- Dec 18, 2019
- 3 min read

The Best of the 2019 Teach Write Writing Round-Up - Part 1 {12.21.19}

Welcome to Part 1 of the "Best of the Teach Write Writing Round-Up of 2019".

Every week, I gather tips for teaching writing and for growing as a teacher who writes and put them right here all in one place. The last two weeks of the year, we revisit many of my favorites in a "Best of" edition.

Be sure that you have joined my email list so you never miss an update!

Now, onto the tips!

Want to Be a Writer?:

Are you waiting for permission (or publication) to call yourself a writer? Jen Hatmaker shares some wonderful wisdom and advice for ALL of us (students too!) in On Becoming a Writer.

Mining for Diamonds in Writing:

Teaching students to write small moment narratives is tough to do when they struggle to whittle down their story to the essential focus. Literacy for Pleasure has another take on helping students write small in their post, "The Diamond Moment: One of the Most Precious Lessons You Can Teach."

Assistive Technology for Writing:

Don't let students' physical struggles with writing keep them from writing. Check out these assistive technologies from Understood.org to help.

Getting Your Writing Done:

Jeff Goins shares some helpful tips in "How to Really Get Your Writing Done." I have found his 3-Bucket System very helpful in my own writing life and can see the classroom applications of this writing organizational system.

Favorite Podcasts for Writing:

Winter break is a great time to catch up on some podcasts! Here is a great list of podcasts for writers. You will probably pick up a few tips to bring back to your classroom too!

Alternatives to the Five Paragraph Essay:

Looking to move beyond the 5PE this next school year? Check out this idea from Tricia Ebarvia and the Moving Writers website.

Inspiring Creativity:

Alex Mathers shares ten graphics to inspire more creativity. Which one speaks to you as a writer?

Choosing Your OLW for 2020:

With the new year comes the chance to choose a new One Little Word. Why not choose a word that can help you move forward in your writing life? Check out my recent post, "Moving Forward as a Teacher-Writer with Your One Little Word" for ideas and suggestions.

Writing by Hand or by Typing?:

The handwriting versus typing debate continues. Check out "Does Writing By Hand Still Matter in the Digital Age?" from The Guardian for some interesting points to consider.

Returning the Arts to ELA:

We all have standards that our teaching needs to meet. But how can we deliver instruction that is creative and engaging, while meeting those standards too? Teacher (and #TeachWrite co-moderator) Andy Schoenborn explores this idea in his NCTE article, "Reclaiming the Arts in English Language Arts."

Copying the Mentor Text?:

Using mentor texts in the classroom is a great way to show students writing moves in action. But where is the line between inspiration and copying what students see? Is there such a line? Shawna Coppola explores this idea in her Educators' Collaborative post, "Writing Help: But What if They Copy Their Mentor Text?"

Is it Time for You to Write?

If joining a writing group is on your list for 2020, consider joining the January Time to Write Online Writing Workshop in our Teach Write Academy. Meet with teacher-writers from around the country one night a week to work on your writing -- and never leave home! More info can be found here.

Mark Your Calendar:

Join us for the next #TeachWrite Twitter Chat on Monday, January 6 at 7:00 PM ET. Our topic is Writing into 2020. Come share your writing goals for the new year and check out what everyone else has planned. You can sign up for a text reminder here.