Shows
Two Writing Teachers PodcastBuilding Self-Advocacy: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyDiscover how teaching self-advocacy during writing workshop empowers students to express their needs and take charge of their learning. Drawing on insights from her upcoming book, Make the School System Work for Your Child with Disabilities: Empowering Kids for the Future, Stacey shares practical sentence starters to help students ask for help with revision, clarify instructions, and participate in peer conferences with confidence. Learn how teaching your students these sentences can foster independence and help them speak up for themselves clearly. Six Self-Advocacy Sentences for Writing WorkshopI’m feeling confused about my writing. Can...
2026-01-2507 min
Diverse Thinking Different LearningEp. 252: How to Make the School System Work for Your Child with Stacey ShubitzWe are joined in this episode by Stacey Shubitz, K-6 literacy consultant, a former elementary school teacher, and the co-founder of the Two Writing Teachers blog and podcast. Her forthcoming book, Make the School System Work for Your Child with Disabilities: Empowering Kids for the Future, empowers parents to navigate the special education system. In this episode, we talk openly about what it really takes to support a child with learning challenges in today's school system. Drawing from decades of experience on both sides of the table, Stacey shares why she wrote Make the School System Work...
2026-01-2039 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastPreviewing MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES: A Digging Deeper DialogueIn this episode, Melanie talks with Stacey about her forthcoming book, Make the School System Work for Your Child with Disabilities: Empowering Kids for the Future. From its three-part structure and recurring features, such as tips for cultivating joy and engaging in self-care, to its asset-based approach that builds partnerships while fiercely advocating for services, the book offers practical guidance. Designed primarily for parents and caregivers, it also benefits educators and service providers by demystifying technical language, procedures, and processes, serving as a quick-reference roadmap—making it valuable for non-special ed teachers, new special educators, administrators, and more. It of...
2026-01-1832 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastFinding Home and Building Voice with Mentor Texts: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIn this episode, Stacey explores how picture books about moving, starting over, and making a new home—including stories of immigrants, refugees, and families in transition—can inspire and elevate students’ writing. Drawing on Rudine Sims Bishop’s work about books as mirrors and windows, she highlights three powerful titles: My Home is in My Backpack, You Are Home, and Just Say Welcome. Each book offers students opportunities to see themselves, build empathy, and practice meaningful writing craft moves. You’ll also learn a simple, actionable routine for using picture books as mentor texts in your classroom right away. Whether yo...
2025-12-0708 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastBuild Strong Writers with Executive Function Tools: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyThis episode explores practical executive functioning tools that support students’ writing and goal-setting success. Inspired by Valerie Bolling's book, Goal Setting in the Writing Classroom: Building Student Agency, Independence, and Success (Stenhouse Publishers, 2025), Stacey highlights seven strategies—such as making timelines, using timers, and tracking progress—that help improve organization, focus, and motivation. These tools build essential skills for writing and lifelong executive functioning. Drawing on personal experience, the episode shows how goal-setting applies both in and out of the classroom. Tune in to learn how to help students develop confidence and independence with their writing goals.GO DEE...
2025-11-1605 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastNot Your Granny's Grammar: The Writing RoundtableIn this Writing Roundtable episode, Stacey and Melanie talk with Patty McGee and Tim Donohue, co-authors of Not Your Granny’s Grammar. Patty and Tim explain their research-based approaches to making grammar and writing instruction engaging and meaningful for both teachers and students. They explore the history of grammar, the power of grammar notebooks and partnerships, and how to effectively integrate grammar instruction into the school day. Patty and Tim also break down the scope and sequence of their book, emphasizing teacher choice and instructional principles that nurture lifelong learners. Additionally, they highlight the invaluable grammar guide included in th...
2025-10-1235 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastMeet the Featured Writers in This Year's Author Spotlight Series: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIntroducing the 10th Annual Author Spotlight Series on the Two Writing Teachers blog, featuring daily interviews with children’s authors and illustrators who share their creative journeys and writing processes. Listeners get a preview of the week’s lineup, including stories of resilience, identity, and collaboration from Tim Donohue, Tyler Gordon, Maham Khwaja, Rebecca Gardyn Levington, Patty McGee, and Padma Venkatraman. The episode also highlights exciting book giveaways and virtual author visit opportunities for those who leave a comment on the guest authors’ posts. Get ready to be inspired by the featured authors’ experiences!Click here to r...
2025-05-1105 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastSupport Family Advocacy and Empowerment: A Digging Deeper DialogueIn this special episode, Melanie turns the tables as she interviews Stacey about her forthcoming book, which helps parents understand how to make the school system work for their child with disabilities. Hear about the personal passion that fueled this project, get an overview of the book’s three-part structure, and demystify the language of special education. The episode concludes with a discussion on the vital role of self-care, agency, and advocacy for parents, underscoring the book’s unique focus on caregiver well-being and empowerment.Go Deeper:Follow Stacey on Instagram, where she shares tips for pare...
2025-05-0434 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastMaintain & Nurture Writing Skills During Summer Break: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyLet’s revisit the Spring 2017 blog series "Keep Learning Going Throughout the Summer," which explored various strategies to maintain children's writing skills during the summer break. Stacey highlights key ideas from the 2017 co-author team, including creating personalized writing spaces, gamifying the writing process, and using books to inspire writing projects. The episode emphasizes the importance of making summer writing fun, engaging, and tailored to each child's interests and needs. Listeners are encouraged to share these strategies with colleagues and students’ families to prevent summer writing loss. GO DEEPER:Recap of the Keep Learning Going Throu...
2025-04-2008 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastFoundations of Written Expression: Digging Deeper DialogueIn this episode, Stacey interviews Melanie about her upcoming book (co-authored with Maggie Beattie Roberts), tentatively titled THE WRITING BRAIN: FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS OF WRITTEN EXPRESSION. The book emphasizes developing foundational writing skills through research- and evidence-based instructional methods. We discuss the five guiding principles featured in the book: Cognitive Load Theory, Neurological Response to Learning, The Zone of Proximal Development, Universal Design for Learning, and the Gradual Release Model. Melanie explains how their book helps teachers identify and address individual students' writing challenges. She also shares insights about the collaborative writing process with Maggie. GO DEEPER:
2025-03-3032 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastIgniting a Passion for Poetry: The Writing RoundtableWelcome to The Writing Roundtable, where we explore writing topics with guest authors. In this inaugural episode, Stacey discusses poetry’s significance in elementary education with poet Amy Ludwig VanDerwater, who describes poetry as "offerings of beautiful words by beautiful people that I don't know." Amy shares the benefits of poetry and strategies for educators, including daily readings, group writing activities, and showcasing student work. She also reflects on her journey as a children's poet, offering tips for those interested in publication. This discussion provides insights for teachers looking to enhance learning through poetry. ABOUT THIS WEE...
