Getting Students to Write- Helping Elementary and Middle School teachers improve student writing.

This is my last "episode" of Getting Students to Write.I have thoroughly enjoyed the last few years of recording this podcast. Being able to share ideas with fellow educators as well as speak with so many fabulous educators about writing instruction has been a fantastic experience.I hope you will continue to learn and improve your practice, and that writing time will be the best time of you day!If you have anything to share about how the podcast has impacted your teaching, I would absolutely love to hear it! **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWrite

All teachers have had students who struggle with handwriting, regardless of their grade level. What we learn in this episode is that this is not just a problem of messiness, but of a lack of motor as well as cognitive skills that prevent learners from reaching their potential.Holly Britton, a handwriting instructional specialist, talks about this and so much more in this informative episode.About Holly Britton:The Squiggle Squad’s program designer, Holly Britton, M.Ed., is a curriculum and instruction specialist with teaching experience in all grades K-8. She is an author and conference speaker and a former home educator of four now-adult children. Holly brings over 22 years of private and public educational experience to this program. Holly relishes time with her friends and family including her horse, Shasta.www.squigglesquad.comLinkedin SubstackAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Implementing effective writing instruction is a big task. There are many moving parts and lots of important young writers to take care of!Struggling writers? Struggling teacher?I find it helpful to know and remember that often times the little details are what also make a huge impact on your student writers.This episode shares examples of those small practices and hopefully helps to spark even more ideas for you to implement.Listen in to hear about writing tips such as:including your writerspositive energystudent collaborationand more!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

"Two seemingly paradoxical things can be true at the same time...and that tension, we are never going to resolve that."In this episode, Leah Mermelstein helps us sort through one of the biggest issues of teaching writing. We hear and learn about so many different practices, many of which seem to be in opposition, but knowing we don't always need to choose one over the other, it opens us up to a more effective way of teaching writing.Hear all about:Tried and True curriculum practicesAccepting paradoxical thinkingThe importance of studying students' writingLeah's core beliefsAbout Leah:Leah Mermelstein is a literacy thought leader, published author, and expert in writing, reading, and language development. She partners with educators, tutors children, and supports families in fostering literacy growth at school and at home.For over 30 years, Leah has delivered professional development nationally and internationally, translating literacy research into effective classroom practice and curriculum. She helps educators and families connect the learning dots so students can reach their full potential.Leah holds a Master’s in Cultural Diversity and Curriculum Reform and a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is trained in the Science of Reading and Sounds-Write and holds a supervisory license from Rowan University. She has authored five instructional books on reading and writingLeah's WebsiteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

Episode Replay of one of my favorites!You want to help your writers, but often the more help you provide, the more you inhibit their learning. This can happen even more so with struggling writers.Listen in to hear how to provide support that truly helps!About Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

What a fantastic discussion with a fantastic educator and writer, Ms. Ana Siqueira.Ana shares her journey of being an author and what is most important to her as a writer AND teacher of writers!We talk all about:-collaboration between writers-writing needing to be FUN-not being great the first draft-ways for writers to be inspired-the effectiveness of peer critique and how to get it startedAna provides practical and effective ways to support the writers in your classroom!ABOUT ANA SIQUEIRA:Ana Siqueira is a Spanish-language teacher and an award-winning children’s book author based in Tampa, Florida. Her books include Bella’s Recipe for Success (Beaming Books 2021), If Your Babysitter is a Bruja (S&S 2022), Abuela’s Super Capa/ La Supercapa de Abuela (HarperCollins 2023), Our World Brazil (Barefoot Books 2023), La Mala Suerte is Following Me (Charlesbridge 2024), Vera la Valiente is Scared (Beaming Books 2025), Sticky Hermana (Charlesbridge 2025), Mami’s Heart (HarperCollins 2026), If Your Abuelo is an Astronaut (Simon&Schuster 2026) among others. She also has a chapter book series coming out titled Carolina and the Creepy Creature Catchers. Ana co-founded Latinxpitch, a pitch event to promote Latin authors and illustrators. She is a global educator and PBS Media innovator. She lives in Tampa Bay with her husband and loves to play with her Cuban-Brazilian-American grandkids.Website: Ana Siqueira – Ana – The Teacher and the WriterAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

This episode holds the key to transforming your writing instruction from WRITING-focused to WRITER- focused!This is how we truly grow our elementary and middle school writers!What we say shows so much to ourselves and our writers about what we value.We want our writers to know that we value them and what they do as writers!What we say also forms what we think. Focusing our language on the writer will help you to focus your instruction on them as well!If we want to grow our students to be successful writers, we must make this change in our writing instruction.Grab the free resource mentioned in the episode HERE**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

