Posts in Editing & Revision
The Two Sides of Our Writing Brain: Supporting Student Writers in Process
The Two Sides of Our Writing Brain: Supporting Student Writers in Process

Breaking the writing process up into two powerful sides of the brain can help students be more effective in the writing process. Let’s look at four different techniques to make this happen in the high school English classroom.

Read More
Best Practices, Reading & Writing, Writing Mini-lessons, Editing & Revision, Assessing Writing, Philosophies on WritingAmanda CardenasHigh School ELA, AP, ap language, alternate assessmentComment
You are NOT an editor! How to Get Students to Edit & Revise Their Own Work
You are NOT an editor! How to Get Students to Edit & Revise Their Own Work

The curse of the red ink pen is real. If you’re like me as a teacher, I know that when I am grading my students’ essays— online or on paper— I feel the pull to edit every single mistake that I see on the page. I feel the need to edit every single comma error or sentence error as well as provide comments about the content of the writing.

Read More
Best Practices, Editing & RevisionMeredith Dobbsedit, editing, revise, revisingComment
3 Mini-Lessons to Help Your Students Finally Understand and Effectively Use Formal Writing.
3 Mini-Lessons to Help Your Students Finally Understand and Effectively Use Formal Writing.

Today I am going to tell you about formal writing! Of course, I write this opening line in jest. When I think about how many times my secondary students have written that exact initial phrase as part of their first line to an essay, a strong Hulk-like desire to rip papers into shreds comes over me. I assure you that I have never actually ripped up a student essay, but I think we can all agree that reading the following sentences turns us all a little Hulk green:

“After you read this, you will agree that…”

“Today I will prove to you that…”

“I am writing about…”

“I think…”

“I feel…”

AGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

Read More
Best Practices, Editing & Revision, Modes of Writing, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessonsGuest UserFormal Writing, Teaching formal writing, Formal writing lessons, don't write about your writingComment
Five Ways to Target Commentary for Essay Writing
Five Ways to Target Commentary for Essay Writing

This is a topic that I have spent quite a bit of time on simply because it is the one skill that my students struggle with the most.  You can find more posts from me on this topic here and here. Here are FIVE ways to target commentary in essay writing: 

Read More
Editing & Revision, The Writing Process, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing WorkshopMeredith Dobbsessay writing, commentary, analysis, literary analysis, revision, elaboration, explanationComment
9 Ways to Get Secondary Students to Enjoy Writing
9 Ways to Get Secondary Students to Enjoy Writing

How can teachers help older students enjoy writing? Negativity and reluctance is a mindset that is established early on. However, in middle and high school, certain teaching approaches and strategies can help to change the way students view themselves as writers. Create a positive writing culture and maintain it through the year. These nine approaches can help.

Read More
Assessing Writing, Best Practices, Differentiating Writing, FREEBIES, Philosophies on Writing, Writing Assignments, Editing & RevisionMelissa Krusewriting lessons, enjoy writing, writing activities, best practices, writing culture, struggling writers, reluctant writers, writing approaches, differentiation, assessing writing, back to schoolComment
Avoiding Plagiarism - 6 Effective Teaching Strategies All Educators Need
Avoiding Plagiarism - 6 Effective Teaching Strategies All Educators Need

Teaching high school students to avoid plagiarism is no easy task. Try these strategies from Reading and Writing Haven to scaffold students' understanding and lead them to success.

Read More
Best Practices, Differentiating Writing, Editing & Revision, FREEBIES, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing WorkshopMelissa Krusestruggling writers, struggling students, plagiarism, research, citing research, MLA, Works Cited, stationsComment
10 Unique and Creative Reflection Techniques & Lessons for the Secondary Student
10 Unique and Creative Reflection Techniques & Lessons for the Secondary Student

As educators, we know how critical reflection is to the learning process. Getting students to reflect- deeply and meaningfully- is often one of the most challenging lessons we teach. I have found that both my middle school and high school students will often scoff at these reflection activities, providing the least amount of effort possible to complete the task they see as meaningless. I have been searching for and creating lessons and activities that will bring interest and engagement to this task. The following

