Writing Workshop in Contentious Times: A Digging Deeper Dialogue

In the season four finale, Stacey Shubitz and Melanie Meehan tackle the increasingly contentious topic of “writing workshop” in today’s educational climate. They reflect on the origins and evolution of the writing workshop, the research supporting its key principles, and why certain foundational practices remain crucial, even if the label itself is under fire. Drawing from recent evidence-based recommendations and their own classroom experiences, Stacey and Melanie unpack what truly effective writing instruction looks like and why authentic, joyful writing communities matter now more than ever.

Resources Mentioned:

• “All Children Can Write” by Donald H. Graves
• Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
• “Evidence-based recommendations for teaching writing” by Steve Graham, Alyson A. Collins & Stephen Ciullo
• Literacy Specialist Graduate Program at Teachers College
• More Than Words: How to Think about Writing in the Age of AI by John Warner
• Sentence Structure for Young Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie
• The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins
• Transfer Writing Skills Across Genres: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey
• Writing, 20th Anniversary Ed.: Teachers & Children at Work by Donald H. Graves

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• Melanie Meehan: [email protected] 
• Stacey Shubitz: [email protected]

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For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.