The second half of my conversation with Ralph Fletcher is full of takeaways for every teacher of writing!If you have writers struggling to write or to grow as writers, Ralph shares several ideas for moving writers from reluctant to engaged and thriving.Listen in to hear:How more freedom helps reluctant writers more than increased structureThe case for writing for pleasureWhy differences in writing are a good thingThe keys to a great writing conferenceAbout Ralph Fletcher:Ralph Fletcher has been a mentor to teachers and young writers everywhere. He has helped hundreds of thousands of teachers understand the importance of letting go and trusting their writers. Ralph's professional books are part of this tradition.Ralph frequently works with young writers in schools, and speaks at education conferences in the U.S. and abroad, helping teachers find wiser ways of teaching writing. Ralph is the beloved author of many bestselling teacher professional books and resources including:Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide What a Writer Needs, Second EditionMentor Author, Mentor TextsCraft LessonsBreathing In, Breathing OutTeaching the Qualities of WritingLessons for the Writer's NotebookStudents know Ralph as the award-winning author of more than 20 books for children and young adults, including Fig Pudding, Twilight Comes Twice, The Writer’s Notebook, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid, and most recently Marshfield Memories: More Stories About Growing Up.www.ralphfletcherbooks.comRalph Fletcher's newest book: Tapping the Writer Within (coming February 2026)**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

"The best teaching comes when we teach at the point of our own learning."-Ralph FletcherThe one and only author and writing expert Ralph Fletcher joins us in this episode to share his beliefs on all things writing and writing instruction.In this first part of our discussion, Ralph shares many insightful ideas that help us support our students as writers. A few topics:Benefits of teachers as writersImportance of a writing communityChoiceLearning by writingWhy writers need to feel like writersThere is so much to learn from this conversation about setting a foundation for writers that builds on writer's identity, community and the practice of writing. Every K-8 writing teacher will benefit!About Ralph Fletcher:Ralph Fletcher has been a mentor to teachers and young writers everywhere. He has helped hundreds of thousands of teachers understand the importance of letting go and trusting their writers. Ralph's professional books are part of this tradition.Ralph frequently works with young writers in schools, and speaks at education conferences in the U.S. and abroad, helping teachers find wiser ways of teaching writing. Ralph is the beloved author of many bestselling teacher professional books and resources including:Writing Workshop: The Essential Guide What a Writer Needs, Second EditionMentor Author, Mentor TextsCraft LessonsBreathing In, Breathing OutTeaching the Qualities of WritingLessons for the Writer's NotebookStudents know Ralph as the award-winning author of more than 20 books for children and young adults, including Fig Pudding, Twilight Comes Twice, The Writer’s Notebook, Marshfield Dreams: When I Was a Kid, and most recently Marshfield Memories: More Stories About Growing Up.www.ralphfletcherbooks.comRalph Fletcher's newest book: Tapping the Writer Within (coming February 2026)**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

When starting to implement Independent Writing in your classroom for the first time, it is important to know what is really happening with your writers as a class as well as individually.This episode will provide practices for:Observing writers and gathering informationAssessing based on whole-class and individual needsDeciding next stepsWhen combined with the ideas shared in previous episodes from this series, these practices will help solidify independent writing time for your students and help you to support students at a deeper level.If you are looking for ways to make writing time more engaging and productive, to support struggling writers, or to help writers grow, this is for you!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

In almost every classroom where independent writing time is implemented for the first time, the same few issues seem to occur with a few writers.This episode tackles what to do when:writers are lacking engagementthere are just too many paperswriters are lacking independenceIf you have implemented independent writing time in your classroom or are thinking of starting, this episode will help!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Listen in to a thought-provoking discussion with literacy consultant extraordinaire, Pat Pollock.Pat shares a multitude of thoughts and ideas about teaching writing effectively by lifting up students as writers. Pat also helps us to look at the Writing Rope by Joan Sedita with a new lens as she provides her insights on its structure and components, helping us to stay mindful and critical of the resources made available to us.Another enlightening and helpful conversation with an expert in the field of literacy!About Patricia Pollack:Pat Pollack has been in education for over 40 years as a classroom teacher, Principal, Curriculum Director, Literacy Consultant and Partnerships Director. With degrees in Elementary Education, Literacy/Reading, Educational Administration, and Psychology, Pat's content knowledge and experiences have invited her to passionately advocate for student agency and learning, alongside her quest to empower teachers to believe in their abilities to inspire students as readers, writers and thinkers. A national presenter, and content writer of curriculum resources and professional books, Pat continues to partner with school districts to support their visions for developing thoughtful, independent and collaborative communicators, learners and citizens. **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