2025-03-1648 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastMaster the Art of Reflection with Process Logs: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyExplore the transformative power of process logs in writing instruction. Stacey reveals how process logs provide accountability, track progress, and offer authentic glimpses into the writing process. Discover how sharing these logs can make writing instruction more transparent and supportive for students. Whether you're a writer or educator, this episode offers practical strategies for using process logs to deepen your understanding of the writing craft.GO DEEPER: Explore Two Writing Teachers' blog posts about process logs.Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us...
2025-03-0908 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThe Importance of Oracy in Language Development: A Conversation With a ColleagueShawnda Fukano, a literacy coach and contributing writer to TWTBlog, chats with Stacey to expand on her blog post about oracy and its importance for multilingual learners. The discussion covers various aspects of oracy development, including success stories, challenges, and practical classroom implementation strategies. Shawnda shares her experiences balancing vocabulary and language structure instruction, using mentor texts, and incorporating active listening skills. The episode also delves into hands-on strategies for integrating oracy into daily classroom activities and effective methods for assessing students' oracy skills.Shawnda Fukano is a primary literacy coach at a dual-language school in the...
2025-03-0233 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastUsing Sticky Notes in Writing Workshop: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyStacey explores how sticky notes enhance writing workshops through three key uses: spelling assistance, sentence revisions, and personalized mini-charts. These practical ways promote student independence and offer non-intrusive feedback for customized learning, positively impacting writing skills. With these easy-to-implement ideas, you can make a positive difference in your students' writing!GO DEEPER:Something Do-Able to Try: The Editing MinuteStep Up Interactive Writing (…And Sneak In More Spelling, Vocabulary, and Grammar)Sticky Notes, Arrows, and Margins, Oh My!Toolkit Resources for Writing InstructionWriting on Students’ Work in Progress: Resetting Our Workshop PracticesSend us a te...
2025-02-0906 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastUnpacking and Implementing Insights from the 2024 NCTE Convention: A Conversation With ColleaguesJess Carey and Sarah Valter, Two Writing Teachers Co-Authors, join Stacey to unpack the transformative insights from the 2024 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention, diving deep into the conference's "Heart, Hope and Humanity" theme. The conversation explores reimagining scripted curriculum into student-centered teaching approaches. Jess and Sarah share compelling perspectives on integrating AI as a collaborative writing partner, highlighting innovative strategies that empower students rather than replace their creativity. The episode provides a candid look at some of the convention’s most inspiring sessions about the evolving landscape of literacy education. Listeners will gain insider tips fo...
2025-01-2633 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastTransfer Writing Skills Across Genres: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyThis week, Stacey explores the concept of planning and implementing a series of small group lessons to enhance students' writing skills across different genres. Drawing from her books Craft Moves and Welcome to Writing Workshop, the episode provides practical examples of teaching points that can be applied to various writing types to emphasize the importance of cross-genre application, demonstrating how skills such as establishing focus in leads and elaboration techniques can be taught and reinforced across different writing styles. Key implementation strategies, including scheduling independent practice time and maintaining flexibility in group composition, are also shared to help educators...
2025-01-1207 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastAlternatives to Marking Up Student Work: A Digging Deeper DialogueWe explore the reasons against writing directly on children's work in progress, including potential negative impacts on learning and agency. The episode discusses why educators might feel compelled to write on student work and offer alternative approaches. We delve into considerations for digital writing and introduce new thinking about orthographic mapping and the neurological connectivity of reading and writing. Finally, we provide practical strategies for supporting young writers without directly writing on their work, emphasizing the importance of fostering independence and focusing on the writing process rather than just the final product.Go Deeper:...
2025-01-0539 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastYour Small Group Instruction, Your Records: A Tip for Tomorrow From StaceyThis week, Stacey chats about the critical role of record-keeping in small-group instruction within the writing workshop. The episode highlights five key reasons why educators should prioritize record keeping. We’ll explore effective record-keeping methods, emphasizing the importance of real-time note-taking during conferences and discussing physical and digital tools for maintaining records. A particular focus is placed on using Google Forms as an efficient and organized method for record-keeping, briefly mentioning Google Apps Script for automating data organization. *****Go Deeper:Google Apps ScriptTWTBlog PostsA Few Tips for Small Group Instruction: Exp...
2024-12-0812 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastBuild Executive Functioning with Time Management Techniques: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyStacey explores the vital executive functioning skill of time management as it applies to the writing workshop. She identifies common challenges students face, from grasping time concepts to meeting deadlines, and offers practical strategies to enhance their skills. Listeners will learn about tools such as visual aids, organizational checklists, and digital planners that can help young writers stay on track. Stacey also discusses establishing routines and breaking down larger projects into manageable tasks. This episode is packed with actionable tips to foster confidence and efficiency in students as they navigate the writing process. Join Stacey to discover how to...
2024-11-1706 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastTackling Tricky Topics: A Digging Deeper DialogueWe delve into the challenging subjects that often arise in elementary school writing workshops, ranging from bodily functions and violence to mental health issues. We explore the non-negotiable aspects of topic choice and discuss establishing clear boundaries in the classroom, emphasizing the importance of creating a safe space for young writers. This conversation unpacks the various reasons why people write, highlighting the benefits of self-expression and examining audience awareness's crucial role in navigating sensitive topics. Drawing inspiration from Ralph Fletcher’s book Boys Writers: Reclaiming Their Voices, we offer insights on encouraging passionate writing while addressing concerns about violence, hu...
2024-11-1037 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastRefine Your Writing Conferences: A Digging Deeper DialogueDiscover the art of building meaningful writer-to-writer relationships and managing time effectively in brief, impactful sessions. The discussion delves into the importance of individualized focus, highlighting how concentrating on a single aspect of writing per conference can lead to more manageable and absorbing lessons for students. Additionally, the episode explores the critical skills of deep listening and intentional questioning, offering insights into how these practices can transform writing conferences and enhance student engagement.*****Go Deeper:Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Writing by Melanie MeehanPeruse the #TWTBlog Archives on...
2024-10-1335 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastFive Tangible Tools to Transform Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIn our 100th episode, Stacey explores the power of tangible artifacts in writing conferences. She discusses five essential tools to enhance the writer-to-writer relationship: mentor texts, demonstration texts, mini-charts, personalized word walls, and individualized checklists. Learn how to introduce and utilize these artifacts to support student writing effectively. Stacey also shares strategies for helping students leverage these tools independently. This episode will help you discover practical insights to make your writing instruction more impactful and foster deeper connections with your students.***** Thanks to Our Sponsor, Bookelicious!...
2024-10-0608 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastBuild Writing Confidence with the "Ready, Do, Done" Model: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIn this episode, Stacey explores the "Ready, Do, Done" model by Sarah Ward and Kristen Jacobsen to help students with executive functioning challenges become confident writers. She discusses the importance of setting clear intentions and gathering necessary materials ("Ready"), breaking down tasks and using visual aids ("Do"), and celebrating accomplishments to boost confidence ("Done"). Practical tips for teachers are provided to support students in the writing workshop. The model's flexibility and potential to empower learners in all areas are highlighted. This episode builds on a previous discussion about task initiation and is part of a series on e...
