When To Teach Creative Writing vs. Essay Writing - Upper Elementary and Middle School

In this video, I share how I focus on grammar, creative writing, and short-constructed responses before tackling an essay.
Links from this video:
Grab a free week of inference prompts (perfect for pairing with Padlet!)
structured-wri...
Grab the first module of my PD here: structured-wri...
Looking for writing professional development? My 10-module video course will walk you through ALL the steps of an engaging writer's workshop. You'll see pictures of it in action, and I take a deep, deep dive into HOW to teach the 6 high-priority skills. A bonus module goes deep into the world of teaching essays in middle school. More details here: structured-wri...
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Launch a Structured, Student-led Writer's Workshop...
Many of us are never taught exactly HOW to teach writing in middle school, so this is a system I created based on how authors write in the real-world.
I'm Robin, a middle school teacher and the author of ten children's novels with Disney Hyperion and HarperCollins. Our workshop reflects the same process I use when working with my editors. I say "our workshop" because that's the point of the workshop... it isn't just a time for me to give lessons and assign a writing assignment. It's THEIR time to tinker and be fearless and try out new things. They love practicing writing skills with topics that interest them. I use the number 3 and 7 a lot in my workshop... from the writing trios to the lesson minutes... it's all based on brain research.
Do we have time to get in all the standards-based lessons and essays? YES. My essays are taught in a "block" and skills are taught in the workshop. This way, the skills transfer to ALL types of writing, not just product-driven essays.
So this is a STRUCTURED & STUDENT-LED workshop.
Here are the 5 steps:
1. Set the mood for writing
2. Issue the writing challenge
3. Student leaders
4. The Six Skills Power lessons (the teacher's mini-lessons, but timed by the leaders!)
5. Diamond mining (the secret sauce!)
#teacher #ela #howtoteachwriting
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! We are a group of teachers on a mission to bring joy back to writing instruction. We share our WINS and our challenges, and we'd love for you to join us:
/ structuredwritersworkshop
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Teaching Writing to Middle School Students : Launch a Student-led Writer's Workshop
Grab my short guide to launching a Writer's Workshop in FIVE steps... free!
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✅ WEBSITE
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✅ MY MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS
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[@tishaskinner2675]

I’d love to get started with thiS program.

[@thestructuredwritingteacher]

Hi! You can read the eBook for free, and this includes a 30-minute overview video. Enjoy!! :) structured-writing-teacher.myflodesk.com/tg1vlo9ev0