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Explore every episode of the podcast Two Writing Teachers Podcast

Dive into the complete episode list for Two Writing Teachers Podcast. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
Energizing a Writing Unit: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie29 Sep 202400:09:34


Melanie shares four ways to reenergize student writers whose enthusiasm and stamina dwindle during more extended writing units. Her ideas are sure to reinvigorate students in engaging and meaningful ways.

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For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Help K-8 Students with Executive Functioning Needs: A Conversation with a Colleague22 Sep 202400:37:32

This episode features Betsy Hubbard, an experienced educator and co-author at Two Writing Teachers. The discussion explores the critical role of executive functioning skills in writing and how deficits in these areas can impact students' performance. Betsy shares practical strategies for teachers to support executive functioning in writing workshops, including techniques for breaking tasks into manageable chunks and providing organizational templates. The episode also covers the importance of incorporating executive functioning activities into the classroom environment. It offers examples of self-regulation techniques to help students overcome challenges in the writing process.

Previous TWT Podcast Episodes Mentioned

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More About Betsy Hubbard: 

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Addressing Perfectionism in Writing Instruction: A Conversation with a Colleague28 Apr 202400:43:59

In today’s Conversation with a Colleague, Stacey chats with Lainie Levin, a gifted interventionist and coach, about helping learners conquer perfectionism. Lainie unveils the manifestations of perfectionism in students, particularly during writing instruction, highlighting key signs to watch for. She shares an innovative work quality continuum she co-created with her students, as a powerful tool to address perfectionist tendencies. Practical strategies are discussed for reframing perfectionist behaviors, fostering a growth mindset, and embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth. Stacey and Lainie also explore the impact of perfectionism on partnerships and group work. Finally, they discuss where perfectionism is most prevalent during the writing process while discussing effective methods for addressing it.

ABOUT LAINIE LEVIN:

Lainie is a dedicated educator with 28 years of teaching experience and a strong advocate for children and public education. She is a gifted interventionist and coach in language arts and math, specializing in meeting the needs of gifted/talented elementary school students. Since 2021, she has been a valued colleague at Two Writing Teachers.

Check out Lainie’s personal blog, Soapbox: The Way I See Things, follow her on X @mrslevin11, or read her Two Writing Teachers blog posts. 

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Building Awareness of Sentence Structure: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie21 Apr 202400:07:21

Make sentence structure more straightforward for students with Melanie's intentional activities in this episode. Melanie shares ways she helps students understand the definition of sentences, create sentences with phrases and pictures, and combine sentences. You'll help students recognize and create simple and increasingly complex sentences with Melanie's playful and purposeful ideas.

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Capture Students' Progress with End-of-Year Letters: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey14 Apr 202400:10:14

Explore the origin and significance of end-of-year reflection letters in this week’s episode. Stacey highlights the unique nature of these letters, which go beyond self-evaluations of academics and instead focus on students reflecting on their growth as learners and individuals. Practical guidelines for structuring the letters are shared, emphasizing flexibility in paragraph structure to suit individual needs. The episode also features touching excerpts from actual student letters, showcasing their accomplishments, thoughts on cooperative group work, and advice for the teacher. The power of these reflection letters as tools for student self-awareness and goal-setting is celebrated, emphasizing the importance of taking a step back to recognize personal growth.


Looking for what you can do after you receive these letters from your students? Check out “My Hope and Dream for You,” which explains how you can respond to your students as they exit your classroom door for the final time.


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Explore the Potential of Student-Facing AI Tools: A Digging Deeper Dialogue07 Apr 202400:40:56

We explore the vast potential of student-facing AI tools. Join us as we delve into the benefits of tools like Co:Writer Universal, EverWrite, Grammarly, Read&Write, and Speechify. Discover how these cutting-edge tools revolutionize students' learning, writing, and communication and empower students to reach new heights of academic excellence.

Check out the Los Angeles Unified School District’s AI policies. 

Listen to our previous episode: Boost Writing Instruction with AI.

Related TWTBlog Posts:

AI Tools We Mentioned:

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Bring Checklists to Life: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie31 Mar 202400:08:22

It is helpful to create checklists that are accessible to students so they are manageable, digestible, and possible for students to utilize. In this tip, Melanie shares ways to help students chunk checklists, think with intention, and digitize checklists. In addition, she plants the seeds to help you think about ways to help students self-create checklists that will allow them to grow as writers.

