We help teachers launch and sustain writing workshops that mirror the work that professional writers do. Teaching is organized into focused units of study that invite students to look closely at specific genres, craft studies and writerly life issues. Workshop time consists of a focused mini-lesson, independent work time, conferring and sharing to reinforce learning. Students spend significant periods of time developing a single project from concept to publication. They “read like writers” to understand the craft decisions that professional writers make and learn to apply craft strategies to their own texts-in-process with meaningful attention to audience, purpose and goals. Learning is evident in their own authored texts, discussions, notebook work, classroom charts and application to other content areas.
Our team of internationally and nationally renowned scholars—authors of best-selling literacy education texts for teachers—are highly accessible to our community. They have included Katie Wood Ray, Ralph Fletcher, Lester Laminack, Carl Anderson, Katherine Bomer, Isoke Nia, Matt Glover, Georgia Heard, Peter Johnston, Pam Allyn, Katie Van Sluys, Janet Angelillo and Sandra Wilde. Our scholars visit frequently and think collaboratively with teachers across many hours at each visit. They are available for one-on-one and small group conversation during our events. Collectively, our visiting scholars have published more than 70 books—both professional texts for teachers and exemplary literature for children and young adults!
