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

Interview episodes are always the best! Michelle Ruhe is a friend and literacy mentor! She is a fabulous resource and support for all things literacy intruction! In this episode we discuss: -Why we feel training and support in writing instruction are desperately needed -Our take on the "Science of Writing" -Shared Writing and its importance for upper grades -The importance and effectiveness of tea...

Here is the last episode the in Mini-lesson series! Highlights of the episode include: -Students do not need to practice/try the mini-lesson strategy that day!!! -The language you use is important! -You control the mini-lesson! Happy Listening! About Melissa: Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education.  Her passion and expertise is t...

More about Writer's Workshop Mini-lessons! In this episode you will hear: -My thoughts on why teachers should follow the structure of the mini-lesson -A mini-lesson for you! You will hear me walk through the steps of a mini-lesson, providing explanations of each step. -Ways to create the Teach and Active Engagement portion of the mini-lesson I hope you participate in and enjoy this episode! About...

Another fabulous interview with Pre-K literacy teacher and consultant Melissa McCall of Moving Little Minds! We talk all things early childhood writing! Key Take-aways: 3 parts of writing-all equally important Ways to include writing in multiple areas of the school day Importance of instilling a love of writing and story-telling! If you are looking for more knowledge of writing development for our...

What is a writing mini-lesson and why should you use them? Well...listen to this episode to hear about: Where mini-lessons came from and when they are used. How to choose teaching points for your writing mini-lessons. The components of a mini-lesson. Writing Mini-lessons provide explicit instruction on writing strategies for your students. If you are wondering how to get students to write and grow...

If you are like many teachers I know, you do not have a writing "curriculum" or writing units that are already planned out for you! But as I spoke about earlier in Episode 10, you don't need a writing program...you just need to follow the steps I provide in this episode! All it takes is: Writing State Standards A purpose for your writing unit Writing Mentor Texts And a bit of time! This episode wi...

This episode is a follow up from Episode 15, and digs a bit deeper into how to focus your observations of writers as well as ways to take notes according to various lenses of focus. It is very helpful and effective for teachers to see what their students are doing, as well as what they are able to do as writers, in order to help inform your next steps in writing instruction. About Melissa: Melissa...

Our first Q&A episode is here!  I love answering your questions because if they come from you, I know they will help so many teachers! The three questions in this episode are: How do we get reluctant writers started? What should you do when students are given choice but still don't know what to write? How do we help writers to persevere through all aspects of the writing process? Listen i...

You are letting your writers write and that's fantastic! As you look toward moving them forward as writers by conferring with them, the first step is to ensure that you know where your students are in their writing journey. This episode talks about the importance of letting your students teach you and show you what they need and provides ways to gather information from the students and their writi...

Do you have a few writers in your classroom who have trouble getting started or can't seem to write the whole time? This episode is all about engagement in writing, and how building up this independence in your writers will help them to be successful longer than one class period!  Writing strategies aren't just about what's on paper! They are also about students' behaviors and how they can he...

I just felt there was so much more to say about the last episode's topic, so I am making two more! This episode is all about the language you use when teaching writing so that you are teaching the writer! It is so important and effective to use certain words and phrases, because it will change your mindset, questioning and teaching practices!  If your students struggle with using writing skill...

This episode asks an important question of you, writing teacher! It is one that helps you to reflect on your practice and understand the "why" behind many aspects of writer's workshop and "teaching the writer".  You will hear how to teach your writer for their future, not just for this writing, right now.  These strategies for writing instruction are crucial to growing your students as w...

It can be difficult to know and choose what skills and strategies to teach your writers. Today's episode provides two ways to gather data on student writing that will inform your instruction. We will talk about looking at writing as a class with a process called "thin slicing" as well as looking at writing of individual students one at a time during quick conferences.  Some resources mentione...

Teachers! Let me tell you why you do not need a specific writing program or manual to teach writing! I promise that you only need a few methods and bits of information to get your students writing and growing as writers. Making a few changes will start your transformation! Are your students struggling with writing independently? Do you feel unqualified to teach writing? If you know that the writin...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with two of my favorite teachers whom I have been lucky enough to work alongside as they journey into writer's workshop. They share many juicy tidbits: -How workshop compares to their previous experience with writing instruction -The difficulties they encountered -What they love about workshop This is definitely my favorite episode so far, and I am so...

In this episode, you will hear my thoughts on collaboration during writing time. I share why being a part of a writing community is so important as well as several ways to make collaboration happen for your writers. If you want to implement writing instruction best practices, this episode is for you! About Melissa: Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' expe...

If you want your writers to grow, you have to let them write! The supports being provided with the intention of helping your writers may actually be hindering their chance of learning and growing as writers. Many of the frustrations you feel come from not truly knowing your writers as well as from having so much teacher control over their work. If you want students to be interested in writing and...

  It isn't easy to try something new, and sometimes, it's even more difficult to keep going! Here are 4 possible troubles you will face when implementing writer's workshop and why and how you will get past them! Remember this episode when you are in the thick of your transformation! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/teachingtotransform/message

Episode 5 is all about knowing your students' writing identity. If you want to know which writing strategies and skills to teach, you need to know your students as writers! Their writing pieces alone do not provide the depth of information needed. It is important to find out what happens before the final piece. Things like: *attitude towards writing *ability to generate ideas *confidence as a writ...

Another important piece of student-centered writing instruction is the writing community that you create in your classroom! Today we will discuss the typical struggles of writing for students and how to alleviate them with community work! You will hear about Identity work, Encouragement and Collaboration in your writing community and how it will increase student success in writing!  --- Send...

I know you know this, but sometimes we forget! In this episode, I will remind you that transforming your writing time will take time! I will also share what I feel are the first 2 steps in getting started with writer's workshop!  Writing instruction is one of the most difficult aspects of literacy instruction, but this episode will get you on your way!  --- Send in a voice message: https...

Many educators have learned enough about the structure of writer's workshop to know that is has three components: mini-lessons, independent time and share time. However, there are other concepts to know and understand that differ from what we may think of as the "traditional" writing instruction. In this episode, you will hear my take on what teachers should know about Writer's Workshop before the...

Hello! It's me, Melissa! On this Episode, I will tell you about my journey from teacher to consultant, and why I do what I do! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/teachingtotransform/message