The Independent Writing Series continues with lessons that will support all writers in this beginning phase.In this episode, Melissa shares a variety of lessons for all grade levels that will help writers to build their independence during writing time.Melissa also give advice on using this time for honoring writers as they are and learning more about their strengths and needs before worrying about the product of their work.**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Part 2 shares valuable advice for teachers who lack a robust curriculum for writing instruction as well as Maggie Robert's new book (with co-author Melanie Meehan)!Kate and Maggie share the importance of teachers engaging in their own writing, finding mentors, and utilizing professional texts. Techniques such as using a writer's notebook and focusing on foundational writing skills are explored. As soon as you hear from Maggie about 'Foundational Skills for Writing' you will be ready to push that "pre-order" button!About Kate and Maggie:Kate and Maggie began their teaching careers as middle school teachers in city centers — Kate in Brooklyn, Maggie in Chicago. They both felt a natural fit in the energy, intensity and humor of early adolescence. After their graduate education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, Kate and Maggie became literacy consultants and worked with teachers in classrooms all over the country. For the last fifteen years, Kate and Maggie have worked across elementary, middle school, and high school grades, focusing on skill and strategy-based literacy instruction, literacy across the content areas, differentiated teaching methods, and optimizing teaching schedules and structures. Over time, Kate and Maggie have become known for their concrete solutions to tough situations, their humor, and their strong curricular, pedagogical and personal support of teachers, administrators, and students. These strengths shine through during their presentations and social media presence, such as on their blog, Instagram and TikTok accounts, and their video series for their latest book together, DIY Literacy.Books:The Heart of Non-fiction by Kate RobertsFoundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthen Executive Functions, Language and Other Cornerstones for Writers**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

You just can't miss this episode with the amazing authors, consultants and passionate educators Kate Roberts and Maggie Beattie Roberts!We discuss the biggest needs of the young writers in classrooms today including a balanced approach to writing that includes both fun, creative low-stakes writing and rigorous skill-building.We also explore the importance of choice, authenticity, and emotional engagement in the writing process, and offer practical advice on how to integrate these elements into the classroom. You will hear about the significance of daily writing practice and the role of executive functions in writing.For teachers seeking to boost student writing engagement and build confident young writers, this episode is a treasure trove of valuable insights and strategies.About Kate and Maggie:Kate and Maggie began their teaching careers as middle school teachers in city centers — Kate in Brooklyn, Maggie in Chicago. They both felt a natural fit in the energy, intensity and humor of early adolescence. After their graduate education at Columbia University’s Teachers College, Kate and Maggie became literacy consultants and worked with teachers in classrooms all over the country.For the last fifteen years, Kate and Maggie have worked across elementary, middle school, and high school grades, focusing on skill and strategy-based literacy instruction, literacy across the content areas, differentiated teaching methods, and optimizing teaching schedules and structures.Over time, Kate and Maggie have become known for their concrete solutions to tough situations, their humor, and their strong curricular, pedagogical and personal support of teachers, administrators, and students. These strengths shine through during their presentations and social media presence, such as on their blog, Instagram and TikTok accounts, and their video series for their latest book together, DIY Literacy.Books:The Heart of Non-fiction by Kate RobertsFoundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthen Executive Functions, Language and Other Cornerstones for WritersAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

When I first began using the workshop model, I felt very unequipped to help my writers.I wasn't a writer myself and certainly had not had any training in writing or how to teach writing. So, when I sat next to my little ones and read over their pieces, I felt like I didn't know how to help them.The truth was, I knew so many things about writing that would have been exactly what my students needed to hear! Not only that, but I was able to learn FROM them as they showed me what THEY did as writers.In the years that followed, I also learned from many resources along the way.Listen in to hear more of what you already know and a few of the tools that have helped me become an even better teacher of writing.**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

This series is all about Independent Writing: The why, the what and the how!It can seem overwhelming and almost impossible to allow students to write on their own, but you can do it and so can they!This first episode in the series goes over my definition of independent writing AND shares how to jump in and get started including:supplies (not many!)ways to introduce to studentswhat to expect the first few dayshow to keep writers goingI'd love to hear your thoughts and questions on this topic so reach out with a message (it can be anonymous!) Check below!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

I know there is not enough time for writing instruction. That means we need writing time to be as efficient as possible! This episode shares my top tips for making writing time the best for your students.Time stealers:Too much teacher talkToo much student talkLack of writer independenceKeeping writers all togetherEditing for your writersI hope you will choose one writing instruction time-saving strategy to level up your writing time!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Listen in to another fantastic conversation with authors Irene Latham and Charles Waters. Both share their experiences and strategies for making writing an effective an enjoyable activity for both teachers and students. The discussion includes:personal journeys as writers the significance of collaboration the importance of creating a safe and encouraging environment for student writers. Irene and Charles highlight their upcoming book 'For the Win,' which focuses on contemporary athletes and pivotal moments in their careers. This episode is a valuable resource for teachers seeking to inspire and improve their writing instruction methods.Books mentioned:Dictionary for a Better WorldCan I Touch Your Hair?For the WinAbout Irene Latham:Irene Latham is the author of many books for children, including novels, poetry, and picture books. Winner of the 2016 ILA Lee Bennett Hopkins Promising Poet Award, she writes poetry inspired by nature, art, and the experience of being human. Together with Charles Waters, she's written Dictionary for a Better World and Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship, which was named a Charlotte Huck Honor book and a Kirkus Best Book of 2018. Irene lives on a lake in Alabama where she does her best to "live her poem" every single day by laughing, playing the cello, and birdwatching. Read more about Irene on her website.About Charles Waters:Charles Waters is an author, children's poet, anthologist, actor and educator. His book Mascot (co-written with Traci Sorell) won many awards including the the American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor and the Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honor. His books (co-written with Irene Latham) include: Can I Touch Your Hair? Poems of Race, Mistakes and Friendship; Dictionary for a Better World: Poems, Quotes and Anecdotes from A–Z; African Town; winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction; Be a Bridge; and the anthologies The Mistakes That Made Us: Confessions from Twenty Poets and If I Could Choose A Best Day: Poems of Possibility.He believes poetry for young people is one of the world's greatest inventions alongside the creation of fire, the wheel and various breakfast foods.About Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWrite

