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.

Teach, Don't Just Tell: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey – Two Writing Teachers Podcast

Stacey spotlights a foundational principle of writing instruction: "Teach, don’t just tell." Inspired by Sarah Valter’s insights and rooted in educational research, she explores the impact of modeling: making the invisible processes of writing visible for our students. You’ll hear about the difference between simply giving directions and authentically showing your thinking and writing moves, and why this distinction matters so much for young writers. Stacey also discusses practical ways to shift from telling to teaching and offers reflective questions to help you examine your own classroom practices.GO DEEPER:Read “Teachers Model and Think Aloud: Practices of Great Writing Teachers” by Sarah ValterUse these reflective questions:1) Do you mostly give directions, or do you model your thinking and writing?2) In one-on-one conferences, do your questions and feedback help students try new strategies, or do you just tell them what to do next?3) When you use mentor texts, are they published works, curriculum samples, or your own writing?4) If you use your own writing, do you show your process? That is, do you let students see your thinking, mistakes, revisions, and decisions?5) Are you only sharing the finished product, or also the rough drafts and your thoughts about them?6) What chances do you give students to see your real process, and do you invite their questions or encourage them to notice your writing moves?Send 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.