The blog
Teacher Tips
Writing strategies, lesson ideas, and classroom routines for grades 4–8, straight from my classroom.
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Writing Workshop
Why Traditional Writing Curriculum Didn’t Work
Passion, glitter, and hope, but no real plan. How working with professional editors changed the way I teach writing.
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Writing Workshop
Why Isn’t My Writing Curriculum Working?
If your writing block is the most exhausting part of your day, you’re not alone. Here’s what finally changed everything in my classroom.
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Writing Workshop
What Does the Research Actually Say About the Science of Teaching Writing?
Where’s the science of writing? A middle school teacher’s breakdown of the research, plus three components every writing program needs.
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Writing Workshop
How to Launch Writer’s Workshop
Blank pages, confusion, behavior issues. Here’s why I threw out the traditional workshop model and what gets students wildly engaged from day one.
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Writing Workshop
What’s the Best Order to Teach Writing Skills in Middle School?
Figurative language? Sentence variety? Hooks? Here are the six essential writing skills I teach, and the exact order I teach them in, so students write with clarity, voice, and purpose.
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Writing Workshop
Are You Teaching TOO MANY Writing Strategies?
Are you juggling too many writing acronyms and strategies? Learn the four simple components that will transform your writing block into a consistent, student-friendly system.
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