It often seems that with writing, the first instinct for teachers when seeing a writer have difficulty is to hold them to what they are able to do correctly-to limit them to what they can do well. But isn't that only preventing them from making progress as writers?In this episode, I discuss the importance of placing your focus on the writer, not the product by allowing students to experience productive struggles in their writing journey and have the opportunity and room to grow instead of being boxed in to a small area of perfection. If you are an elementary teacher or middle school teacher wondering why your struggling writer isn't growing, this may be the episode for you! **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

Where are the periods? Why isn't this capitalized? You teach it, but it doesn't show up consistently in their writing. UGH! In this episode, we take a fresh look at teaching grammar and punctuation and the expectations we have for our writers. You will hear:the idea of viewing grammar as a craftincluding grammar instruction in reading and writingconnecting grammar and mechanics instruction to authentic writingways to help students "edit" throughout the drafting processPrevious Episodes on Grammar and Editing:Episode 105 with Patty McGeeEpisode 50 and 51**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

Join Melissa Morrison in an engaging episode of 'Getting Students to Write' as she welcomes art teacher and author Trevor Bryan. They discuss innovative strategies to boost writing confidence and effectiveness for both teachers and students. Trevor shares insights on integrating art and literacy, the role of pictures in developing comprehension, and his books 'The Art of Comprehension' and 'Narrative Know-How.' Learn about mood structures, the importance of helpers and harmers in storytelling, and practical methods to connect reading and writing seamlessly in K-6 classrooms.

Grading alone is a complicated topic, but grading writing, especially when wanting to value the writer, is even more difficult! The subjective nature of evaluating writing makes it difficult to be sure you have done so "correctly" for your students. It is also cumbersome to consider grading entire pieces from so many students.In this episode, I share ideas and strategies for grading that will help you to feel more effective and efficient. Included:How to focus your grading Aligning grading with learning objectivesMaking grading more manageableA favorite writing resourceAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWrite

This is such an important episode for all Pre-K, Kindergarten, First-grade and Second-grade teachers (and has helpful tips for upper grade teachers as well!)Language composition is the way students use language when reading books they have written, reading published books they are not yet decoding, and taking part in activities such as dramatic play. Matt Glover and Kathy Collins have been studying language composition in order to support teachers to:notice and name how young children are composing languageidentify next steps for students in composing languageuse oral rehearsal in upper gradesIn this episode, Matt Glover provides insight into the development of language composition and how the way students use language in one area can help them in others. He also shares about the resources found on his website that support teachers in assessing students' language composition. 'If you have young struggling writers or are looking for support with teaching writing, this is an episode for you! Read more a languagecomp.com Matt Glover BioWith over 30 years of experience as a teacher, principal, author, and consultant, Matt Glover is an internationally recognized literacy consultant who speaks widely on nurturing writers, early reading, and children’s intellectual development.His newest book, How to Become a Better Writing Teacher, is coauthored with Carl Anderson. Other works include Craft and Process Studies, I Am Reading (with Kathy Collins), Engaging Young Writers, Projecting Possibilities for Writers (with Mary Alice Berry), and Already Ready (with Katie Wood Ray). Matt also coedited The Teacher You Want to Be with Ellin Keene.Matt has four adult children and lives outside Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife, Bridget, and their dog. *****Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Writing volume, struggling writers, writing engagement, writing structure and more can all be affected by the paper that students are using to write.So yes, this episode is all about paper! We will explore:how paper makes writing more authenticthe benefits of writers making "picture books"how paper choices communicate importance and expectationsgetting started with more authentic paper choicesThis simple change will make a HUGE impact on writing in your classroom!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

In this episode, Christine Devane shares her amazing and inspiring journey from teaching to writing. As a teacher, Christine noticed a need for more representation of all students in the books they read, which is what fueled her motivation to create her book, Elephant Beach. In our conversation, Christine talks about her experience as an author which provides many insights for teachers who are working to support their writers. As a teacher, author and parent, Christine shares ideas that will encourage young writers, allowing for creativity and authenticity in the writing classroom. Christine provides thoughts on teaching writing that will be of help for all!Here are a few of the highlights from our conversation:Creativity fueled by a needThe importance of a writing communityThe writing process for authors and studentsYou can find Christine's book and upcoming items on her website About Christine Devane: Christine Devane was a second grade teacher for thirteen years and enjoyed reading with her students. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband John; three children Joey, Nick, and Adeline; and their dog Sophie. Christine loves going to the beach, spending time with family and friends, traveling, and collecting lucky elephants.**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

