A coach just telling a player to "hit the ball" or "be aggressive" does not improve their performance.

The same is true for us as teachers of writers! We need to teach, not tell by addressing their needs and showing them how to do what we want them to do.

Struggling writers will just keep struggling if all we do is have them keep trying to write without specific instruction.

The trouble is that most teachers are not trained in teaching writing and have difficulty knowing what strategies to teach. (I've been there!)

In this episode, I share techniques and several resources to help you:

• Know where your writers are
• Compile strategies for lessons
• Move writers forward

Here is a list of helpful resources:

The Writing Strategies Book-Jennifer Serravallo

Craft Lessons (several)- Ralph Fletcher

Making Non-fiction from Scratch- Ralph Fletcher

Craft and Process Studies- Matt Glover

Projecting Possibilities for Writers- Matt Glover

If...Then Curriculum: Assessment Based Instruction- Lucy Calkins

Writing Pathways-Lucy Calking

Language Composition Framework-www.languagecomp.com

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:)

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