2024-09-0807 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastGet to Know Writers: A Digging Deeper DialogueThis episode delves into the importance of understanding students as writers and its benefits to educators and learners. We explore how this knowledge fosters a stronger classroom community and informs more tailored instruction. Tried-and-true methods such as kid-watching, utilizing writer's notebooks, and conducting effective one-on-one conferences during the initial weeks of school are discussed. We also highlight the value of listening to students, reviewing previous portfolios, and using digital tools like audio or video recordings for self-introductions. Finally, we examine various ways to assess writing styles and preferences, including surveys and analyzing students' writing processes, to identify their strengths...
2024-09-0144 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastExploring Best Practices and Research in Writing Instruction: A Digging Deeper DialogueIt's the final episode of season two, so we're discussing some of the best practices for writing instruction. We cover the importance of a thriving writing community and the writing process, and we explore the role of oral language in boosting writing stamina. We also discuss the importance of dedicated and intentional writing time, the reciprocity between reading and writing, and the thrill of writing for an authentic audience. This episode will tee you up for the next school year!***Many thanks to this episode’s sponsor, Texthelp! V...
2024-06-0239 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastCo-create Writing Goals: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyStacey explores the importance of co-creating goals with students to help them grow as writers. She discusses how collaboration during goal-setting enhances students' ownership, motivation, and personalized learning. It also allows for individualized growth and fosters collaboration and communication with the teacher. If you haven't tried co-creating goals with your students before, this Tip for Tomorrow will inspire you to do so with future groups of students.Go Deeper with These #TWTBlog Posts:Aim Higher: Conferring and Student GoalsCreating Clarity for WritersHow Many Stars? Tools for Self-Assessment and Goal-SettingICYMI Aim Higher: Outgrow Old Goals...
2024-05-1906 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastDeveloping Paragraph Structure: A Tip For Tomorrow from MelanieIn this episode, Melanie guides you through the art of crafting concise and well-structured paragraphs that are easy to follow and understand. With her expert tips on oral rehearsal and the use of sentence frames, she empowers young writers to hone their writing skills and develop a unique voice. Tune in to learn how to help students move from writing formulaic paragraphs to composing authentic pieces that truly showcase their writing talents.Thanks to our affiliate!Libro.fm: Use the TWTPod CodeReceive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership. C...
2024-05-1209 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastUnlock Strategies for Task Initiation: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyTask initiation is one key to student success, particularly in the context of writing instruction. The episode highlights some students' challenges with executive functioning skills and how they struggle to begin tasks efficiently. The host provides nine effective strategies to help students overcome task initiation challenges, such as normalizing task-avoidant behavior, emphasizing work quality, preparing materials, using visual aids and organizers, breaking tasks into smaller steps, employing backwards planning, facilitating getting started, limiting distractions, and incorporating planned breaks. The episode also references Admiral William H. McRaven's "Make Your Bed" speech, emphasizing the significance of small tasks and their impact...
2024-05-0512 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastAddressing Perfectionism in Writing Instruction: A Conversation with a ColleagueIn today’s Conversation with a Colleague, Stacey chats with Lainie Levin, a gifted interventionist and coach, about helping learners conquer perfectionism. Lainie unveils the manifestations of perfectionism in students, particularly during writing instruction, highlighting key signs to watch for. She shares an innovative work quality continuum she co-created with her students, as a powerful tool to address perfectionist tendencies. Practical strategies are discussed for reframing perfectionist behaviors, fostering a growth mindset, and embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth. Stacey and Lainie also explore the impact of perfectionism on partnerships and group work. Finally, they discuss where perfectionism is mo...
2024-04-2843 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastCapture Students' Progress with End-of-Year Letters: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyExplore the origin and significance of end-of-year reflection letters in this week’s episode. Stacey highlights the unique nature of these letters, which go beyond self-evaluations of academics and instead focus on students reflecting on their growth as learners and individuals. Practical guidelines for structuring the letters are shared, emphasizing flexibility in paragraph structure to suit individual needs. The episode also features touching excerpts from actual student letters, showcasing their accomplishments, thoughts on cooperative group work, and advice for the teacher. The power of these reflection letters as tools for student self-awareness and goal-setting is celebrated, emphasizing the importance of...
2024-04-1410 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastBoost Writing Instruction with AI: A Digging Deeper DialogueIn this episode, we talk about content creation, personalized learning, accessibility, efficiency & productivity with artificial intelligence. We share various teacher-facing AI tools and discuss how you can incorporate them into your writing instruction.Go Deeper:Leveraging AI for Writing Miniseries on Two Writing TeachersLos Angeles Unified School District's AI PagePrevious TWTPod Episodes:Navigate a Digital World by Seeing, Hearing, and Reading: A Tip for TomorrowThree Possibilities for Using Chat GPT: A Tip for TomorrowAI Tools We Mentioned:BingBrisk TeachingChatGPTDiffitGemini (previously known as Bard)*****
2024-03-2438 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastCreate Personal and Living Poetry Anthologies: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyLearn about two engaging ideas for National Poetry Month, which begins on April 1. Stacey shares a bit about creating a collaborative "Living Poetry Anthology" where students curate poems to display throughout the school. Next, she discusses developing personal poetry collections featuring their work, inspirational poems, and reflections on poems they admired. Make poetry come alive for your students – listen now! TWTBlog PostsA Breakthrough In Poetry: How To Bring Playfulness to Every Genre Building a Living Poetry AnthologyIt’s Alive!Starting the Year: Poetry The Doors of Poetry: Guest Blog Post by Sarah Mulhern Gross
2024-03-1708 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastNavigate a Digital World by Seeing, Hearing, and Reading: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyStacey explores the power of pairing written explanations with oral directions to enhance understanding in the context of writing workshop. She provides an overview of Driveway, a Chrome Extension that allows educators to create step-by-step process guides with written descriptions, highlighted screenshots, and optional voiceovers. Learn how to create interactive walkthroughs to help students become more independent with the technology they use in writing workshop. Here are some videos of Stacey’s sample guides created with Driveway (and then exported to YouTube):How to Create a Cover Page in Google DocsHow to Find and Download Stock Pho...
2024-02-2506 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastExploring the Power of Oral Language: A Conversation with a ColleagueDiscover the untapped potential of oral language in the writing process and gain valuable insights from Lainie Levin, one of our TWTBlog co-authors. Lainie and Stacey discuss the importance of oral language beyond the primary years of elementary school and how storytelling and oral language support kids in developing a sense of story and composing writing in a low-risk way. Lainie shares strategies for making oral rehearsal engaging for children.ABOUT LAINIE LEVIN:Lainie is a dedicated educator with 28 years of teaching experience and a strong advocate for children and public education. She...