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Boost Writing Instruction with AI: A Digging Deeper Dialogue24 Mar 202400:38:31

In this episode, we talk about content creation, personalized learning, accessibility, efficiency & productivity with artificial intelligence. We share various teacher-facing AI tools and discuss how you can incorporate them into your writing instruction.

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Previous TWTPod Episodes:

AI Tools We Mentioned:

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Create Personal and Living Poetry Anthologies: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey17 Mar 202400:08:04

Learn about two engaging ideas for National Poetry Month, which begins on April 1. Stacey shares a bit about creating a collaborative "Living Poetry Anthology" where students curate poems to display throughout the school. Next, she discusses developing personal poetry collections featuring their work, inspirational poems, and reflections on poems they admired. Make poetry come alive for your students – listen now! 

TWTBlog Posts

Resource List

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Sentence Frames and Vocabulary Words: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie10 Mar 202400:06:25

There's a lot of brain work involved in written expression. This week, Melanie shares a tip to help students reduce their cognitive load, which will help them express their ideas more easily. In this tip, Melanie shares how providing students with sentence frames and a bank of vocabulary words can aid students with difficulty with word retrieval. Plus, she shares ways to shift the agency to students so they are not dependent on their teacher to do this work.
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Accommodations for Access to Writing Instruction: A Digging Deeper Dialogue03 Mar 202400:54:21

In this episode, we explore accommodations for student writers. The episode has five categories: organization, materials/tools, time, response, and seating. This episode will equip you with ways to create an inclusive, accessible learning environment.

PAST TWT BLOG POSTS

PODCASTS MENTIONED:

RESOURCES FOR WRITING ACCOMMODATIONS:

BOOKS MENTIONED:

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Navigate a Digital World by Seeing, Hearing, and Reading: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey25 Feb 202400:06:22

Stacey explores the power of pairing written explanations with oral directions to enhance understanding in the context of writing workshop. She provides an overview of Driveway, a Chrome Extension that allows educators to create step-by-step process guides with written descriptions, highlighted screenshots, and optional voiceovers. Learn how to create interactive walkthroughs to help students become more independent with the technology they use in writing workshop. 

Here are some videos of Stacey’s sample guides created with Driveway (and then exported to YouTube):

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The Power of Oral Language: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie15 Sep 202400:08:45

In this week's episode, Melanie shares six innovative strategies for using verbal rehearsal to empower young writers. She discusses techniques such as purposeful storytelling, visual cue cards, and fostering student collaborative partnerships. Enhancing oral language skills aims to strengthen writing abilities, demonstrating the powerful connection between speaking and writing. Discover how these approaches can help students recognize and harness their writing potential.

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Digital Texts as Mentors: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie18 Feb 202400:06:34

In this Tip for Tomorrow, Melanie provides three ways to use digital mentor texts. She provides insight on using videos as part of your whole-class instruction, inquiry lessons, and as a goal-setting tool. Take advantage of this episode if you need more ways to integrate digital mentor texts into your writing instruction.

Read Leah Koch's Two Writing Teachers post, Energize Opinion Writing with Surprising Mentor Texts: Ready-to-Go Tip, which inspired this episode.

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Exploring the Power of Oral Language: A Conversation with a Colleague11 Feb 202400:40:02

Discover the untapped potential of oral language in the writing process and gain valuable insights from Lainie Levin, one of our TWTBlog co-authors. Lainie and Stacey discuss the importance of oral language beyond the primary years of elementary school and how storytelling and oral language support kids in developing a sense of story and composing writing in a low-risk way. Lainie shares strategies for making oral rehearsal engaging for children.

ABOUT LAINIE LEVIN:

Lainie is a dedicated educator with 28 years of teaching experience and a strong advocate for children and public education. She is a gifted interventionist and coach in language arts and math, specializing in meeting the needs of gifted/talented elementary school students. Since 2021, she has been a valued colleague at Two Writing Teachers.

Check out Lainie’s personal blog, Soapbox: The Way I See Things, follow her on X @mrslevin11, or read her Two Writing Teachers blog posts. 

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Research and Writing Instruction: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie04 Feb 202400:08:07

Research can be instrumental in supporting instructional decision-making for teachers. In this Tip for Tomorrow, Melanie gives an overview of some of the most critical research surrounding writing instruction. She will cover what the research says about:

  • Teaching kids about different aspects of the writing process.
  • Studying strong examples of writing to lift the level of student writing.
  • Teaching students to become fluent with handwriting, spelling, and typing so the cognitive focus is on content, not construction and transcription.
  • Providing daily time for students to write in and outside the writing workshop (e.g., content area writing, writing about reading).
  • Creating an engaged community of writers where writers confer, collaborate, and think about their audience.


