independent writing · Reflective Practice · revision · self-assessment · visual thinking strategies · writer identity · writing process

Five Tips to Building a Rereading Habit

Do you make time for your writers to reread? Rereading is one of those pieces of the workshop we might be assuming our writers are doing but direction is needed to really make it a habit. Here are five tips to give rereading a place in your writing workshop this year.

independent writing projects · soft starts · writer identity

A Soft Start To Writing Workshop

When thinking about the year ahead, you may be considering soft starts to the day. In this post, I share the why's and how's for having soft start to writing workshop.

compliment · growth mindset · key beliefs · language · middle school · Reflective Practice · writer identity

The Power of Language Revisited

When it comes to the teaching of writing in a writing workshop, language is everything.  It is through the words we teachers choose that writers are created, built up, encouraged, and inspired.

audience · celebration · informational writing · Katherine Bomer · motivation · nurturing · publishing · writer identity

Writing Celebrations…But Why?

With all the pressures imposed by a segmented, unforgiving middle school schedule, why make time for writing celebrations? Are they really that important? Yes!

community · teacher of writing · teacher writing · Teachers who write · Write: It's good for you! · writer identity · writers · writing · writing process · writing workshop · young authors

Writing Takes Guts: My Writing Backstory

The realization of this moment gave me chills and led me to share my writing backstory with Dana. Dana listened and encouraged me to open my presentation with this story. I was hesitant, the experience had halted my inner writer for years. What if sharing it again had the same result?

authors · writer identity · writers · writing workshop

Discovering and Developing Student Writer Identity

For writers to grow, they must develop writer identities. How do we help them do that?