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.com Linkedin Substack 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 writers positive energy student collaboration and 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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!

"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 practices Accepting paradoxical thinking The importance of studying students' writing Leah's core beliefs About 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 writing Leah's Website 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!

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 started Ana 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 Writer 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 structure The case for writing for pleasure Why differences in writing are a good thing The keys to a great writing conference 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 Edition Mentor Author, Mentor Texts Craft Lessons Breathing In, Breathing Out Teaching the Qualities of Writing Lessons for the Writer's Notebook Students 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.com Ralph 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn Connect with Melissa!

"The best teaching comes when we teach at the point of our own learning."- Ralph Fletcher The 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 writers Importance of a writing community Choice Learning by writing Why writers need to feel like writers There 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 Edition Mentor Author, Mentor Texts Craft Lessons Breathing In, Breathing Out Teaching the Qualities of Writing Lessons for the Writer's Notebook Students 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.com Ralph 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 information Assessing based on whole-class and individual needs Deciding next steps When 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 engagement there are just too many papers writers are lacking independence If 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 Roberts Foundational 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 Roberts Foundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthen Executive Functions, Language and Other Cornerstones for Writers 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 students what to expect the first few days how to keep writers going I'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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 talk Too much student talk Lack of writer independence Keeping writers all together Editing for your writers I 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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 Melissa LinkedIn 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 World Can I Touch Your Hair? For the Win About 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 GettingStudentstoWrite 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!