Links to the research mentioned in the episode:
Steve Graham: 

Constance Weaver: 

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Propel Writers Forward With Reflection Shares: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey28 Jan 202400:05:25

Join Stacey as she delves into the power of reflection shares to promote growth and development in student writing. She discusses how whole-group reflection allows students to share insights, experiences, and strategies, and fosters a sense of community and accountability. She emphasizes the importance of students feeling valued and included in the larger writing community, which increases confidence and engagement in the writing process. Near the end of the episode, Stacey shares a few prompts to help you get started with reflection shares in your classroom as soon as tomorrow.

The reflection prompts mentioned towards the end of the episode:

  • I still need help with…
  • Something I will try again…
  • A question I still have…
  • I could teach others to…

You can find these and some additional reflection prompts in chapter nine of Welcome to Writing Workshop: Engaging Today’s Students with a Model That Works by Stacey Shubitz and Lynne R. Dorfman.

Two Writing Teachers contains excellent information about reflection and sharing. You may click on these category links to explore blog posts on these topics:

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Developing as a Writer in the Slice of Life Community: A Digging Deeper Dialogue21 Jan 202400:33:22

We explore the profound benefits of participating in the month-long writing challenge. Listeners will discover the power of making connections and gaining a true understanding of being a writer while cultivating a writing practice. The episode briefly overviews the Slice of Life Story Challenge's origins and purpose, pointing listeners to last year's Digging Deeper Dialogue for a more in-depth understanding. Whether new or returning, challenge participants will find a supportive global writing community filled with educators at all stages of their careers who want to connect and grow themselves as writers.

Click here for an overview of the 17th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by the co-authors of Two Writing Teachers.

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A Quick Game for Convention Practice: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie14 Jan 202400:07:00

Bring the power of play into your writing instruction. Melanie explains how to teach kids to play PROVE IT in an effort for them to show evidence of the skills you're teaching in their writing. 

Check out these posts on TWTBlog for more ideas:

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Energizing Writing Lives: A Digging Deeper Dialogue07 Jan 202400:35:20

Let's explore ways to energize your writing workshop! In this episode, we discuss strategies for revving up individual minilessons and units of study by opening up options, changing perspectives, bringing in magic, promoting collaboration, and creating authentic purposes for students to think about their audience. 

Resources mentioned in the episode:

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Refresh and Renew with Choices for Every Writer: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey31 Dec 202300:09:19

In the final episode of 2023, Stacey discusses the importance of shedding anything that isn't serving us and applies this idea to the classroom, specifically focusing on providing students with a diversity of writing supplies. She offers three suggestions for obtaining different types of notebooks at a lower cost or for free. Stacey also emphasizes the significance of paper choice as an accommodation for students, highlighting the developmental needs of young writers and providing resources for different paper formats. This episode will leave you ready to embrace changes and create an environment that empowers students to express themselves more fully in the year to come.

SHOW NOTES

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The Beauty of Nonfiction Writing: A Digging Deeper Dialogue10 Dec 202300:29:16

Let's explore the importance of information writing and address common problems writers face in this genre. The episode delves into the need for explicit instruction in note-taking, emphasizing the purpose of notes as a tool for critical thinking rather than mere proof or text transfer. It also offers various approaches to enhance information writing by incorporating lists, exploring different text features, and integrating tricks like twin sentences and transitional phrases. 

Links to resources mentioned in this episode:

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Infusing Stories Into Essays: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey03 Dec 202300:06:46

This Tip for Tomorrow explores the art of essay writing beyond the traditional structure and formula. Stacey delves into "writing to think" and how students can infuse microstories into their essays to enhance their ideas. From choosing relevant stories to crafting concise microstories, she provides practical guidance on engaging the reader and connecting these stories to the central message of the essay. By balancing storytelling with other writing techniques, students can create impactful essays that take their readers on a journey of thought.

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Build Writing Confidence with the "Ready, Do, Done" Model: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey08 Sep 202400:07:33

In this episode, Stacey explores the "Ready, Do, Done" model by Sarah Ward and Kristen Jacobsen to help students with executive functioning challenges become confident writers. She discusses the importance of setting clear intentions and gathering necessary materials ("Ready"), breaking down tasks and using visual aids ("Do"), and celebrating accomplishments to boost confidence ("Done"). Practical tips for teachers are provided to support students in the writing workshop. The model's flexibility and potential to empower learners in all areas are highlighted. 