This episode will prepare you to begin gathering formative data about your writers that will keep your instruction, and writer's progress, on track!As the data conversation continues, I share more in this episode about:How data adjust goals for writersHow data informs your instructional choicesSimple ways to choose data points and collect dataIf you want to teach writing more effectively, engage students in writing, manage writer's workshop and help struggling writers, formative data is where it's at!Mentioned in this episode:The Writing Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo (The Hierarchy of Writing Goals)Writefully Empowered by Jacob ChastainData Collection Template (This can be copied and then edited as needed-use your chosen writing categories)Previous Correlated Episodes:Ep 84 Writing Conferring Series: Writer's Inquiry ConferenceEp 83 Writing Strategies Series: EngagementEp 44 and 45 All Things Writing with Jacob Chastain**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Do you have independent writing time up and running in your classroom but feel unsure of how to keep your writer's moving forward? It is difficult to support struggling writers or even know what to teach for writing if you don't know enough about your writers.The right formative data will help you plan instruction that supports progress! In this episode, I share:The importance of formative dataThree writing categories for data collectionFour ways to gather dataCollecting data on identity and engagementAfter this episode you'll be ready for Part 2 where I go over choosing a data focus and a simple way to record data. The more focused your instruction, the more writing engagement your students will have, the more confident you will feel in your writing classroom!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

A coach just telling a player to "hit the ball" or "be aggressive" does not improve their performance. The same is true for us as teachers of writers! We need to teach, not tell by addressing their needs and showing them how to do what we want them to do.Struggling writers will just keep struggling if all we do is have them keep trying to write without specific instruction. The trouble is that most teachers are not trained in teaching writing and have difficulty knowing what strategies to teach. (I've been there!)In this episode, I share techniques and several resources to help you:Know where your writers areCompile strategies for lessonsMove writers forwardHere is a list of helpful resources:The Writing Strategies Book-Jennifer SerravalloCraft Lessons (several)- Ralph FletcherMaking Non-fiction from Scratch- Ralph FletcherCraft and Process Studies- Matt GloverProjecting Possibilities for Writers- Matt GloverIf...Then Curriculum: Assessment Based Instruction- Lucy CalkinsWriting Pathways-Lucy CalkingLanguage Composition Framework-www.languagecomp.comAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWrite

Are you wondering....Why you have struggling writers? Why your writers aren't showing growth? Why your writers aren't engaged in writing?Perhaps they need MORE of something. In this episode, I share three main "mores" that writers need in order to be successful, and a few additional "mores" that are just as important.The first more is one I'm sure you have heard before...more time to write! The rest...listen in to hear all about them!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

***I share some exciting news in this episode!***In this episode, I discuss lessons cultivated from a multitude of resources combined with years of experience working with writers and with teachers who are new to writer's workshop.Ideas for lessons will be provided that will help with:How to introduce writing to your studentsWays to support struggling writersThe reality of being a writer (it's not like most classrooms!)Working through writer's problemsYou will also hear how important it is to trust that YOU can identify lessons that will support your writers by observing and knowing more about them. **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Reluctant writers won't stay reluctant with the right supports! As you start a new year with a new group of writers, you will want to make writing meaningful for each of them because engaged writers become successful writers!In this episode I share a few ideas for helping students make connections with writing by offering a variety of entry points as well as helping them to feel ready to write. Resources mentioned:Two Writing Teachers: Friendly Letter Writing and Authentic Purposes for WritingStudent Writing Samples**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

" ... it's really important that we start building their identities as writers and readers from that young age because they will rise to whatever level we set for them."ABSOLUTELY!!! So many good things in this episode with the wonderful Leah Thomas!-Building writing 'empathy' by being a teacher writer-Allowing writers to be self-directed, making decisions and choices-Leah's journey as a teacher of writing-The importance of unpacking standards for writingIf you are looking for best practices for teaching writing or ways to boost student writing engagement, do not miss this episode!!About Leah Thomas:Leah (Koch) Thomas is a Kindergarten teacher who has also taught second grade in St. Louis, MO. She holds a B.A. from Graceland University in Elementary Education, Special Education, and Reading and an MSEd from Missouri State University in Elementary Education with a Literacy Certificate. She credits the TCRWP Summer institutes with helping to form her literacy philosophy and love for the workshop model. Leah is passionate about honoring student voice and identity through writing. She believes that for children to see themselves as writers, they deserve trust and autonomy to learn more about themselves and their writing process. If students can identify as authors, the motivation, skills, and craft will follow!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Ok, it's actually way more than 3...but I have placed them into 3 main categories!Make it Exciting and MeaningfulBuild CommunityLearn from Your WritersYou will hear how to set a strong foundation for writing from the beginning with techniques such as:Sharing "real-world" writing for studentsCreating a safe and positive environmentBeing a part of the writing community"Kid-watching" during writing timeEncouraging risk-taking and trying new thingsand more!There are several episodes that go along with this one:#73, 84, 85, 87, 109, and 114Also mentioned in the episode: Kindness Speech by 10 year old girl D. Smith's Inspiring Message www.k12.thoughtfullearning.com www.youngwritersmagazine.com**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