Read More
Assessing Writing, Editing & Revision, FREEBIES, Philosophies on Writing, The Writing Process, Writing AssignmentsGuest UserSemester Reflection, reflection activities for the secondary student, reflection activities for high school students, reflection activities for middle school students, reflection lessons, reflecting lessons, #relfectionlessons, #reflectingonlearning, #edchat, #iteachtoo, #iteachenglish, #englishteachers Comment
Using Mentor Texts to Teach Writing!
Using Mentor Texts to Teach Writing!

Understanding the many nuances of great writing can seem like a daunting challenge for teachers and students alike. As educators, we are aware of the strong correlation between good reading skills and good writing skills. This is because students are absorbing the author’s craft as they explore amazing works of literature. This knowledge has given rise to the popularity of mentor texts within the ELA classroom.

Read More
Best Practices, Editing & Revision, FREEBIES, Mentor Texts, Modes of Writing, Philosophies on Writing, The Writing ProcessGuest UserMentor Texts, mentor sentences, Teaching writing through mentor texts, Using Mentor Texts, The writing process, Teaching the writing proces, Teaching the writing process, #mentortexts, #teachingmentortexts, #mentortextsinwriting, #ela, #edchat, #iteachenglish, #englishteachersComment
Writing is Recursive, Not Linear: Free Task Cards to Reflect Writing as a Process
Writing is Recursive, Not Linear: Free Task Cards to Reflect Writing as a Process

Writing goes all ways: forwards, backwards, sideways, over there, and over here.  In fact, the only piece of the writing process that occurs at a set point in time is publishing.

Read More
Best Practices, Editing & Revision, FREEBIES, The Writing Process, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing WorkshopMeredith Dobbswriting workshop, writing skills, writer's notebook, writing process, revising and editing, revision, editing, edit, revise, targeted writing skills, writing lesson, commentary, textual evidence, evidence, organization, transitions, transitional devices, grammar, grammar and writing, task cards, taskComment
A Memorable Kinesthetic Writing Lesson for Older Students
A Memorable Kinesthetic Writing Lesson for Older Students

Teaching the writing process? Try involving students kinesthetically. Play Doh can work for big kids, too! My high school students absolutely love this writing analogy that walks them through each stage of the writing process as if they were sculptors crafting a masterpiece. Differentiate your instruction with this best-practice, active learning lesson.

Read More
Best Practices, Differentiating Writing, Editing & Revision, FREEBIES, The Writing Process, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessonsMelissa Krusewriting process, kinesthetic learning, differentiation, manipulative, writing lesson, engagingComment
Supporting Struggling Writers: 6 Strategies for Turning Struggling Students into Successful & Confident Writers!
Supporting Struggling Writers: 6 Strategies for Turning Struggling Students into Successful & Confident Writers!

6 Strategies for Turning Struggling Students into Successful & Confident Writers!

Read More
Assessing Writing, Best Practices, Editing & Revision, FREEBIES, Philosophies on Writing, Writing AssignmentsGuest UserSupporting Struggling Writers, Teaching Writing, Writing instruction, Middle School English, Middle School Language Arts, High School English, Teaching Writing to Struggling Writers, #ela #edchat #iteachtoo #iteachmiddle #teach #teacher, #ela, #edchat, #iteachtoo, #iteachmiddle, #iteachhighschoolComment
How to Teach Writing: 3 Cornerstones for Writing Instruction with Older Students
How to Teach Writing: 3 Cornerstones for Writing Instruction with Older Students

"3 Cornerstones for Teaching and Assessing Writing" is a part of a writing philosophy series for teachers who are always learning and adapting to their students' needs and educational demands.

Read More
Assessing Writing, Philosophies on Writing, FREEBIES, Best Practices, Editing & RevisionMelissa Krusewriting, assessing writing, writing assessment, scaffolding writing, teaching writing, writing philosophy Comment