This episode builds on a previous discussion about task initiation and is part of a series on executive functioning in writing instruction.

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Maximizing Writing Time: A Digging Deeper Dialogue26 Nov 202300:34:22

In this episode, we address the challenge of finding enough time to teach writing workshop daily in elementary school. We discuss the importance of writing instruction for students' literacy development and provide practical strategies for teachers to maximize their writing instruction time. This episode covers topics such as establishing efficient writing routines, ways to prioritize writing instruction, integrating writing across the curriculum, utilizing technology for writing instruction, and offering practical examples and activities to promote writing in various subject areas. 

Research mentioned in this episode:

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Starting Off Strong With Information Writing: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie19 Nov 202300:06:36

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Ten Ways to Keep Minilessons Mini: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey12 Nov 202300:06:46

This Tip for Tomorrow episode explores ten practical tips for keeping minilessons brief and effective. Stacey discusses the importance of preparedness, including having all teaching materials ready and communicating clearly with students about what they should bring to the meeting area. She highlights the benefits of assigning "talking partners" and minimizing interruptions during the lesson. In addition, she delves into using checklists, teaching management skills, recording lessons for self-reflection, and time management. Listen now for essential tips to optimize your minilessons and enhance student engagement.

More on Minilessons:

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Help Kids Move from Ideas to Words: A Conversation With a Colleague05 Nov 202300:33:53

Sarah Valter, one of our TWTBlog co-authors, joins Melanie this week to discuss ways to inspire word explorers, the children in our classrooms who, for various reasons, need additional support or scaffolding to commit words to the page.

For more inspiration, check out these books, podcast episodes, and blog posts:

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Increasing Narrative Writing Energy: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie29 Oct 202300:05:10

Give the kids the freedom to tell many kinds of stories during a narrative writing unit. Melanie shares three ideas you can use to help students have a surge of writing during a narrative writing unit.

Go deeper with these posts from the TWTBlog archives:

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Structure & Deliver a Powerful Minilesson: A Digging Deeper Dialogue22 Oct 202300:33:24

Join us to explore the potential of minilessons as a forum for whole-class instruction. Peeling back the layers, we delve into the art of teaching writing behaviors, behaviors, strategies, and more in ten minutes or less. We thoroughly examine the four essential parts of a minilesson: connection, teach, active engagement, and link, shedding light on how each part impacts young writers. 

Past #TWTBlog Posts and #TWTPod Episodes:

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Prepare Student Teachers to Teach Writing: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey15 Oct 202300:09:25

In this episode, Stacey shares five valuable steps for cooperating teachers who are hosting with student teachers in leading a writing workshop for elementary school students. Stacey begins by sharing her personal experience and the challenges she faced when initially handing over the reins to student teachers. The five steps for empowering student teachers are: establishing clear expectations, modeling effective teaching practices, gradually increasing responsibility, providing constructive feedback, and engaging in reflective discussions. Stacey emphasizes the importance of communication, collaboration, and support in helping student teachers succeed in leading a writing workshop.

Click here to read past #TWTBlog posts about working with student teachers

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Mastering the Art of a Successful Writing Workshop: A Digging Deeper Dialogue08 Oct 202300:39:40

Unlock the secrets of a successful writing workshop! Dive into the dynamic framework that increases student growth. Every workshop begins with an engaging minilesson and ends with intentional sharing time. Discover the power of independent writing time with conferring, small group work, and the short, but mighty mid-workshop interruption. Listen until the end for several tips for maximizing your writing block and fitting it all in. 

Read more about the fundamentals of the writing workshop:


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Getting a Writing Toolkit Started: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie01 Oct 202300:06:08

Delve into the essential elements of building your conferring toolkit! Melanie explores the valuable tools, demonstration writing, and paper choices you'll want to stock in your toolkit. She'll even share a suggestion about the surprising impact of mints! Unlock the key to effective conferring by equipping yourself with everything you need to confidently engage and support your students. 

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Building Toolkits for Writing Instruction: A Digging Deeper Dialogue24 Sep 202300:41:13

Discover what a conferring toolkit is, why it's essential, and how to create one that suits your needs. This episode will share must-have items, tips for organizing, and the benefits of incorporating digital setups. Get valuable advice on updating your toolkit, embracing change, and capturing photographs of your resources. Remember, tools don't teach—people do. So let us help you get started building your conferring toolkit today!
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Get to Know Writers: A Digging Deeper Dialogue01 Sep 202400:44:22

This episode delves into the importance of understanding students as writers and its benefits to educators and learners. We explore how this knowledge fosters a stronger classroom community and informs more tailored instruction. Tried-and-true methods such as kid-watching, utilizing writer's notebooks, and conducting effective one-on-one conferences during the initial weeks of school are discussed. We also highlight the value of listening to students, reviewing previous portfolios, and using digital tools like audio or video recordings for self-introductions. Finally, we examine various ways to assess writing styles and preferences, including surveys and analyzing students' writing processes, to identify their strengths and areas for growth.

