back to school · celebration · community · end of year reflection · engagement · first day · ideas for the future · independence · inspiration · motivation · notebooks · reflections · Reflective Practice · reluctant writers · struggling writers · student engagement · Student ownership · writer identity · writing life · writing workshop

“Dear Future Me…”: An End-of-Year Activity That Builds Confidence for Next Year’s Writing Workshop

Your students filled notebooks, found their voices, and grew as writers this year—don't make them start from scratch in September. Try “Dear Future Me…”, a simple end-of-year writing tradition that helps students reflect, celebrate progress, and walk into next year’s workshop already confident, capable, and ready to write from day one.

accessibility · reluctant writers · student engagement · Student ownership · TWT Help Desk Blog Series

TWT Help Desk: What if They Say, “I Don’t Write?”

Be ready for the students who challenge you at every turn. We often learn more about how to teach writers when we work with students who face the most significant writing obstacles.

Save a Seat for Every Writer Blog Series · stamina · struggling writers · Student ownership

Stamina Seekers: Save a Seat for Every Writer

Building stamina as a writer takes practice and patience. With the right tools, teachers can provide an environment where students who seek stamina can thrive.

agency · collaboration · small group · student engagement · Student ownership

Increase the Number of Teachers in the Room with Student-Led Small Groups

An extra teacher is always a gift, especially when working with young authors. But what if we looked for teachers within those tiny writers?

personalization · prompts · revision · student engagement · Student ownership · teaching tools · writing workshop

Revision at Work: Is This Good?

Do you ever hear the question, "Is this good?"

assessment · authentic assessment · data · feedback · formative assessment · giveaway · goals · growth mindset · high school · middle school · monitoring student learning · peer conferring · personalization · reading-writing connections · record keeping · Reflective Practice · Sarah M. Zerwin · self-assessment · standards · student engagement · Student ownership · writing workshop

Point-Less by Sarah M. Zerwin: A Review and Giveaway

Sarah Zerwin is workshop to her core, and she has found ways to ensure that her assessment practices are not sending conflicting messages to kids. Point-Less will challenge readers to reflect and inspire them to advocate for change.

goals · lesson plans · student engagement · Student ownership

Questions as Learning Target Prompts

Learning targets, Post-Its, and I Can statements live in classrooms everywhere. Consider building those together through questions and prompts!

greenbelt writing · hopes and dreams · independence · independent writing · independent writing projects · informal writing · motivation · publishing · student engagement · Student ownership · writer's notebook · writing workshop

Ten Possible Minutes: Sacred Writing

Every year brings with it new surprises. I was delightfully surprised by just ten minutes this year. Ten minutes made a big difference.

Student ownership · writing workshop

A License to Write: Giving Ownership to the Writer

I am a writer and a teacher of writing. I have experienced the pivotal role ownership has on my writing and my willingness to write. As teachers of writing, we have the opportunity to give the students in our classrooms the license of ownership over their writing.

authentic writing · authors · choice · Student ownership · writing workshop

Exposing, Sharing, & Connecting: Helping Writers See Why We Write

When we know the purpose or the why in our work we work intentionally. As teachers, knowing our writers are working with intention allows us to trust the students. With trust, we can step back and allow students to make the decisions about their writing.

authentic writing · independent writing projects · lessons learned from students · Student ownership

From the Classroom to the World: How a Young Writer is Making Her Voice Heard

Find out how Amelia Poor, age 12, learned "at a really young age how powerful writing can be."

Amelia's journey will surely inspire you and your young writers!

audience · authentic writing · blogging · Student ownership · writing workshop

Making the Writer Better: Getting Started with Blogging

As I move forward in planning summer professional development for the teachers in my district, I am already finding the infographic invaluable.  In planning my session, “Getting Started with Blogging” I found the information on the infographic guiding each slide and each step as I planned the presentation.