2024-02-1140 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastPropel Writers Forward With Reflection Shares: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyJoin Stacey as she delves into the power of reflection shares to promote growth and development in student writing. She discusses how whole-group reflection allows students to share insights, experiences, and strategies, and fosters a sense of community and accountability. She emphasizes the importance of students feeling valued and included in the larger writing community, which increases confidence and engagement in the writing process. Near the end of the episode, Stacey shares a few prompts to help you get started with reflection shares in your classroom as soon as tomorrow.The reflection prompts mentioned towards the end...
2024-01-2805 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastEnergizing Writing Lives: A Digging Deeper DialogueLet's explore ways to energize your writing workshop! In this episode, we discuss strategies for revving up individual minilessons and units of study by opening up options, changing perspectives, bringing in magic, promoting collaboration, and creating authentic purposes for students to think about their audience. Resources mentioned in the episode:Classroom Slice of Life Story Challenge -- Scroll down to Challenge #3 for more information.Collaborative Writing -- Discussed in this Conversation with a Colleague episode.A Pathway for Opinion WritingMentor Texts for Navigating Second-Person Point of ViewPast Tip for Tomorrow Episodes:Independent Writing ProjectsMid-Workshop InterruptionQuote from H...
2024-01-0735 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastRefresh and Renew with Choices for Every Writer: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIn the final episode of 2023, Stacey discusses the importance of shedding anything that isn't serving us and applies this idea to the classroom, specifically focusing on providing students with a diversity of writing supplies. She offers three suggestions for obtaining different types of notebooks at a lower cost or for free. Stacey also emphasizes the significance of paper choice as an accommodation for students, highlighting the developmental needs of young writers and providing resources for different paper formats. This episode will leave you ready to embrace changes and create an environment that empowers students to express themselves more fully...
2023-12-3109 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastInfusing Stories Into Essays: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyThis Tip for Tomorrow explores the art of essay writing beyond the traditional structure and formula. Stacey delves into "writing to think" and how students can infuse microstories into their essays to enhance their ideas. From choosing relevant stories to crafting concise microstories, she provides practical guidance on engaging the reader and connecting these stories to the central message of the essay. By balancing storytelling with other writing techniques, students can create impactful essays that take their readers on a journey of thought.Go Deeper:Essay: What I Think, What I Am by Edward...
2023-12-0306 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastTen Ways to Keep Minilessons Mini: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyThis Tip for Tomorrow episode explores ten practical tips for keeping minilessons brief and effective. Stacey discusses the importance of preparedness, including having all teaching materials ready and communicating clearly with students about what they should bring to the meeting area. She highlights the benefits of assigning "talking partners" and minimizing interruptions during the lesson. In addition, she delves into using checklists, teaching management skills, recording lessons for self-reflection, and time management. Listen now for essential tips to optimize your minilessons and enhance student engagement.More on Minilessons:Structuring a Minilesson: A Digging Deeper DialogueTWTBlog Archive...
2023-11-1206 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastStructure & Deliver a Powerful Minilesson: A Digging Deeper DialogueJoin us to explore the potential of minilessons as a forum for whole-class instruction. Peeling back the layers, we delve into the art of teaching writing behaviors, behaviors, strategies, and more in ten minutes or less. We thoroughly examine the four essential parts of a minilesson: connection, teach, active engagement, and link, shedding light on how each part impacts young writers. Past #TWTBlog Posts and #TWTPod Episodes:Mastering the Art of a Successful Writing Workshop: A Digging Deeper DialogueMinilessons: Writing Workshop FundamentalsPlan Boxes Will Inspire You: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyShowing, Not Telling: Demonstrations MatterSix T...
2023-10-2233 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastPrepare Student Teachers to Teach Writing: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIn this episode, Stacey shares five valuable steps for cooperating teachers who are hosting with student teachers in leading a writing workshop for elementary school students. Stacey begins by sharing her personal experience and the challenges she faced when initially handing over the reins to student teachers. The five steps for empowering student teachers are: establishing clear expectations, modeling effective teaching practices, gradually increasing responsibility, providing constructive feedback, and engaging in reflective discussions. Stacey emphasizes the importance of communication, collaboration, and support in helping student teachers succeed in leading a writing workshop.Click here to read past...
2023-10-1509 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastMastering the Art of a Successful Writing Workshop: A Digging Deeper DialogueUnlock the secrets of a successful writing workshop! Dive into the dynamic framework that increases student growth. Every workshop begins with an engaging minilesson and ends with intentional sharing time. Discover the power of independent writing time with conferring, small group work, and the short, but mighty mid-workshop interruption. Listen until the end for several tips for maximizing your writing block and fitting it all in. Read more about the fundamentals of the writing workshop:A Special Idea About Your Mid-Workshop Interruption: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyBuilding Independent Writing Time Stamina: A Tip For Tomorrow f...
2023-10-0839 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastUnleash Greenbelt Writing's Potential: A Digging Deeper DialogueIn this episode, we explore the concept of greenbelt writing and its profound impact on young writers. We discuss why children must be free to play with words without grading pressure. We discuss how allowing kids to choose their preferred genres empowers creativity and fosters a genuine love for writing. Through discussion, we share the true essence of greenbelt writing—an unmanicured and imperfect form of expression that prioritizes the growth and well-being of the writer. We explore how this approach can unlock hidden talents, build confidence, and ignite a lifelong passion for writing.Whether yo...
2023-09-1035 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastJoyful Writing Partnerships: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyLearn how to kick off the school year with successful writing partnerships. Discover the benefits of pairing young writers together. Get tips on how to pair students effectively, teach effective communication, and make writing partnerships joyful. Take advantage of this valuable information to help your students grow as writers.Elevate your writing partnerships with our top #TWTBlog posts. Whether you’re just starting or looking to strengthen your skills, we’ve got you covered with our expert advice. Building Stronger Writing PartnersIntentional Talk with Writing PartnersMakin...
2023-08-2708 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastRemember the Compliment: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyAre you a teacher who sometimes forgets to compliment your students during writing conferences? Don't worry. You're not alone! But compliments are an essential part of building confident and competent young writers. In this episode, Stacey explores ways to make space for compliments during those limited conference times. Learn how to start your conference with research and build on a student's strengths. Discover sentence stems to help you give sincere and impactful compliments that will leave your students feeling inspired and confident. Plus, Stacey shares tips on making your compliments long enough to feel good. Let's make a student's...
2023-08-2006 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastMake the Most of Professional Development: A Digging Deeper DialogueAre you a literacy coach looking to take your professional development to the next level, or are you a classroom teacher who wants more out of the PD you receive? Our latest episode has got you covered! Tune in for various ideas, from incorporating dedicated writing time into PD sessions to searching for mentor texts as a faculty member. More nuanced options, like video studies and lab sites, are discussed. This episode has inspiring ideas to help you take your PD to the next level. What's Next:We are experienced in leading professional development f...