Today's episode features a very special guest, Mrs. Melanie Meehan!As a reader of the Two Writing Teachers Blog for many years and a fan of Melanie's books, it was wonderful to get to talk with her all about writing!I know you will find inspiration hearing Melanie speak of:her writing belief statementthe importance of teachers as writersthoughts on templates and GOsthe recursive nature of the writing processbalancing foundational skills with the creativeness of writingand so much more!Don't miss out on this fabulous episode! And-be on the lookout for Melanie's new book with co-author Maggie Roberts in Spring 2026About Melanie Meehan:Melanie Meehan is the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator in Simsbury, CT, and is passionate about developing young writers, as well as human beings with curiosity, empathy, and responsibility for the world. Melanie was a member of the writing team for the Connecticut Social Studies Frameworks, and is passionate about equity and social justice. She slices at Just Write, Melanie. Melanie has written three professional books. Every Child Can Write: Entry Points, Bridges and Pathways for Striving Writers, was published in October 2019 by Corwin Press. The Responsive Writing Teacher: A Hands-on Guide to Child-Centered, Equitable Instruction, co-written with Kelsey Sorum, was published in February 2021, and Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Writing is her most recent book, published in April 2022.Melanie holds a B.A from Cornell University, a Masters in Special Education from the University of Hartford, and her Sixth Year in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. Additionally, she has an MFA in Creative Writing from the Solstice Low-Residency Creative Writing Program of Pine Manor College. She has published articles in Highlights Magazine, and won the 2016 Tassy-Walden Award for New Voices in Children’s Literature. You can find her on X @MelanieMeehan1.In this episode:Steve Graham, Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

You will be inspired from this episode! The transformation that occurred for all three of these fabulous teachers as well as their students was incredible!Listen in to hear about:Huge wins in a short amount of timeIncreased teacher confidence with teaching writingHow students' engagement and idea generation increasedGrowth in kindergarten writing skills with little instructionI know this episode will persuade you to implement authentic independent writing time!***Important NEWS! This will be the last episode before a short summer break! I will return in mid-late August. About Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

The second part of my conversation with Carl Anderson provides you with helpful and interesting information about teaching writing and more about the genre of fantasy. You will hear Carl's thoughts on:writing your own mentor text-Do not be afraid! the importance of showing how writers navigate writingwriting in front of students (modeled writing)the "elevator pitch" and how it helps students and teachersA quote from Carl: "When kids are highly engaged, it makes our work with kids really enjoyable and much more interesting and just a lot more fun for everybody and joyful." I could not agree more!! About Carl Anderson: Carl Anderson is an internationally recognized expert in the teaching of writing for grades K-8. He works as a consultant in schools and districts around the world. Carl is the author of numerous books on teaching writing, including the new A Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts K-5, A Teacher’s Guide to Writing Conferences, the best-selling How’s It Going? A Practical Guide to Conferring with Student Writers, Assessing Writers, and Strategic Writing Conferences: Smart Conversations that Move Young Writers Forward. The fall of 2023 will see the publication of his next book, co-authored with Matt Glover, How to Become a Better Writing Teacher.You can follow Carl on Twitter at @conferringcarl and on Instagram, carlandersonconferring. You can contact him at [email protected] Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

You will LOVE this discussion with Mr. Carl Anderson about his newest book, Teaching Fantasy Writing: Lessons That Inspire Student Engagement and Creativity, Grades K6. This book is a MUST-HAVE for teachers and hearing Carl's insights on the book as well as his passion for the fantasy genre for students is palpable!In the episode you will hear about:The bias against fantasy writing This genre's profound impact on student engagement and creativity The benefits of fantasy writing for students Developmental benefits and pedagogical strategies for incorporating fantasy writing into the curriculum,This is just the first half of this interesting and exciting conversation so don't miss out and stay tuned for Part 2!About Carl Anderson: Carl Anderson is an internationally recognized expert in the teaching of writing for grades K-8. He works as a consultant in schools and districts around the world. Carl is the author of numerous books on teaching writing, including the new A Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts K-5, A Teacher’s Guide to Writing Conferences, the best-selling How’s It Going? A Practical Guide to Conferring with Student Writers, Assessing Writers, and Strategic Writing Conferences: Smart Conversations that Move Young Writers Forward. The fall of 2023 will see the publication of his next book, co-authored with Matt Glover, How to Become a Better Writing Teacher. Carl began his career in education as a teacher in elementary and middle schools in the Bronx, New York, Bardstown, Kentucky, and Northbrook, Illinois. Today, he is known for his conference keynotes, PD workshops, and in-school residencies. Carl is also known for being an avid fan of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, as well as his lifelong passion for sailing. He lives with his wife Robin in Brooklyn, New York, and is thrilled when their adult children visit them. You can follow Carl on Twitter at @conferringcarl and on Instagram, carlandersonconferring. You can contact him at [email protected]**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

