high school writing workshop

September 23, 2021September 20, 2021Paige Timmerman

First Year Teacher Support: Progress over Perfection

As I began preparing for my 10th year in the classroom, I realized I’m in an interesting place in my career. I by no means consider myself a veteran teacher; I still have so many lessons to learn and experiences to be had before I’m wise. It honestly feels like it was just yesterday that […]

November 25, 2019November 20, 2019Rebekah O'Dell

Writing Workshop Communication: Sharing Students’ Process

(Sorry for the grainy sound today, folks!) Having students create documents that compile the writerly work in their notebooks has been a huge win! Students are able to share an often invisible process with their parents, they are able to share their reflections with me, and they are able to show themselves how far they […]

October 8, 2018October 8, 2018Rebekah O'Dell

Choice in Workshop: FAQ and Student Perspectives

Two weeks ago, I wrote about one of the very most foundational elements of any writing workshop: student choice. I gave you some ways to wade in; I gave you some ways to try something new with choice if you’re already a veteran. And then I asked you for lingering questions and concerns, a record […]

April 18, 2017April 18, 2017Tricia Ebarvia

Argument in the Wild: Reading & Writing from Media-Rich Texts

The idea that “everything’s an argument” seems almost too obvious these days. After all, talk to almost any adolescent today and it’s clear how aware they are of the ways in which they are constantly being persuaded, whether it’s an editorial from the Wall Street Journal or The New York Times, the latest newscast from […]

October 17, 2016October 16, 2016Rebekah O'Dell

Reader Mail: Teaching Writers to Use Copious, Persuasive Evidence

We recently received this email from Angela in South Dakota: I am writing about a podcast interview that you did with Talks with Teachers. You had mentioned you did a unit on using text evidence, and it hit me at my heart as my students struggle with providing relevant evidence in their writing. I searched […]

August 18, 2016August 19, 2016megankortlandt

Permission to Start the Year with Blank Walls

Starting with blank space allows for more collaborative instruction throughout the year.

May 31, 2016May 31, 2016Tricia Ebarvia

Discovering a Writing Process that Works

One of my favorites things about the end of the school year—aside from summer vacation, of course—is the opportunity to reflect on another year gone by. And as I look back on this particular year, I see many bumps in the road: lessons gone awry, students I didn’t quite reach, and material I didn’t get […]

May 9, 2016May 8, 2016Rebekah O'Dell

Anthologies for Ending a Year

The beauty of Jay’s Mentor Text Wednesday posts is that they give us an instant idea — something to take back into our classrooms immediately, something to tinker with and fit to our students’ needs, and something to expand the way we think about mentor texts and the possibilities for our students’ writing. It’s easy […]

April 26, 2016April 25, 2016Angela

Coaching the Overwhelmed Writer

Sticky notes and index cards can help overwhelmed writers take things bit by bit.

March 21, 2016April 19, 2016Rebekah O'Dell

On Teaching a Genre You Know Nothing About (or: an Infographic Study!)

Sometimes, no matter how good our routine, we need to shake it up. This is true in exercise; our muscles and our minds need to be surprised occasionally with a new move in order to achieve maximum results. It’s also true in writing. And it’s true in teaching. Sometimes the very thing we need to […]