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Books Mentioned:


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Use Conference Cards for Record Keeping and More: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie17 Sep 202300:05:46

Join us as we explore how filling out conference cards alongside students makes them more responsible for their learning journey.   Also, conference cards are an excellent way to check what's been taught, and what's been accomplished between writing conferences and plan the next steps for student success! 

Some useful links:

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Unleash Greenbelt Writing's Potential: A Digging Deeper Dialogue10 Sep 202300:35:21

In this episode, we explore the concept of greenbelt writing and its profound impact on young writers. We discuss why children must be free to play with words without grading pressure. We discuss how allowing kids to choose their preferred genres empowers creativity and fosters a genuine love for writing. Through discussion, we share the true essence of greenbelt writing—an unmanicured and imperfect form of expression that prioritizes the growth and well-being of the writer. We explore how this approach can unlock hidden talents, build confidence, and ignite a lifelong passion for writing.

Whether you're a classroom teacher, literacy coach, or curriculum director, this episode will inspire you to rethink traditional approaches to writing instruction. Tune in to this enlightening episode and celebrate the beauty of ungraded writing, encourage creative exploration, and unlock the full potential of every young writer.


Some resources we mentioned in this episode:

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The Power of Spelling Rings: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie03 Sep 202300:05:17


This week, we're diving into a game-changing strategy to help students struggling with spelling. Not only will it provide immediate assistance to kids when they need it, but it will also become a strategy for monitoring student progress. You won't want to miss this episode that will empower you and your students on the spelling journey!

Link to the keyrings mentioned in the episode.

Check out more Two Writing Teachers blog posts about spelling.

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Joyful Writing Partnerships: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey27 Aug 202300:08:08

Learn how to kick off the school year with successful writing partnerships. Discover the benefits of pairing young writers together. Get tips on how to pair students effectively, teach effective communication, and make writing partnerships joyful. Take advantage of this valuable information to help your students grow as writers.

Elevate your writing partnerships with our top #TWTBlog posts. Whether you’re just starting or looking to strengthen your skills, we’ve got you covered with our expert advice. 

  1. Building Stronger Writing Partners
  2. Intentional Talk with Writing Partners
  3. Making Space for Partnerships
  4. Partners in the Process
  5. Play Up Partner Time! 3 Quick Games That Yield Joy, Ownership, & Success
  6. Seven Ways to Help Students Catch Up After a School Absence
  7. Strengthening Writing Partnerships
    1. Part 1
    2. Part 2
  8. Three Keys to Writing Partnership Success
  9. Top Five Lessons to Teach to Writing Partners of All Ages Right Now
  10. Writing Partnerships to Establish Community

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Remember the Compliment: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey20 Aug 202300:06:38

Are you a teacher who sometimes forgets to compliment your students during writing conferences? Don't worry. You're not alone! But compliments are an essential part of building confident and competent young writers. In this episode, Stacey explores ways to make space for compliments during those limited conference times. Learn how to start your conference with research and build on a student's strengths. Discover sentence stems to help you give sincere and impactful compliments that will leave your students feeling inspired and confident. Plus, Stacey shares tips on making your compliments long enough to feel good. Let's make a student's day with a thoughtful compliment at every writing conference we hold!

Click here to read past TWTBlog posts about complimenting students in writing conferences.

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Embrace an Asset-Based Approach: A Digging Deeper Dialogue13 Aug 202300:33:43

Teachers' expectations of their students can significantly impact their outcomes, so it's vital to have an asset-based approach. Using an asset-based lens, we look for the positive things students can do rather than focusing on their deficits. This shift can occur in teacher-teacher and teacher-student interactions, such as examining student work with a positive lens and emphasizing the importance of compliments and positive feedback.

In this podcast, we'll explore how these shifts in practice can lead to greater efficacy, with teachers believing in their power to make a difference. Join us on this journey towards an asset-based approach in writing workshop, which recognizes the worth and capability of all students.

