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Writing

How to Teach How-to Writing in K-2 without Losing Your Mind.

How to Teach How-To Writing in K-2 (Without Losing Your Mind)

How-to writing. Also known as procedural writing. Also known as the thing that sounds so simple until you’re actually standing in front of a group of first graders trying to explain what a “step” is. Procedural writing is one of those units that can go really, really well. Or it can kind of fall apart around day three when someone decides that step one of making a sandwich is “go to the store.” Not wrong, technically. But okie dokie, let’s back up. The good news? There are some simple ways to make how-to writing click for young writers. Let me

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Writing Fractured Fairy Tales: Mini-Lessons, Mentor Texts, and Classroom Fun!

Writing Fractured Fairy Tales: Mini-Lessons, Mentor Texts & Classroom Fun

Okay, friends. If there is one writing unit that gets kids genuinely excited to put pencil to paper, it is writing fractured fairy tales. Not just any fairy tales—fractured fairy tales. The kind where the Big Bad Wolf is suddenly the good guy, Cinderella refuses to go to the ball, or the Three Bears file a complaint with the local police. Kids go absolutely wild for this stuff. And honestly? So do I. After 23 years in a primary classroom, I can tell you that fairy tale writing hits differently than other units. It is one of those magical combinations

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Image of a boy writing. Text: Classroom Writing Routine for K-2: Fun Writer's Workshop Ideas for Teaching Writing in the Primary Grades

Classroom Writing Routine for K-2: Fun Writer’s Workshop Ideas for Teaching Writing in the Primary Grades

Okay, teacher friends. Let’s talk about writing time, your Writer’s Workshop, your writing block, whatever you call it, it is the time when you are teaching your students how to write. You know that moment when you say “Get out your writing notebooks” and half your class looks at you like you just announced a dentist appointment? Yeah. That’s real. Teaching writing in the primary grades can feel hard—for teachers AND for kiddos. But here’s what I’ve found: when you have a solid classroom writing routine, everything gets easier. Your students know what to expect. You know what comes next.

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Journal Writing in elementary school.

Why Journal Writing Is One of the Most Powerful Tools in Elementary Classrooms

Hey there, Teacher Friend! I wanted to talk today about something that has gone a little by the wayside since the introduction of computers in everyone’s classroom: Journal Writing! There’s something about a stack of student journals that just feels… hopeful. Maybe it’s because journals don’t ask kids to be perfect. They don’t rush them. They don’t insist on neat conclusions or fancy endings. And in a primary classroom, that kind of space really matters. Keeping a journal at school gives students a place where their thinking can live. A place to write, draw, notice, reflect, and practice being learners.

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Encoding and Decoding in Reading: Why Writing Words Absolutely Helps Students Become Better Readers

Encoding and Decoding in Reading: Why Writing Words Absolutely Helps Students Become Better Readers

Hey there, Teacher friend! I came across this quote the other day, and it really got me thinking about encoding and decoding in reading. “Reading is like breathing in, writing is like breathing out.” Pam Allyn Table of Contents 1. Encoding and Decoding in Reading: More Connected Than We Think For a long time, I treated encoding and decoding as two separate lanes. Decoding lived in reading instruction. Encoding showed up during writing time. That felt logical… and also very tidy. But once you really start paying attention to how young readers work through words, that separation starts to feel

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Image of sequencing activities with transition words. Why Sequencing Matters.

Why Sequencing Matters: Turning Pictures into Powerful Stories

Hey there, teacher friend! Today, I want to talk with you about sequencing, putting things in order, and why you need to teach it to your budding writers (and readers) in your elementary classroom. Why Sequencing Matters in Early Writing When you’re teaching young writers, there’s always that one story that starts with “First we went to the zoo” and ends with “Then we went to bed,” and everything in between is a beautiful blur. Sequencing is one of those foundational skills that helps students make sense of the world around them — and their own writing. It’s how they

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Image of smartboard with a Sentence a Day Disguise a turkey teacher slide displayed. Text: Disguide a Turkey Class : A fun shared writing Thanksgiving Activity.

