argument writing · opinion writing · persuasive writing · questions

Where’s The Evidence: What to do When Writers Don’t Know

How can we prepare for the complexity of writing instruction and the roadblocks for students? We can create question sequences that help us prepare for the side-by-side conversations as writers develop and create.

opinion writing · partnerships · reflections · revision · social media

Writing With Open Eyes: Teaching Young Writers to Recognize Bias and Create with Clarity

The purpose of writing is to impact readers. This post explores strategies for helping students of all ages understand the bias that lives in writing and how to express ideas with clarity and intention.

ELL · opinion writing · partnerships · Straight from the Classroom

Stronger & Clearer: A Partnership Protocol

The Stronger & Clearer protocol incorporates oral rehearsal, peer feedback, and revision into the writing process. Check out the steps to try this partnership protocol in your own classroom.

adolescent literacy · argument writing · mentor texts · middle school · Modernizing Mentor Texts Blog Series · opinion writing · persuasive writing

Opinionated Mentors: Modernizing Mentor Texts

When choosing texts for any genre, engagement, purpose, and accessibility play a part in finding mentors that will move writers.

mentor texts · opinion writing · Ready-to-Go Tip

Energize Opinion Writing with Surprising Mentor Texts: Ready-to-Go Tip

Unlock engagement in an opinion writing unit of study with mentor texts that widen the possibilities for students.

opinion writing · persuasive writing

The Dissatisfaction Spectrum: Gearing Up for Persuasive Writing

Persuasive writing is a powerful tool for writers. It allows them to recognize and articulate those feelings, and creates an avenue for expression, empowerment, and change in the community. Some students need scaffolding when it comes to thinking about issues or problems. Using the dissatisfaction spectrum is one way to bring students in touch with their emotions and identify the topics that matter most in their lives.

argument writing · opinion writing · oral language

Use Oral Language to Strengthen Opinion Writing (For Writers of All Ages!)

There are many layers to developing a good opinion piece, and oral language can be used to support students throughout this process in ways that are both engaging and fun. Here is a quick if/then troubleshooting guide to support the use of oral language to build opinion writing skills.

engagement · opinion writing · play · writing workshop

Revving Up Opinion Writing– Or Any Unit!

Truth: Any unit at any point in the year has the potential to lose energy, and adding some play has the power to rev a unit right back up.

Meet Writers Where They Are Blog Series · opinion writing · progressions

Generating Ideas for Opinion Writing: Meet Writers Where They Are

A Great Coach This past summer, my daughter, Sophia, practiced diving. Coach Jodi was kind enough to open her backyard pool up to us for private swim lessons. Sophia would stand at the pool's ledge, toes curled around the ledge, and arms pointed together into the pool. Next, Coach Jodi would say, "Go!"  The outcome… Continue reading Generating Ideas for Opinion Writing: Meet Writers Where They Are

Expand the Possibilities of Genres You Teach · opinion writing · persuasive writing

Opinion Writing: Expand the Possibilities of Genres You Teach

When planning any genre study, we can ponder:  How can the experience children have with this genre become more like the experience they can have with it in the world? In doing so, we can draw from our own experience with writing. We can study the craft of other writers. We can peruse bookshelves. We… Continue reading Opinion Writing: Expand the Possibilities of Genres You Teach

charts · opinion writing · progressions · standards · teacher writing · writing workshop

Sitting Side By Side With Standards

There is power in knowing and understanding standards because within them, we can extract teaching points, learning targets, and even success criteria. In this post, we'll thing about how we can use the standards so set up anchor charts, as well as learning progressions in order to establish clarity and navigable pathways for writers.

chartbooks · charts · opinion writing · writing workshop

A Peek into Opinion Writing

Here's a peek at some of my favorite tools for opinion writing and perhaps some ideas for developing tools for other genres, as well.