2023-05-2838 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastFind Inspiration for Summer Writing: A Conversation With a ColleagueSummer vacation can be when children's writing lives take a backseat to other activities. What if we could help our students pursue writing that interests them during the summer break? Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski, a former #TWTBlog co-author, joins us to discuss how to keep students writing during the summer months.Join Kathleen and Stacey as they explore practical strategies for encouraging and supporting our students' writing lives during the summer months. From journaling to blogging to creating digital stories, there are many ideas to help keep your students engaged and motivated to write all summer long.
2023-05-2136 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastMake Mentor Texts Endure: A Tip For Tomorrow From StaceyIt's essential to keep mentor texts meaningful for students so they can learn how to use them effectively and independently. In this episode, Stacey shares four practical strategies to encourage children to return to mentor texts repeatedly. These include whole-class text studies, the "return and reflect" process, using craft move charts in picture books, and encouraging students to "read like a writer" when they're reading for pleasure. By implementing these techniques, teachers can help their students become more independent writers in and out of the classroom.Books, blog posts, and other resources mentioned in this episode:
2023-05-0706 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThe Importance of Immersion: A Digging Deeper DialogueLibro.fm Offer: Use the TWTPod CodeReceive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership. Credits can be used on your choice of more than 275,000 audiobooks on Libro.fm.After your first month, you’ll pay $14.99 USD for one audiobook credit per month, and each payment supports local bookstores. Members also receive 30% off when buying audiobooks à la carte. Pause or cancel at anytime and keep your audiobooks.Engaging with good writing helps students develop a vision when they’re asked to create their own texts. In this episode, we discuss why teachers will want...
2023-04-2333 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastEnd the School Year with Independent Writing Projects: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIndependent writing projects are among the best ways to infuse joy into your writing workshop. These projects are a blessing for students who love to write, but they’re also a way to hook striving writers. A Few #TWTBlog Posts About Independent Writing Projects:Closing the Summer Writing GapFrom the Classroom to the World: How a Young Writer is Making Her Voice HeardHow to Reinvigorate Writing Workshop With Joy Through Independent Writing ProjectsIndependent Writing: 10 Ways to Get Students Published in the Real WorldIndependent Writing: Back-Up WorkIndependent Writing ProjectsNightly WritingSix REAL Purposes For...
2023-04-1609 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastJoy, Play, and Humor in Writing Workshop: A Digging Deeper DialogueJoyful classrooms, where play and humor are valued, help make schools feel safer and more welcoming. In today’s episode, we’ll provide ways to increase joy, play, and humor in your writing workshopRelated TWTBlog posts about joy, play, & humor:A Few Games to Inspire Writing Lives A Mini Unit on Joke Telling Incorporating Play-Based Learning in Writing Workshop at Any Age It’s Time for Play and Fun: Storytelling in Writing Workshop Making Space in Writing Workshop for Kids to Be Funny Poetry Begins with Play Puppets and PlaydatesQuick & Fun Lesson Closu...
2023-04-0939 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastSentence Construction: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieSentence construction can be tricky for many students. In this episode, Melanie shares a few strategies that might help students begin to internalize ways to construct sentences, moving from simple sentences to compound and complex sentences. THANKS TO OUR AFFILIATE!Libro.fm Offer: Use the TWTPod CodeReceive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership. Credits can be used for more than 275,000 audiobooks on Libro.fm. After your first month, you’ll pay $14.99 USD for one audiobook credit per month, and each payment supports local bookstores. Members als...
2023-04-0205 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThe Power of Poetry: A Conversation with a ColleagueTHANKS TO OUR AFFILIATES!Head to https://one-sec.app?qu=twt to download the One Sec app to reclaim a large chunk of your waking hours by making distracting apps less appealing.Libro.fm Offer: Use the TWTPod CodeReceive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership. Credits can be used on your choice of more than 275,000 audiobooks on Libro.fm.After your first month, you’ll pay $14.99 USD for one audiobook credit per month, and each payment supports local bookstores. Members also receive 30% off when buying audiobooks à la carte. Pause or can...
2023-03-2639 min
Schoolutions: Teaching Strategies to Strengthen School Culture, Empower Educators, & Inspire Student GrowthS2 E28: The Benefits of Teaching Writing Through a Workshop Approach with Stacey Shubitz & Melanie MeehanChief of Operations and Lead Writer for Two Writing Teachers, Stacey Shubitz, and Two Writing Teachers Co-Author, Melanie Meehan share beliefs, practices, and research around the benefits of teaching writing through a workshop approach. Stacey and Melanie also shine as authors of groundbreaking professional books and co-hosts of the Two Writing Teachers Podcast! Episode Mentions: Stacey’s PublicationsMelanie’s Books & ResourcesKatie Egan Cunningham Carol SnookRon Berger 4TsAllison Zmuda - Roles of the TeacherDonald GravesFrank Smith (Psycholinguist)Steve Graham (A Meta-Analysis of Writing Instruction for Students in the Elementary Grades)The Literacy Studio by Ellin Oliver Keene The Litera...
2023-03-2041 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastKeep Conferences Slim: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyEquitably distributing your time among your students matters since every child should receive 1:1 writing instruction. However, it’s challenging to keep writing conferences to five to seven minutes in length. In today’s Tip for Tomorrow, you’ll hear two ideas that require minimum preparation. Both will help you trim down the time you spend with each student so that you can meet with more students during independent writing time.Thanks to Padlet for sponsoring this episode. Please use this link to explore the features, products, and possibilities of this amazing resource! Listen to a recent...
2023-03-1909 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastCollaboration, Play, and Laughter in Test Prep: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieThis podcast is the second of two Tips for Tomorrow about test prep. You can listen to the first one here. Libro.fm Offer: Use the TWTPod Code Receive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership. Credits can be used on your choice of more than 275,000 audiobooks on Libro.fm. After your first month, you’ll pay $14.99 USD for one audiobook credit per month, and each payment supports local bookstores. Members also receive 30% off when buying audiobooks à la carte. Pause or cancel at anytime and keep your audiobooks.Sen...
2023-03-1206 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastGrammar as a Craft Move: A Digging Deeper DialogueTeaching grammar doesn’t have to be tedious or painful. In today’s episode, we dive deep into ways to make grammar instruction more meaningful, sticky, and joyful for you and your students.Browse Two Writing Teachers for in-depth blog posts about grammar, editing, and conventions.Thank you to our affiliates!Head to https://one-sec.app?qu=twt to download the One Sec app to reclaim a large chunk of your waking hours by making distracting apps less appealing.Go to https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2009225 to get a $20 credit if you sign up f...