Disguise a Turkey Class Book: A Fun Shared Writing Thanksgiving Activity

Hey there, teacher friend, let’s talk about November! You know the stretch I’m talking about—Halloween sugar rush has finally worn off, and now we’re racing toward Thanksgiving break. Kids are buzzing, schedules are all over the place with assemblies, and you’re just trying to squeeze in meaningful writing without losing your mind. Been there. Honestly, I think every teacher has. That’s exactly why I’m always on the hunt for activities that keep students engaged, sneak in real writing practice, and feel fun. Because let’s face it—if you say, “We’re going to write another paragraph today,” you’ll get groans. But if

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Image of teacher and student using shared writing. Text: Shared Writing: My Favorite Teaching Strategy for Building Confident Writers.

Shared Writing: My Favorite Teaching Strategy for Building Confident Young Writers

Hey there, Teacher Friend! Teaching writing in primary grades can sometimes feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. You’re juggling sentence structure, spelling, punctuation, vocabulary, and then—just when you think you’ve got it—half the class is distracted by a wiggly tooth or a loose crayon. Honestly, it can be overwhelming. That’s why shared writing is one of my very favorite teaching strategies. It makes the whole writing process more manageable for kids (and teachers!) and turns it into something fun, collaborative, and confidence-boosting. What Is Shared Writing? Shared writing is when the teacher and students work together to create a

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Image of a frustrated child not writing, and a confident child writing. Text: Kickstart Writing Confidence with Quick Writing Warm-Ups

Kickstart Writing Confidence with Daily Writing Logs and Quick Writing Warm-Ups

Hey there, teacher friend! Do you ever feel like getting your students to write — especially at the beginning of the year — is like pulling teeth? I’ve been there. Blank pages, blank stares, and lots of “I don’t know what to write!” It’s frustrating for everyone. That’s where writing logs and writing warm-ups come in. These quick, low-pressure activities are the perfect way to get students writing every day without making it overwhelming. And honestly? The more kids write, the more confident they become. That’s why I created my Daily Quick Writes Writing Logs — to help make writing

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Image of Pick it! Write it! Sentence Building Worksheets. Text: Fun sentence builders worksheets: Build Strong Writers with Pick it! Write it!

Fun Sentence Builders Worksheets: Build Strong Writers with Fun Pick it! Write it!

Hey there Primary Teacher Friends! Pick it! Write it! Sentence builders worksheets are one of the most effective tools for teaching early sentence writing in kindergarten, first grade, and second grade. These step-by-step activities give young learners the structure they need to turn ideas into complete sentences—while building confidence and independence along the way. The Struggle Is Real: Common Pain Points in Teaching Sentence Writing If you’ve spent any time in a primary classroom (or teaching at home), you’ve probably seen these scenarios: Each of these hurdles slows the path to fluent, confident writing. The Solution: Build Sentence Skills Step-by-Step

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The Secret to Teaching Writing in Kindergarten: How Sentence Building Worksheets Boost Early Writing Skills

The Secret to Teaching Writing in Kindergarten: How Sentence Building Worksheets Boost Early Writing Skills

Teaching writing in kindergarten isn’t easy. If you’re here, you probably already know that. You’ve seen it firsthand—the blank stares, the letter reversals, the “I don’t know what to write” moments. It’s all part of the process. But what if we had a way to ease students into writing without the frustration?A way to build skills step-by-step, while giving young learners the structure and support they need? That’s exactly what I set out to create with my Pick it! Write it! Decodable Sentence Building Worksheets, a printable resource designed to support developing early writing skills in a small group setting.

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Image of teacher teaching in a small writing group with students. TExt: Teaching writing in small groups and what are the other students doing?

Teaching Writing in Small Groups (and What the Other Kids Are Doing While You Do It)

Let’s be honest: the idea of teaching writing in small groups sounds amazing. In theory. The kind of thing you jot down on a PD day with a hopeful little star next to it—right before the real-world questions start swirling. Like:“But how do I fit it in?”“What will the rest of the class be doing?”“Is it even possible to keep it quiet enough to focus?”And the kicker:“Will this actually help my students become better writers, or is it just another thing to manage?” Yep. I’ve had all of those thoughts. Probably more than once. But I’ve also seen—and created—some truly

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