interactive writing

A Teacher’s Guide to Interactive Writing: A Book Review and a Giveaway

Interactive writing is the missing link to engaging writing instruction that's both effective and incredibly fun. Matt Halpern's new book, A Teacher's Guide to Interactive Writing, explores what it is, why it's effective, and how to get started.

agency

“Is This Good?” Building Self-Reliance in Student Writers

Picture a writing workshop. Students hum along on various pieces. Inevitably, a student approaches to ask: “Is this right?” “Is this good?” My experience and wisdom matter as a teacher. My support and guidance are critical. Still, I’d hope that students’ sense of pride and accomplishment wouldn’t depend on what I think of their work. I’ve discovered some conversational tools and classroom strategies that help me foster students’ sense of confidence and trust in themselves. I’m sharing them with you here.

bilingual · interactive writing · kindergarten · writing workshop

Possibilities for Interactive Writing in a Bilingual Classroom

In a bilingual classroom, it is so important to build community around speaking, listening, and writing together. Interactive writing is a fantastic tool that can support this goal.

mentor texts

Mentor Texts as Springboards for Writing

I'm always on the hunt for books that capture a universal experience in a way that opens possibilities for writing in response (or in conversation). Mentor texts that invite writers to riff off their brilliance while creating something entirely new. April Pulley Sayre’s latest picture book, In Between, is exactly that kind of book (Beach Lane Books, 2023).