30 p.m. PDT.
• Last, but not least, on Tuesday, Dana will wrap up the series with an In Case You Missed It post (ICYMI) where you can revisit and highlight the tips you want to take into your workshop this year!

Wait!

There’s more! We have shared a few links to past posts. We  chose each one specifically to help get you ready for the new school year. 

• Creating Classroom Environments
• Pens vs. Pencils: Which One is Better for Writing Workshop
• How to Read A Unit of Study
• 5 Ideas To Create A Classroom Of Writers
• 7 Things I Want the Writers in my Classroom to Kno
• Are You Ready for Technology?
• Starting the Year with Empty Walls
• Kindergarten Writing Workshop: The First Weeks
• Building Stamina in Primary Writers
• Beginning Year Read Alouds
• Our Inner Writing Critic
• Give Heart Maps a Rest! Try Writing Territory Maps!
• Writing Mantras for the New School Year