2023-03-0543 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastPaper Power: A Digging Deeper DialoguePaper can be used as an accommodation, a scaffold, and as a tool for innovation in writing workshops. Check out these Two Writing Teachers blog posts for more information about the topics we discussed in today’s episode:All About the Paper.Creating Classroom Environments: Paper ChoicesGifts from the HeartPaper Choices for Opinion and Argument Writing: Reaching Your WritersPaper Choices: What’s up with that?Supporting Multimodal Composition in the Writing Workshop: Simple Ways to BeginSend us a text...
2023-02-2631 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastBring Some Joy Into Test Prep: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieTest prep can be fun! Here are a couple of ways to use media and bring some joy into writing as you prepare students for summative assessments.The Two Writing Teachers blog post mentioned in this episode is: Some Narrative Writing FunSend us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
2023-02-1905 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastInteractive Writing With Pam Koutrakos: A Conversation With a ColleagueIn this Conversations with a Colleague episode, Pam Koutrakos joins Melanie to talk about interactive writing and its power to grow writers. Here are several Two Writing Teachers blog posts and past podcast episodes that deal with the topics discussed in this episode:Step Up Interactive Writing (…And Sneak In More Spelling, Vocabulary, and Grammar)Conferring Toolkits: Class Stories, Shared Writing and Interactive WritingInteractive Writing: Don’t Close the DoorShared Writing: Expanding the Reach with Small Groups
2023-02-1232 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThe Importance of Paper: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyJust as your classroom library has books that kids can grow into, we can give students paper choices with the knowledge that they’re working to outgrow the paper they’re using. In today's Tip for Tomorrow, find out how paper can be used as an accommodation for students in writing workshop. Check out these Two Writing Teachers blog posts for more information about the topics we discussed in today’s episode:All About the Paper.Creating Classroom Environments: Paper ChoicesGifts from the HeartPaper Choices for Opinion and Arg...
2023-02-0506 min
Chalk and Ink: The Podcast for Teachers Who Write and Writers Who TeachWriting for a Wide Awake Life With Stacey Shubitz and Melanie MeehanSend us a textThis week Melanie Meehan and Stacey Shubitz from the Two Writing Teachers Podcast talk about how writing helps us live wide-awake lives, discuss why the best teachers of writing, write, and how as authors it’s our responsibility to ask for what we need from a critique. Join us for a Chalk + Ink Chat on the last Wednesday of every month, from September through May, from 8-9 PM EST. Our Feb...
2023-02-031h 12Two Writing Teachers PodcastMentor Text Charts: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieSend us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.
2023-01-2905 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastStudent Seminars and Goal-Setting: A Conversation With a ColleagueWe have a new feature, Conversations with a Colleague, to share today! In this episode, Leah Koch, who is one of our newest Two Writing Teachers co-authors, joins Stacey to talk about student-led small groups, as well as goal setting with primary writers. Here are several Two Writing Teachers blog posts and past podcast episodes that deal with the topics discussed in this episode:A Few Tips for Small Group Instruction: Expanding the Reach With Small Group WorkIdeas for planning Small Group InstructionIncrease the Number of Teachers in the Room with Student-Led Small GroupsIncreasing S...
2023-01-2231 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastAn Overview of the Slice of Life Story Challenge: A Digging Deeper DialogueThe 16th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge, or SOLSC, will begin on Wednesday, March 1st, 2023 at Two Writing Teachers. Participants, who we call Slicers, chronicle moments by living a wide-awake life for 31 days in March. They publish their writing on their own blog, share a link to their story daily over at Two Writing Teachers, and then provide at least three other Slicers with comments on their blogs. In today's pod, you'll learn more about the challenge and how you can join us so that you part of a global community of educators who write and s...
2023-01-1523 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastPersonal Editing Checklists: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyIn this Tip for Tomorrow, you'll learn how to help students create and use a personal editing checklist that will help them fix up their writing in ways that meet them where they are as writers. For more on personal editing checklists and the editing minute, check out these posts on Two Writing Teachers:Something Do-Able to Try: The Editing MinuteThree Ways to Introduce Personal Editing Checklists in Writing WorkshopUsing Personal Editing Checklists At HomeSend us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings...
2023-01-0806 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastResetting Routines After Break: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyHappy New Year!Students may have forgotten some of the routines and procedures used in the classroom. Taking the first few days to reteach routines after a school vacation benefits everyone so that writing workshop runs smoothly again.Book: Welcome to Writing Workshop: Engaging Today's Students with a Model That Works Pod Episode: Plan Boxes will Inspire You: Tip for TomorrowCheck out these Two Writing Teachers blog posts for more information on routines.A Game Plan for Writing Workshop TransitionsClassroom Routines Made Simpler with QR CodesHow to Get Kids to W...
2023-01-0106 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastFist to Five Self-Assessment Strategy: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieAre you tired of thumbs-up/thumbs-down as a self-assessment strategy? Here's a suggestion for a self-assessment system you can teach students so you can get a more nuanced view of their understanding.For more on self-assessment, check out the following posts on Two Writing Teachers:How Many Stars? Tools for Self-Assessment and Goal-SettingSelf-Assessment: Assessment Strengthens WritersMore on Student Self-AssessmentSend us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us...
2022-12-1804 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastInspiring Students to Use Conventions: A Digging Deeper DialogueConventions are one of the hardest things to teach kids to do well in an exciting and authentic way. We have some ideas for teaching kids how to write with conventions without resorting to worksheets. Resources Mentioned:Co:Writer UniversalCommon Core Language Standards K-5 (See pg. 26.)Patterns of Power Family of Resources by Jeff Anderson et. al.Practical Punctuation: Lessons in Rule Making and Rule Breaking in Elementary Writing by Dan FeigelsonWriting and the Writer, 2nd Ed. by Frank SmithVisit the Two Writing Teachers' archive to read past blog posts about conventions. Send...
2022-12-1127 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastGoogle Forms for Record Keeping: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieFor more about google forms, check out the following posts on Two Writing Teachers:Continuing to Think About Google FormsIdeas for Getting Started With Google FormsSend us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com Email us at contact@twowritingteachers...
2022-12-0406 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThe Benefits of Pens: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyDo your students write with pens or pencils in your writing workshop? While some people wouldn't consider handing a pen to an elementary student, using them in the writing workshop has many benefits. You can find out more by listening to this Tip for Tomorrow and by reading what some of the TWT co-authors have written about the benefits of having students write with pens. A Writing Tool that Honors the Writing Process ItselfAn Eraser-Free Workshop and the Language We Use for Talking About ItMore Barriers Along a Writer's Pathway... And More Ways AroundPens Versus Pencils: W...
2022-11-2706 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastIncreasing Student Agency as Writers: A Digging Deeper DialogueYou can grow your students’ agency in writing workshop by thinking deeply about the curriculum, growing your instruction, and nudging students toward self-assessment. Here are several Two Writing Teachers blog posts that deal with some of the topics discussed in this episode:Creating Clarity for WritersDifferent Ways to Use Checklists in Writing WorkshopIncrease the Number of Teachers in the Room with Student-Led Small GroupsIntentional Practice in Our Writing ClassroomsSix Ways to Make Charts More Student-CenteredThe Importance of Charts in Our Classrooms: Resetting Our Workshop PracticesMaking the Most Out of Charts: Maximizing Independent Writing TimeThe Pow...
