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!)

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.

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!

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.

Writing Workshop in Contentious Times: A Digging Deeper Dialogue – Two Writing Teachers Podcast

In the season four finale, Stacey Shubitz and Melanie Meehan tackle the increasingly contentious topic of “writing workshop” in today’s educational climate. They reflect on the origins and evolution of the writing workshop, the research supporting its key principles, and why certain foundational practices remain crucial, even if the label itself is under fire. Drawing from recent evidence-based recommendations and their own classroom experiences, Stacey and Melanie unpack what truly effective writing instruction looks like and why authentic, joyful writing communities matter now more than ever.Resources Mentioned:“All Children Can Write” by Donald H. GravesCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts“Evidence-based recommendations for teaching writing” by Steve Graham, Alyson A. Collins & Stephen CiulloLiteracy Specialist Graduate Program at Teachers CollegeMore Than Words: How to Think about Writing in the Age of AI by John WarnerSentence Structure for Young Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieThe Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy CalkinsTransfer Writing Skills Across Genres: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyWriting, 20th Anniversary Ed.: Teachers & Children at Work by Donald H. GravesSend us Fan MailPlease 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.comEmail us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

1. Writing Workshop in Contentious Times: A Digging Deeper Dialogue 45:58
2. Use the Summer to Cultivate Your Wri-dentity: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 06:57
3. What General Educators Need to Know About Neurodiversity in the Writing Classroom: A Writing Roundtable 01:02:45
4. Introduce Summer Writing Bingo Boards: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie 08:14
5. Turn Authors Into Mentors for Your Students: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey 07:10