Motor skills are fundamental for written expression. In this Tip for Tomorrow, Melanie shares some strategies for building and leveraging large and small motor skills.

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• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

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

In this episode, Melanie talks with Two Writing Teachers co-authors, Leah Thomas and Lainie Levin, about their presentation from NCTE 2025. The presentation and discussion focus on important research supporting fundamental writing instruction practices.

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Check out the Build Your Expertise Blog Series on TWTBlog.

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

Stacey explores how sticky notes enhance writing workshops through three key uses: spelling assistance, sentence revisions, and personalized mini-charts. These practical ways promote student independence and offer non-intrusive feedback for customized learning, positively impacting writing skills. With these easy-to-implement ideas, you can make a positive difference in your students' writing!

GO DEEPER:

• Something Do-Able to Try: The Editing Minute
• Step Up Interactive Writing (…And Sneak In More Spelling, Vocabulary, and Grammar)
• Sticky Notes, Arrows, and Margins, Oh My!
• Toolkit Resources for Writing Instruction
• Writing on Students’ Work in Progress: Resetting Our Workshop Practices

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• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

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

The Two Writing Teachers co-authors shared ideas for modernizing mentor texts in the most recent blog series. Melanie summarizes some of the ideas she has already implemented with children and teachers within her work.

Go Deeper:
Click here to read through all of the posts in the series.

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Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.

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• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

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

Jess Carey and Sarah Valter, Two Writing Teachers Co-Authors, join Stacey to unpack the transformative insights from the 2024 National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Annual Convention, diving deep into the conference's "Heart, Hope and Humanity" theme. The conversation explores reimagining scripted curriculum into student-centered teaching approaches. Jess and Sarah share compelling perspectives on integrating AI as a collaborative writing partner, highlighting innovative strategies that empower students rather than replace their creativity. The episode provides a candid look at some of the convention’s most inspiring sessions about the evolving landscape of literacy education. Listeners will gain insider tips for navigating future conferences, selecting sessions, and revitalizing their conference learnings in the classroom. Whether you're a seasoned conference-goer or a curious newcomer to NCTE, this episode provides a vibrant and reflective journey through the latest thinking in literacy education.

Go Deeper:

• Don’t Let It Fade: Holding Onto the Magic of NCTE 2024
• Research Roundup #ICYMI: Build Your Expertise
• Rytr
• Writing Partners
• The Role of SEL in Improving Literacy Development
• A Writer(s)-within-Community Model of Writing

You can find Jess Carey at wherethereisjoy.blog and @jlcarey.bsky.social.

You can find Sarah Valter at Read. Reflect. Teach. and @litcoachvalter.bsky.social.

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• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

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

Writing tools are deeply personal, with each individual having a preferred instrument that feels comfortable and enables smooth writing. For children, selecting the right pen or pencil can significantly impact their writing experience and learning, with options like flair or gel pens offering easier grip and more enjoyable writing. While pens provide clear, lasting marks, pencils offer unique graphomotor benefits that help children learn letter formation with greater automaticity. The critical goal is supporting kids in discovering writing utensils that make them feel powerful and confident as emerging writers. Ultimately, what matters most is finding a writing tool that feels good and supports each child's writing journey.

GO DEEPER:

• #TWTBlog Post from Beth Moore: Pens versus Pencils
• Writing Utensils: Flair pens, mechanical pencils, and School Smart pens

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Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.

You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

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

This week, Stacey explores the concept of planning and implementing a series of small group lessons to enhance students' writing skills across different genres. Drawing from her books Craft Moves and Welcome to Writing Workshop, the episode provides practical examples of teaching points that can be applied to various writing types to emphasize the importance of cross-genre application, demonstrating how skills such as establishing focus in leads and elaboration techniques can be taught and reinforced across different writing styles. Key implementation strategies, including scheduling independent practice time and maintaining flexibility in group composition, are also shared to help educators effectively implement a series of small group lessons.

GO DEEPER

• TWTBlog Posts
  • A Few Tips for Small Group Instruction: Expanding the Reach With Small Group Work
  • Ideas for planning Small Group Instruction
  • The Language to Develop Agency: Amping Up Agency Blog Series
  • The Power of Progression: Expanding the Reach with Small Group Work
  • This is the year I’m going to keep better records.
• TWTPod Episode
  • Inviting Students to Sign Up for Small Groups
  • Your Small Group Instruction, Your Records

*****
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Send us a text

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.

You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

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

We explore the reasons against writing directly on children's work in progress, including potential negative impacts on learning and agency. The episode discusses why educators might feel compelled to write on student work and offer alternative approaches. We delve into considerations for digital writing and introduce new thinking about orthographic mapping and the neurological connectivity of reading and writing. Finally, we provide practical strategies for supporting young writers without directly writing on their work, emphasizing the importance of fostering independence and focusing on the writing process rather than just the final product.

Go Deeper:

• Writing on Students’ Work in Progress: Resetting Our Workshop Practices
• Don't Write on That Paper!

Thanks to our affiliate, Libro.fm!

• Use the TWTPod Code to receive 2 audiobook credits for $14.99 USD with your first month of membership.
• Also, check out Stacey’s audiobook playlist!

Send us a text

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.

You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

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