2022-11-2032 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastInspiring Writers by Gifting Their Pieces: A Tip For Tomorrow from MelanieIf you're interested in reading more about writing as a gift, please read Heather's post about it, Narrative Writing Makes a Beautiful Gift. Subscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. For more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org Follow me on Twitter!Melanie Meehan: https://twitter.com/MelanieMeehan1Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may conta...
2022-11-1304 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastNon-verbal Cues for Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyConferring time is sacred! No one likes to be interrupted during a writing conference, but some students need a visual reminder that their teacher is off-limits when they're conferring. Today's Tip for Tomorrow will help you implement a visual conferring reminder to eradicate unnecessary distractions and interruptions while holding one-to-one writing conferences.Check out "What's a Conferring Scarf?" to help you plan your next steps with this nonverbal reminder tip. Check out the TWTBlog Archive if you want to learn more about conferring.Send us a textPlease subscribe t...
2022-11-0604 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastExtending the Power of Mentor Texts: A Digging Deeper DialogueMentor texts are important co-teachers in the writing workshop! This episode provides an in-depth look at mentor texts and is ideal for anyone who wants to extend the power of mentor texts in their classroom. Picture Books We Mentioned in the PodcastA Person Can Be… by Kerri Kokias and Carey SookocheffBake, Make & Learn to Cook Vegetarian: Healthy and Green Recipes for Young Cooks by David Atherton and Alice BowsherCopycat: Nature-Inspired Design Around the World by Christy HaleCounting in Dog Years and Other Sassy Math Poems by Betsy Franco and Priscilla TeyHana’s Hundreds of Hi...
2022-11-0337 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastInviting Students to Sign Up for Small Groups: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieIf you're interested in reading more about small group instruction, we have many blog posts about them on our website. Here are a few to check out: A Few Tips for Small Group Instruction: Expanding the Reach With Small Group WorkIdeas for planning Small Group InstructionSmall Groups, Big Engagement: Expanding the Possibilities and Potential Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. ...
2022-10-3003 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastPlan Boxes Will Inspire You: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyFor more on plan boxes, check out the following posts on Two Writing Teachers:The Plan BoxAre Plan Boxes Worth It?Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district. Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or
2022-10-2306 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastSolving Predictable Workshop Problems - Part 2 of 2: A Digging Deeper DialogueIn this episode, we tackle several predictable problems we've seen students deal with in a writing workshop. We discuss how to work with students who claim they have nothing to write about, how to deal with stories that go on and on (and on), the "I'm done" syndrome, guiding students with perfectionist tendencies, managing a variety of behavior issues, and helping students who don't use conventions. Here are a dozen past #TWTBlog posts for more ideas, strategies, and tips for solving predictable problems in your classroom:10 Topic Choice Mentor TextsApproximation vs. MasteryGrammar and Conventions: Meet Writers W...
2022-10-2033 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastTeaching Students About Partnerships and the Writing Process: Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieIn this episode, we announce the winners of our Corwin book giveaway. Thank you to everyone who has left reviews or ratings on their listening platforms, and an especially big thank you to Corwin Press for sponsoring this giveaway by donating five professional books. The winners are:Jenn BurkePatty SaentzRikki KwasMeredith SchaeferLinda Szakmary____________________________________To read more about partnerships and processes, check out some of the blog posts about them, including:Partnerships to Establish CommunityStrengthening Writing Partnerships Part 1 and Part 2Setting Up Writing PartnershipsSubscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com.
2022-10-1604 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastSet a Time to Check Back After a Conference: A Tip For Tomorrow from StaceyThis Tip for Tomorrow will inspire you to set a time to follow up with your students after a writing conference. RATINGS/REVIEWSWe are excited to share the Two Writing Teachers Podcast with you. If you've provided a rating or review on any of the listening platforms, then please fill out this form to be entered into a giveaway for a free professional book from Corwin. All entries must be received by October 14th, 2022. You must have a U.S. mailing address to enter the giveaway.*****For more abo...
2022-10-0905 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastSolving Predictable Workshop Problems - Part 1 of 2: A Digging Deeper DialogueAmy, Melanie, and Stacey talk about ways to solve five predictable problems teachers face as teachers of writing. There isn't enough time in my writing block.My writing units go on forever.I don't know what to confer about.I need help explaining writing workshop to parents and caregivers.I'm always interrupted when I teach writing.Check out the Solving Predictable Problems Blog Series our co-authors wrote in 2017. You may also check out the series' Twitter Chat Archive on Wakelet for further help solving predictable problems.Plus, here are additional TWT blog posts that will h...
2022-10-0628 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastScaffolding Language in a Writing Workshop: A Tip for Tomorrow from AmyTo read more about supporting young writers in raising the level of their talk in a workshop, check out some of our blog posts including: The Power of Language RevisitedConferring With Writers is Like Coaching Skiers: Strength ID and EnhancementTop Three Predictable Beginning of Year Conferences: Our Favorite Things***** For more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org. *****Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You ma...
2022-10-0205 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastStrategies for Working with Multilingual Learners: A Bonus Episode with Shawnda Fukano (TWT Contributing Writer)RATINGS/REVIEWSWe are excited to share the Two Writing Teachers Podcast with you. If you've provided a rating or review on any of the listening platforms, then please fill out this form to be entered into a giveaway for a free professional book from Corwin. All entries must be received by October 14th, 2022. You must have a U.S. mailing address to enter the giveaway.MORE INFORMATIONCheck out Shawnda's blog post that inspired today's bonus episode:Chants for Writing: Support Routines, Conventions, and CraftRead more posts about working with mu...
2022-09-2926 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastWays to Practice Conventions: A Tip For Tomorrow from MelanieIf you're interested in reading more about conventions, some blog posts include:Ways to Teach ConventionsGrammar and ConventionsUsing Inquiry to Lift Language ConventionsSubscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. If you subscribe and leave us a review, please fill out this form! You'll be entered in a drawing for professional books from Corwin Press. For more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us rati...
2022-09-2504 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastOur Go-to Writing Conferences: A Digging Deeper DialogueConferring is the heart of writing workshop, which is why we are talking about four types of writing conferences we adore having with students. In this episode, we discussed on-the-spot writing conferences, complement-only conferences, table conferences, and inquiry conferences. As usual, we tuck in some conferring tips as well!MORE ABOUT CONFERRINGWe have written a lot of content about conferring over at Two Writing Teachers so it's hard to pick just a few pieces to share in today's show notes. Here are ten must-read blog posts about conferring: Conferring: Writing Workshop FundamentalsDon't S...
