TEN Writing Assignments to Build a Writing Community in the Classroom
TEN Writing Assignments to Build a Writing Community in the Classroom

Creative writing is the art of constructing original ideas by synthesizing literary elements and techniques to communicate an overarching theme about life.  Oftentimes in our English classes, we spend more time on the deconstruction process, analyzing works of art by taking them apart.

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Best Practices, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing WorkshopMeredith Dobbswriting lessons, writer's notebook, writing process, writing culture, writing assignments, writing assessment, writing topic, writing projects, Writing Instruction, writer's workshop, writing workshop, Writing lessons, Writing instruction, writing philosophy, writing partners, writing prompts for middle school, writing project, writing topics, prompts, creative writingComment
How to Create a Writing Culture that Empowers Students through Grammar
How to Create a Writing Culture that Empowers Students through Grammar

Writing is grammar. Grammar is writing. Sure, there are elements of writing that may not be directly related to grammar, such as word choice, citation rules, and paragraph organization. Still, the ability to take words and play with them skillfully mainly centers around students' mastery of grammar. Teaching writing? When creating a writing culture in my classroom, demonstrating how grammar empowers authors is paramount. As I tell my students, "In this classroom, we do "grammaring."

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Philosophies on Writing, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessons, Best PracticesMelissa Krusegrammar, culture, writing culture, teaching writing, high school writing, writing lessons, writing hooks, grammar and writingComment
5 Ways Teachers Can Support Effective Writing Partnerships
5 Ways Teachers Can Support Effective Writing Partnerships

Let's be honest allowing students to work with each other to discuss writing can be just a tad frustrating, or maybe more than a tad...You know it could be an amazing way to ease the workload, because there are 34 of them and only 1 of you.  In this article you'll learn five simple strategies for how to make writing partners more effective in your classroom...

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Best Practices, Differentiating WritingAmanda Wernerwriting partners, peer editing, peer revisionComment
Foster a Writing Community in your Classroom by Creating a Class Blog
Foster a Writing Community in your Classroom by Creating a Class Blog

I have decided to build my own community of collaborative authors within my classroom; I will be establishing a class blog for my students, allowing them to grow together as authors, building a unique platform to showcase/display their works to the world!

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Differentiating Writing, Technology & Writing, The Writing Process, Writing Assignments, Philosophies on WritingGuest UserCreating a class blog, student blogging, Blogging in an ELA classroom, writing skills, Writing lessons, Middle school writing lessons, Middle School English, Middle School Language Arts, High school writing, #iteachhighschool, High School English, Creating a student blog Comment
The Best First Writing Lesson of the Year: Email Etiquette 101
The Best First Writing Lesson of the Year: Email Etiquette 101

When planning for the beginning of the year, teachers need to choose writing assignments that allow for collection of pre-assessment data while also engaging students and building a positive writing community. 

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Best Practices, Assessing Writing, Technology & Writing, Writing Assignments, Writing Mini-lessons, Writing WorkshopMelissa Krusewriter's workshop, lesson, back-to-school, email, real-world writing, best practices, career writing, mini-lessons, pre-assessmentComment
The Worst Essay of Your LIFE: A Unique Approach to Assessing Writing at the Beginning of the School Year
The Worst Essay of Your LIFE: A Unique Approach to Assessing Writing at the Beginning of the School Year

The beginning of the school year is an important time to assess the writing skill levels of new students in our English classes.  One way to do this is to assign a diagnostic essay in order to "diagnose" each student's writing level... 

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Assessing Writing, Best Practices, FREEBIES, The Writing Process, Writing Assignments, Writing WorkshopMeredith Dobbswriting topic, writing projects, writing workshop, writing, writer's workshop, writing process, writing assignments, writing topics, writer's notebook, writing assessment, essay writing, essay, diagnostic, diagnostic essay, English, english, Middle School English, High School English, high school, high-interest, targeted writing skills, common core, middle school, Middle School Language Arts, language and composition, language arts, Language Arts, engaging writers, writing skills, assessing writing, assessment Comments
The Ultimate Writing Workshop Routines Guide
The Ultimate Writing Workshop Routines Guide

Every teacher on the planet knows that the first weeks of school are all about routines, routines, routines and more routines. There are the super obvious routines to discuss like what to do when you have to go to the bathroom or get water, what to do when you want to speak, how to turn work in and the list goes on and on and on. There are so many routines in our classrooms that some very important ones go overlooked. 

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Best Practices, Writing WorkshopAmanda WernerComment
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!

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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
14 Strategies to Support Struggling Writers: Build Confidence & Increase Success
14 Strategies to Support Struggling Writers: Build Confidence & Increase Success

Teaching and assessing writing can be challenging, and even more so when you're trying to identify effective ways to scaffold writing instruction for struggling students. Set teenagers up for success by incorporating these teacher-tested, student-approved strategies.

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Assessing Writing, Philosophies on Writing, Best Practices, Differentiating Writing, Writing Workshop, Writing AssignmentsMelissa KruseThe Reading & Writing Havenwriting, scaffolding writing, best practices, teaching writing, struggling writers, how to teach writing Comment
Three High-Interest Writing Assignments to Motivate Struggling Writers
Three High-Interest Writing Assignments to Motivate Struggling Writers

Motivating struggling writers can be quite a challenge.  With struggling writers, it is important to create high-interest assignments that students will want to work on, assignments that they will want to put forth the effort on in order to succeed.  If struggling students are bored with a writing topic, they won’t be as invested in it and won’t want to put the time and effort in to make it the best it can be.

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Writing Assignments, Best PracticesMeredith Dobbsstruggling writers, struggling students, differentiation, high-interest, writing, writing assignments, writing inspiration, writer's notebook, writing poems, writing process, writer's workshop, Writing Instruction, writing workshop, writing assessment, fun writing, writing topics, motivating students, motivation, English, english, engaging writers, Middle School English, High School English, high school, middle school, language arts, Language Arts, language and composition, Middle School Language Arts, summer school, struggle, screenplay, screenplay writing, project, writing projects, writing project, movie, film, film writing, tone, bias, media, writing topic, topic, list, topic listComment
Writing About Theme with an Engaging Musical Twist: An End-of-Course Assignment
Writing About Theme with an Engaging Musical Twist: An End-of-Course Assignment

Secondary ELA teachers can engage students in meaningful, purposeful writing activities at the end of the school year without burying themselves in grading and their students in hours of work -- it's true. Read on to be inspired.

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FREEBIES, Best Practices, Writing Assignments, Writing WorkshopMelissa Kruseend of year writing assignments, end of year, writing assignments, writing workshop, engaging writers, music-based prompts Comments
The Most Important Essay for High School Seniors: The Personal Philosophy Statement
The Most Important Essay for High School Seniors: The Personal Philosophy Statement

Teaching high school seniors makes for an interesting group of students because they've mostly already passed their standardized tests and know their next steps in life-- college, work, military, etc.  Because of this, teaching seniors can also make for a difficult second semester in trying to keep students motivated. 

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Best Practices, Writing AssignmentsMeredith Dobbsessay, essay writing, the writing process, assessing writing, writing assessment, writing process, personal philosophy, personal philosophy statement, reflection, reflective writing, metacognition, meta, common core, secondary, seniors, high school seniors, end of year writing assignments, writing assignments, Writing Instruction, writer's workshop, writing workshop, writing philosophy, writing, writer's notebook, writing inspiration, teaching writing, end of year, reflective, high school Comments