We've all heard remarks about the writer's workshop method that are a bit off. In this episode, I bring up some of the misconceptions, and sometimes just untruths, of writer's workshop and try to set the record straight. After telling a bit about the history of the workshop model, I share what I feel are a few of the possible reasons for these misconceptions and advocate (again) for the method I love so much: the one that not only engages writers but improves student writing.The episode will touch on:The educators who were the impetus for the workshop model in elementary, intermediate, and high school classroomsMisconceptions of the workshop model: Lack of instruction, Lack of grammar, Workshop being the only wayProminent educators and authors of the workshop modelI would love to hear your thoughts on this topic and all that I shared:) **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteWebsite and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!About Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

Oh so many tips and insights were shared by the fabulous Zeba McGibbon of the Kindergarten Cafe! Listen in to hear about: -the importance of supporting students with SEL-including a variety of aspects for helping students with writing-Zeba's Caring Critters book series!You can find Zeba -On her Podcast-Kindergarten CafeOn Instagram @kindergartencafeOn her website-www.kindergartencafe.org**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

I am currently in the process of supporting three teachers with implementing an authentic independent writing time and wanted to give you an insider's look! In this episode you will hear about teachers and students from three different grade levels and how they are progressing with implementing student choice, multiple drafts and more. Our coaching work consists of one day of training and 4 days of coaching within 5 weeks, and this episode covers the first half of our time together.I will share:-What writing time looked like in each classroom before our work together-topics we discussed during our training-steps to include in implementation-wins and progress of students and teachersI hope you enjoy hearing all about the fabulous work of these amazing teachers and students! **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

I know that teachers are always looking for more ways to be able to provide effective support for their students who are multilingual learners. In this episode, Katherine Hamilton from Ensemble Learning discusses mindsets and strategies that are able to be implemented without lengthy preparation and will generalize across other areas of instruction. Katherine shares insights into:-fostering a supportive and culturally rich classroom environment-using scaffolds and visual aids-and leveraging students' native languages to build their confidence and academic English skillsThe conversation also covers techniques for structured student talk and the importance of assessing students' prior knowledge. This episode will be extremely helpful for all grade levels!For more information from Ensemble learning, visit http://www.ensemblelearning.org About Katherine Hamilton:Katherine Hamilton (she/her) is the Vice President of Programs at Ensemble Learning, overseeing the development, implementation, and evaluation of all programmatic activities. With nearly 15 years of experience in K-12 education, Katherine specializes in supporting leaders and teachers to create inclusive and equitable learning environments through instructional leadership. Katherine holds a Master’s degree in education with an emphasis in math education from Stanford University and a BA in economics from Yale University. She has also been a secondary mathematics teacher, an instructional coach, and a Director of Curriculum and Instruction at a public school network in Los Angeles. At Ensemble, she has led the implementation of two successful Department of Education grants focusing on leadership for multilingual learner equity and the implementation of high-quality dual language programming.About Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

The term "free writing" is used often, and I have to say, I don't love it. To me, it signals that providing students "freedom" to choose their own topics, make mistakes, right without what is considered "proper structure", make mistakes or go at their own pace is something that is different from or outside of the writing that is typically done. Hear more of my thoughts on this term and its meanings, as well as what I feel to be important when thinking of utilizing journals in the classroom. Hint...it's all about PURPOSE!**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Students struggle with grammar. Teachers struggle with grammar. But...Patty McGee says it doesn't have to be that way! If you are looking for simple yet powerful ways to help your students to apply grammar skills, you will not want to miss this discussion! Patty shares a wealth of information on best practices in grammar instruction including high-impact techniques for doing so. Grab Patty's Noun, Verbs, Both Sort HereFind out more about Patty HerePatty McGee is a nationally recognized literacy consultant, speaker, and educator with a passion for transforming classrooms into spaces where language and learning come alive. With decades of experience as a teacher, coach, and advocate for delightful literacy practices, Patty has worked alongside educators across the country, partnering to unlock the full potential of their students through innovative and practical teaching strategies. Not Your Granny’s Grammar is her third book.About Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

When teaching writing, there are so many things on our mind-so many skills to worry about our students mastering. Most of these skills are what we can see on paper, and they can easily steal the majority of our focus. However, there are a multitude of skills, abilities, beliefs and characteristics of writers that need to be developed and addressed that are beneath the surface, yet extremely vital, and when they are ignored, students' success as writers in inhibited.In this episode, I am honored to share one writer's "win" because of one amazing teacher's thoughtful attention to what her writer needed. Although the goal of this lesson or unit may have been much more "academically" based, the skill this writer needed to develop at this time was what needed to be addressed and encouraged. I hope you will be encouraged to not only focus on what each writer needs that may be outside of your current expectations, but also to know that the more you are aware of your writers' needs the more you will be able to help them! **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

