For years, therapists have known that body positioning to increase attention and upper extremity stability is important. But those strategies have focused on children that have been seen by therapists in classrooms and clinics to address decreased attention span, core stability, and handwriting concerns. Today, Karen Reale, an occupational therapist, provides tips and tricks that can be applicable to any child who is learning in a classroom, hybrid setting, or at home this fall. This quick, informative post will help teachers educate caregivers on the importance of healthy positioning at home or wherever their child does their schoolwork.
Layers of Learning: A Review and Giveaway
Our instructional minutes count more than ever this year. Read on to discover a new professional book that will help you maximize your teaching in reading and writing while helping your students grow in character and mindset. JoEllen McCarthy's new professional book, Layers of Learning, is a must read! Comment on the post for a chance to win your own copy.
Virtual Small-Group Instruction
I have learned from Meghan Hargrave, "Hold tight to what we know works and let go of concerns that we can't control."
It’s Tuesday: Welcome to Slice of Life Story Challenge
Welcome to the Slice of Life Story Challenge. You are invited to write a slice of life from your week, share it with others by linking below, and give comments of your own to three other bloggers.
My Three Remote Teacher Survival Tips
As we all venture into another week of instruction, no matter what that may look like, I have three tips for surviving and thriving in these times.
Supporting Writers Across the Writing Process
For every writer, the writing process is a little bit different. As teacher writers, we all struggle at different points and our students are no different. Today I offer a few tools for supporting writers at different points of the writing process . . .
Interval Training With Writers
Interval training has added movement and fun to the classrooms I've seen try it out. Everyone appreciates a change of pace, and sometimes, this is a great way to add that change up into the classroom repertoire.
Resources Teachers Can Share With Families: Increase Writing Volume and Stamina at Home
Teaching my own kids is humbling to say the least. At home, I am not the special visiting teacher. I'm not even the teacher. At home, I'm mom, and it is the understatement of the century to say that it is a challenge to teach my own kids.
Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge
Welcome to the weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge. Write your story, share it, and then comment on other posts.
Providing Tools for Writing and Sharing Writing Through the Pandemic
Calling all primary writing teachers. Today Janet Ahn shares how she worked with her Kindergarteners to continue thrive in writing workshop through the pandemic. These young scholars continued to draft pieces, engage in conferring, collaborate to mark up mentor texts, and publish their writing through online platforms. Their dedication to continuing the writing workshop virtually was a reflection of how they truly saw themselves as writers.
September 11, 2020
Each year, Two Writing Teachers Blog pauses to mark the events of September 11, 2001. It's hard to believe it's been 19 years. However you choose to honor the loss and the heroism of so many, we are with you.
Exploring Character Traits with Reflective Journal Prompts
A back to school 2020 problem for those of us teaching in person- what do you do during masks breaks? A reflective journal that connects to character traits was my solution! Read on for resources I am sharing that match character traits with read alouds and reflective journal prompts.

