Biweekly Recap #ICYMI

As the chaos of fall picks up around me (School! Sports! Pumpkins and apples and sweater weather!), I have to remind myself often to slow down, take a deep breath, and recharge. During my hectic weeks it’s easy to miss out on great posts on Two Writing Teachers blog, so I savor the time I make to catch up on the weekends. If you’re in “catch up” mode, too, here’s a quick roundup of some of the latest and greatest posts from the past two weeks from Two Writing Teachers!

Are your students struggling to stick to a single point of view in their writing? Stacey tackles this topic with some great tips for writing with a consistent point of view. (Bonus: She also shares some fabulous second person mentor texts!)

Mentor Texts for Navigating Second Person Point of View

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes

Storytelling is at the heart of our work with our youngest children, and no one illuminated the power of telling stories more than the late early childhood educator Vivian Gussin Paley. Jenna reminds us of Paley’s powerful insights into the world of children at play and challenges us all to create classrooms in which play and storytelling are at the forefront.

Channeling Vivian Gussin Paley

Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

If you’re looking for quick and immediate strategies to put your writers in charge of feedback, Leah shares an impactful way to increase metacognition and agency in the workshop through student-driven feedback. Her post includes charts and a video of this strategy in action so teachers can transfer this work to the classroom tomorrow!

Student-Driven Feedback: A Ready-To-Go Tip

Estimated Reading Time: 2 minutes

On #TWTPod

Writing should be joyful and purposeful, and Stacey and Melanie bring this to life in “Unleash Greenbelt Writing’s Potential: A Digging Deeper Dialogue.” Building upon the idea of Greenbelt Writing, first introduced by Ralph Fletcher in his book Joy Write, this podcast gives listeners practical and insightful ideas for infusing choice and creativity into children’s writing lives.

The Beauty of Opinion Writing: A Digging Deeper Dialogue – Two Writing Teachers Podcast

Opinion writing in grades K–6 is more than just persuasive essays. It lets kids express what they really think and see their ideas matter on the page. In this episode, we look at what makes opinion writing special: children sharing real opinions on topics they care about, building their sense of self, and bravely taking risks with their words. You’ll hear how opinion writing grows from simple preferences with pictures and labels to more thoughtful arguments that consider other viewpoints. We also share a list of mentor texts you can use to lift the level of your students’ opinion writing. Finally, we offer ways to celebrate students’ work, like author’s chair, hallway displays, family mailings, and online publishing, all focused on giving students a voice and the joy of sharing their opinions with real audiences.Go Deeper Doug KaufmannTracey LafayetteBeth Moore’s website for paperThe New York Times’ Writing ContestsBooks We Mentioned:1,000 Awesome Things by Neil PasrichaBreakfast on Mars and 37 Other Delectable Essays: Your Favorite Authors Take A Stab at the Dreaded Essay edited by Brad Wolfe and Rebecca SternDon’t Feed the Bear by Kathleen DohertyCan I Be Your Dog by Troy CummingsEating to Save the Planet by Ann BroylesOur Favorite Day of the Year by A.E. AliThe Black Mambas by Kelly CrullThanks to our affiliate, Zencastr! Use our special link (https://zen.ai/mqsr2kHXSP2YaA1nAh2EpHl-bWR9QNvFyAQlDC3CiEk) to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan. Send us a textPlease 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: meehanmelanie@gmail.com Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.