2022-09-2228 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastA Special Idea About Your Mid-Workshop Interruption: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceyMaximize the power of your mid-workshop interruptions by having a precise location where students can easily find you.To read more about mid-workshop interruptions, head over to our blog and read:The Mid-Workshop Interruption: An Opportunity for Instruction During the Workshop Writing Workshop Fundamentals: StructureFor more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org *****Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us dir...
2022-09-1803 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastKeeping Writers Organized: A Tip for Tomorrow from AmyTo read more about the organization of materials in the workshop, check out some of our blog posts, including: My Conferring Toolkit: Our Favorite Things Blog SeriesWriters Need ToolsThis is the Year I'm Going to Make Writing ToolkitsCreating Classroom Environments: Paper Choices For more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog!http://twowritingteachers.org*****Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to co...
2022-09-1105 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThinking About Charts: A Digging Deeper DialogueSome of our past blog posts that correspond to today's conversation are:The Importance of Charts in ClassroomsMaking the Most Out of ChartsPersonalizing charts to foster intention and independenceFor more on the teaching of writing, out our blog at https://twowritingteachers.org.This episode was recorded on August 21, 2022.*****Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.
2022-09-0826 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastBuilding Independent Writing Time Stamina: A Tip For Tomorrow from StaceyTo read more about building writers' stamina, check out some of our blog posts including:Building Stamina in Primary WritersDeveloping StaminaResources Teachers Can Share With Families: Increase Writing Volume and Stamina at HomeStamina in Our Youngest WritersFor more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org *****Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school di...
2022-09-0404 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastRecord Keeping: A Digging Deeper DialogueFor more on record keeping, check out some of these posts from Two Writing Teachers:Record Keeping- Why and How: Assessment Strengthens WritersConferring Toolkits: Record KeepingRecord-Keeping FormsThe Case for Record-KeepingThis is the year I’m going to keep better records.Melanie's posts about Google Forms are available through the following posts:Ideas for getting started with google formsContinuing to Think About Google FormsFollow us on Twitter!Amy Ellerman: https://twitter.com/sanderling12 Melanie Meehan: https://twitter.com/MelanieMeehan1
2022-09-0126 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastBuilding Confidence in Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from AmyTo read more about building writers' agency, check out some of our blog posts including:Student Agency: Solving Predictable Problems Blog SeriesTop Three Beginning of Year Conferences: Our Favorite Things Blog SeriesJoy and Agency: An Origin StoryFostering Authorship, Identity, and Agency in the Early Childhood Classroom Through StorytellingSubscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. For more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org Follow me on Twitter!Amy Ellerman: https://twitter.com/sanderling12Advertising Inquiries: Email us at contact@two...
2022-09-0104 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastOpportunities for Instruction During a Writing Block: A Tip for Tomorrow from StaceySome useful links on teaching shares and mid-workshop interruptions:Mid-Workshop Interruption Category on TWTTeaching Shares: Ending StrongSubscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. For more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org Follow me on Twitter!Stacey Shubitz: https://twitter.com/sshubitz Advertising Inquiries: Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org. Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You m...
2022-09-0103 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThinking About Transitions: A Tip for Tomorrow from MelanieTo read more about transitions, check out some of our blog posts including:Rituals and TransitionsThree Tricks for Smoother Classroom TransitionsA Game Plan for Writing Workshop TransitionsSubscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. For more about the teaching of writing, check out the blog! https://twowritingteachers.org Follow me on Twitter!Melanie Meehan:https://twitter.com/MelanieMeehan1Advertising Inquiries: Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org. Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us r...
2022-09-0103 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThe Importance of Volume: A Digging Deeper DialogueFor more on the importance of volume, check out some of these posts on the Two Writing Teachers blog:Pump Up the VolumePaper Choices: What’s up with that?All About the Paper.Follow us on Twitter!Amy Ellerman: https://twitter.com/sanderling12 Melanie Meehan: https://twitter.com/MelanieMeehan1 Stacey Shubitz: https://twitter.com/sshubitz Subscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. Advertising Inquiries: Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org. Send us a text
2022-09-0122 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastThinking About Extended Time for Writers: A Digging Deeper DialogueSome of our past blog posts that correspond to today's conversation are:Co:WriterDifferentiating and Inspiring Students with Learning Differences in Writing WorkshopFinding Accessible Fonts for Classroom UseSubscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. For more on the teaching of writing, check out our blog at https://twowritingteachers.org.Follow us on Twitter!Amy Ellerman: https://twitter.com/sanderling12 Melanie Meehan: https://twitter.com/MelanieMeehan1 Stacey Shubitz: https://twitter.com/sshubitzThis episode was recorded in July 2022.Advertising Inquiries: Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org...
2022-09-0130 minTwo Writing Teachers PodcastWhy Teachers Should Write: A Digging Deeper DialogueFor more on being a teacher-writer check out It's Not Magic (but it IS): The Power of Being a Teacher Who Writes, and The Power of Writing Timelines, You may also check our archives at https://twowritingteachers.org/category/teacher-of-writing/. Follow us on Twitter!Amy Ellerman: https://twitter.com/sanderling12 Melanie Meehan: https://twitter.com/MelanieMeehan1 Stacey Shubitz: https://twitter.com/sshubitz Subscribe to our podcast at https://twtpod.buzzsprout.com. For more about the teaching of writing, check...
2022-09-0119 min
Two Writing Teachers PodcastTRAILER: Introducing the Two Writing Teachers PodcastWelcome! We are glad you are here.We are excited to talk about the ways to create, lead, and sustain joyful and productive writing workshops. This trailer will provide you with an overview of where we are headed with this project.In addition to finding us here on the Podcast, connect with us on our blog, Two Writing Teachers. Send us a textPlease subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.You may contact us directly if you want u...
2022-07-2806 min
Teacher's CornerStacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman: Welcome to Writing WorkshopStacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman in discussion with Stenhouse's Bill Varner. Stacey and Lynne are veteran writers and educators, and together co-authored the recent book Welcome to Writing Workshop: Engaging Today's Students with a Model That Works. As you'd expect, today is all things writing workshop, including structure, small group instruction, and the role of teacher as writer— plus we'll learn about Jump Into Writing their new writing workshop curriculum with Zaner-Bloser. LINKS Welcome to Writing Workshop Jump Into Writing! Follow Stacey at: Two Writing Teachers T...
2022-05-2048 min
Teach Me, Teacher#114 Welcome to Writing Workshop with Stacey Shubitz & Lynne Dorfman (pt.2)Hello everyone! Today it's my pleasure to bring you part 2 of my discussion with the two authors of Welcome to Writing Workshop, Stacey Shubitz and Lynne Dorfman. If you missed part 1, click here! If you are like me, you might have heard the term writing workshop repeatedly, nodding along with enthusiasm, but in the back of your mind be wondering what the heck it actually is. For years, I didn't really know what workshop was, and I often wished there was a resource to not just tell me what it was, but show me as well. NOW THERE IS! Welcome to...
2019-05-2727 min