This incredible conversation with author and speaker Sarah McDavis will have you feeling inspired! Sarah gives us a peek into her mind as a writer sharing:How she begins a new bookHer process for draftingHer own version of planningStrategies for when you are "stuck"Using charts and graphs to revise her bookShe reminds us that each and every writer is unique and that fostering our students' own writing identity is such an important component to our writing instruction. I learned so much from our conversation and hope you will too!Check out more from Sarah (including TEACHER RESOURCES) or book her for your school visit at her website**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

How can we expect perfection from our young writers when we don't expect it of ourselves?Does a young basketball player need to perfect his shot before he can play a game?Do professional authors publish their first draft? For some reason there are literacy professionals who are promoting having students "master sentences" before they are able to write anything more. I'm not sure I understand this idea.In this episode I share my take on this and a similar line of thought that is much more in keeping with the research of not only writing, but learning. **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Get ready for the rest of this fantastic discussion with Carl Anderson and Matt Glover! You will hear more about the importance of student engagement in writing as well as helpful tips for navigating the various aspects of a writer-focused workshop model. Check out what the authors have to say about:Illustrations as an integral part of compositionTeaching a non-genre specific unitSteps for beginning Writer's WorkshopTips for utilizing the bookIf you haven't listened to the beginning of this conversation, be sure to go back to episode 100! Books mentioned in this episode:Craft and Process Studies by Matt GloverIndependent Writing by Colleen M. CruzTeaching Fantasy Writing by Carl AndersonGuest BiosCarl Anderson is an internationally recognized expert in the teaching of writing for grades K-8. He works as a consultant in schools and districts around the world. Carl is the author of numerous books on teaching writing, including the new A Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts K-5, A Teacher’s Guide to Writing Conferences, the best-selling How’s It Going? A Practical Guide to Conferring with Student Writers, Assessing Writers, and Strategic Writing Conferences: Smart Conversations that Move Young Writers Forward. The fall of 2023 will see the publication of his next book, co-authored with Matt Glover, How to Become a Better Writing Teacher.Matt Glover has been a teacher, principal, and consultant for over 35 years. He is the author of the Heinemann titles Craft and Process Studies: Units That Provide Writers with Choice of Genre and Engaging Young Writers, as well as the co-author of Already Ready, Projecting Possibilities for Writers, I Am Reading, and Watch Katie and Matt...Sit Down and Teach Up, a video-enhanced e-book. An international literacy consultant, Matt works in schools with teachers on topics related to nurturing writers of all ages, early reading, oral language composition, and supporting children’s intellectual development. **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

This is it!!! The 100th Episode! For my 100th am joined by two incredible writers themselves who have given so much to the field of education through their work on writing instruction: Matt Glover and Carl Anderson. In this first episode of the two-part series, we discuss ways to provide more student ownership in writing, which increases engagement and drives learning. Listen in to hear Matt and Carl speak on:Teachers' comfort with writers' approximationsKnowing writers to know what's next for themEngagement as a central goal for teaching writingImportance of talking with young writersThis is a must listen, don't miss episode that will inspire you to want to become a better writing teacher!Books mentioned in this episode:How to Become a Better Writing Teacher by Carl Anderson and Matt GloverEngaging Children: Igniting a Drive for Deeper Learning by Ellen Oliver KeeneGuest Bios:Carl Anderson is an internationally recognized expert in the teaching of writing for grades K-8. He works as a consultant in schools and districts around the world. Carl is the author of numerous books on teaching writing, including the new A Teacher’s Guide to Mentor Texts K-5, A Teacher’s Guide to Writing Conferences, the best-selling How’s It Going? A Practical Guide to Conferring with Student Writers, Assessing Writers, and Strategic Writing Conferences: Smart Conversations that Move Young Writers Forward. The fall of 2023 will see the publication of his next book, co-authored with Matt Glover, How to Become a Better Writing Teacher.Matt Glover has been a teacher, principal, and consultant for over 35 years. He is the author of the Heinemann titles Craft and Process Studies: Units That Provide Writers with Choice of Genre and Engaging Young Writers, as well as the co-author of Already Ready, Projecting Possibilities for Writers, I Am Reading, and Watch Katie and Matt...Sit Down and Teach Up, a video-enhanced e-book. An international literacy consultant, Matt works in schools with teachers on topics related to nurturing writers of all ages, early reading, oral language composition, and supporting children’s intellectual development. **Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

Time just does not seem to be on a teacher's side! There are so many things requiring or affecting your time-some you can control, some you cannot. Some you are invested in, some you are not.More often than not, writing is the part of literacy that gets pushed aside for other areas.But writing is an ESSENTIAL part of our students' day and life and needs to be given what it is due!This episode will provide tips and ideas for getting the most out of your day and including writing practices that are effective for your writers.Mentioned in the Episode:Integrating Reading and Writing- Michelle Ruhe Coach from the CoachMini-lesson Episodes 19, 21 and 22**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers! Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:) Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWriteAbout Melissa:Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.  Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!Website and Blog Read the latest blog posts and find out more about services provided by Melissa TikTok Follow Melissa for tips and support with writing instruction!YouTube Find out more about teaching writing as you watch webinars and model lessons taught by MelissaLinkedIn Connect with Melissa!