Art by Anzia Anderson from Teaching Fantasy Writing by Carl Anderson Teach fantasy writing? Why? It’s undeniable that many children want to write fantasy. Rarely, however, is a study of fantasy writing included in school curriculums. We can’t blame this omission on writing standards. In the U.S.,
Remember when you drew your first picture to share as a greeting to a loved one? This is often when one’s first understanding of written communication is initiated. It’s a beginning writing experience of most that, with instruction, grows into one’s conception of the five-paragraph
Artificial intelligence is changing the landscape of our written language, seeping into schools, the workplace, and the shadowy world of deepfakes. Some have compared the projected magnitude of its impact to that of the calculator or the internet itself. When I asked ChatGPT to create an
In my new book, Poetry Pauses: Teaching With Poems to Elevate Student Writing in All Genres, I examine how poems can be easy to tuck into our practice and enhance the work we are already doing as we helps student writers to grow. For the past
Mentor texts are a fabulous source of inspiration for writers. They provide clear models for how to organize and develop ideas. For years, teachers have leaned on mentor texts, using them as teaching tools during writing instruction. However, a strong mentor text also holds plenty
Lisa is a third-grade teacher and a regular visitor in my office, happy to share successes and open up for reflection on the days when writing instruction feels more like walking through mud. Today, she had metaphorical mud up to her knees. Since I’m the
One of the most versatile genres in the literacy world is that of the argument. Argument writing is one of those types of writing that works just about anywhere. Math, science, social studies, ELA – you name it. Arguments manifest themselves in and across all
I love the water and count my time by the pool as one of my favorite pastimes, but I am not a competitive swimmer. Don’t get me wrong, I can swim. But I know very little about the individual specifications, rules, and regulations that competitive
Where do we see real, authentic writing in the world? All around us. Everywhere. Daily. Textual subheadings? They don’t only reside in documents, but also in grocery and department stores (think about the signs at the top of all the aisles), on Pinterest (name that board), and on restaurant
My advice to aspiring writers is to read, read, read. The more you read, the stronger writing you’ll become. If you love a book, read it twice so that you can study it and figure out what the author did to pull you in, to