Following Jessica’s invitation to rally a community of writers, this post focuses on the behind-the-scenes work of February. Before teachers begin writing together in March, they need systems, resources, and reassurance. Here’s how one shared Google Doc became a support system that helped teachers feel ready to show up.
Author: Ana Valentina Patton
Tiny January: A Simple Plan to Train for SOL
I’m thinking about writing challenges the way runners think about races: you don’t just show up; you train. In this post, I’m treating January as a practice season for March, focusing on consistency over perfection. One sentence a day. Low stakes. Building trust in my writing muscles. If you’re feeling the nudge to write too, come train alongside me.
Three Shifts Toward Becoming a Present Writing Teacher
Writing Workshop helped me rediscover my love for writing and the importance of being a teacher who writes. This post explores the barriers that hold us back and the small shifts that help us show up as present writers. If you’ve ever said “Yes, but…,” this is for you.
When Reggio Meets Writing Workshop
Working in a Reggio-Emilia-inspired school has allowed me to see writing workshop practices through new lenses, bringing greater depth to the art of teaching writing, to how students and teachers collaborate, and to the power of documenting student learning.
Purposeful Teaching Shares, Lasting Impact
The teaching share may take only a few minutes, but its impact is lasting. When we close writing workshops with self-assessment, communication, and reflection, we show students that writing is never done—it’s a cycle of noticing, trying, refining, and reflecting.
From Talk to Text: Launching Writing with Conversation
How a few minutes of talk can spark ideas, boost confidence, and fill notebooks with writing kids care about.