Some of the resources we mentioned in the episode:

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Create a Dynamic Writing Workshop in Your Classroom: A Digging Deeper Dialogue06 Aug 202300:40:11

Ready to create a thriving writing workshop in your classroom? Our latest podcast episode has got you covered! We discuss the components of a successful writing workshop approach, including ample writing time, building a strong community, mentor texts, & more. Plus, we explore how to infuse joy into the workshop so it's fun for students. Tune in to learn how to nurture your students' love of writing and help them find their own writing process. Grab a coffee, hit play, and remember to subscribe & leave us a review!

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Podcasts Mentioned:

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Make the Most of Professional Development: A Digging Deeper Dialogue28 May 202300:38:46

Are you a literacy coach looking to take your professional development to the next level, or are you a classroom teacher who wants more out of the PD you receive? Our latest episode has got you covered! Tune in for various ideas, from incorporating dedicated writing time into PD sessions to searching for mentor texts as a faculty member. More nuanced options, like video studies and lab sites, are discussed. This episode has inspiring ideas to help you take your PD to the next level. 

What's Next:
We are experienced in leading professional development for school districts and are happy to discuss potential opportunities with you.

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Find Inspiration for Summer Writing: A Conversation With a Colleague21 May 202300:36:30

Summer vacation can be when children's writing lives take a backseat to other activities. What if we could help our students pursue writing that interests them during the summer break? Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski, a former #TWTBlog co-author, joins us to discuss how to keep students writing during the summer months.

Join Kathleen and Stacey as they explore practical strategies for encouraging and supporting our students' writing lives during the summer months. From journaling to blogging to creating digital stories, there are many ideas to help keep your students engaged and motivated to write all summer long.

You can find Kathleen Neagle Sokolowski online at Courage Doesn’t Always Roar or on Twitter, @MrsSokolowski

#TWTBlog posts related to this episode:

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Three Possibilities for Using Chat GPT: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie14 May 202300:08:48


There are many ways teachers of writing can use A.I.! From exemplar and demonstration texts to feedback on your in-process writing, to providing starting points for curriculum documents, this episode will provide you with some ideas for using A.I. to maximize your preparation time.

Where to access Chat GPT: https://chat.openai.com/chat
This requires you to set up an account, but you can also access many of the features at poe.com.

Books, blog posts, and other resources mentioned in this episode:
Three Ways to Use Chat GPT
Can A.I. Write a Good Speech?


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Exploring Best Practices and Research in Writing Instruction: A Digging Deeper Dialogue02 Jun 202400:39:02

It's the final episode of season two, so we're discussing some of the best practices for writing instruction. We cover the importance of a thriving writing community and the writing process, and we explore the role of oral language in boosting writing stamina. We also discuss the importance of dedicated and intentional writing time, the reciprocity between reading and writing, and the thrill of writing for an authentic audience. This episode will tee you up for the next school year!

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Make Mentor Texts Endure: A Tip For Tomorrow From Stacey07 May 202300:06:32

It's essential to keep mentor texts meaningful for students so they can learn how to use them effectively and independently. In this episode, Stacey shares four practical strategies to encourage children to return to mentor texts repeatedly. These include whole-class text studies, the "return and reflect" process, using craft move charts in picture books, and encouraging students to "read like a writer" when they're reading for pleasure. By implementing these techniques, teachers can help their students become more independent writers in and out of the classroom.

Books, blog posts, and other resources mentioned in this episode:

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The Tricky Business of Spelling: A Digging Deeper Dialogue30 Apr 202300:33:53
Are you ready to help your students take their spelling skills to the next level? We discuss spelling development and the benefits of invented spelling, word sorts, and personalized word walls. We also explore practical strategies that empower kids to become confident spellers and make the most of an "Editing Minute." Whether you're a teacher or a parent, our episode contains valuable tips to help your students succeed. Tune in now!

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The Importance of Immersion: A Digging Deeper Dialogue23 Apr 202300:33:40

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Engaging with good writing helps students develop a vision when they’re asked to create their own texts. In this episode, we discuss why teachers will want to spend a few days immersing students in the genre they will write at the beginning of a unit. We share strategies and protocols to help your students engage in the work of reading like a writer at the beginning of a unit of study.

Check out these past Two Writing Teachers blog posts for more about immersion.

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End the School Year with Independent Writing Projects: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey16 Apr 202300:09:09
Independent writing projects are among the best ways to infuse joy into your writing workshop. These projects are a blessing for students who love to write, but they’re also a way to hook striving writers. 


A Few #TWTBlog Posts About Independent Writing Projects:


Books Mentioned in This Episode:


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