On January 17, award-winning authors and writing experts Sara Holbrook and Michael Salinger, with literacy specialist and best-selling author Stephanie Harvey, joined the Literacy Lenses #G2Great Twitter chat to talk about their book, From Striving to Thriving Writers: Strategies That Jump-Start Writing.
Topics covered during the chat include the importance of purposeful writing across genre and discipline, writing frameworks as tools to help jump-start writing while allowing for creativity, ways to motivate students while they are working through multiple drafts of their writing, and more.
To learn more about the 27 easy-to-teach frameworks that scaffold purposeful K–8 student writing and support effective written communication featured in From Striving to Thriving Writers, visit: www.scholastic.com/strivingwriters
You can view the full #G2Great Twitter chat hosted by Fran McVeigh, Jenn Hayhurst, and Dr. Mary Howard, here, and check out Jenn's summary of the chat, here.
Here are highlights from the night’s discussion:
Welcome! Welcome! Welcome!
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
"From Striving to Thriving Writers"@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook #G2Great chat@ScholasticEd@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/9lhEgwe2ri
Opening inspiration for our #G2Great chat:@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @ScholasticEd@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/41rNYYIZGA
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
Q1 #G2Great@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/DElUFYqMeM
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
A1 Across the board we want our students to be successful communicators no matter what they aspire to do. We believe that the essential elements of precise and concise writing travel across genres and discipline. #G2Great #fsttw pic.twitter.com/wrGA21GUJb
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A1 From Striving to Thriving Writers: Strategies to Jump-start Writing contains 27 frameworks to help students learn and practice essential elements of good writing, from varied sentence structure to prepositional phrases to figurative language. #G2Great #fsttw pic.twitter.com/wVtRVo7maW
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A1 All text types (genres) share common essential elements: visual language, sentence variety, figurative language, the ability to craft a story. We tell ss that we need to practice these elements like foul shots so that we can use them naturally in our writing. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A1 Essential Elements of writing encourage strong communication skills whether they are used in poetry or technical writing. Understanding the difference between subjective and objective evidence, for example, matters in fiction as well as an inter-office memo. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A1 All forms of writing exist in order to communicate ideas. Having a basic understanding of many forms helps our students to be receptive for understanding new ideas. #G2Great #fsttw https://t.co/ngPlKK4yAl
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
You cant write about nothing. so important for writers to have something to write about. Writing to teach and writing to learn is at the heart of content area writing. #G2Great https://t.co/Kj1SLtObMD
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
Q2 #G2Great@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/Anfp7OImh3
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
A2 Frameworks are a means to an end. They help guide our ss through the acquisition of a writing element. Ss practice this element and become comfortable with its use and can employ it in all forms of writing. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A2 All writings are afterthoughts - hopefully. Writing frameworks engage students as they read, discuss, and write about content area learning while simultaneously practicing the elements of effective writing. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A2 First of all, all writing is creative. the word creative sometimes intimidates striving writers who think they are not creative enough to write something clever. But any writing they do involves creating something out of their ideas #g2great https://t.co/ZlaWHcvzmI
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
A2 A framework is not any more a constraint than a sentence is. Just as a sentence may be simple or complex it still contains fundamental parts. Frameworks help to teach these basics which can then be built upon. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A2 We all know the benefits of a good outline and that outlines can take a variety of forms. Our frameworks hit hard on the development of a strong pre-write so writers know what they have to work with when they begin to craft their text. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A2 Writers gather and examine facts before applying their creative talents. Writing frameworks provide ss with a variety of ways to express and build understanding. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A2 Frameworks act as a guide to lead students in the right direction and allow them to veer onto their own path once the language lesson is understood. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
Q3#G2Great@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/g7OdzKGhXD
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
A3 The leap from "first draft" to "final" is too big for https://t.co/p5fRaejSdF help them thrive, we add challenges like this: add a quote in Version 2, or add a fact with a citation in Version 3, or add a simile or sensory observation in the next version.#G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A3 We encourage revision by labelling our pieces versions rather than rough and final draft. Our criteria for labeling a version is that the piece has been improved. One needn't do a complete re-write. One simply improves a portion. #G2Great #fsttw pic.twitter.com/TABbNEdM4k
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A3 First of all, using the term version rather than draft gives kids motivation, Often they simply think of another draft as editing the first one for punctuation etc but Sara and Michael teach this version process which really scaffolds kids and leads to motivation, #G2Great https://t.co/CSjMtMgzT7
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
A3 Since a version only requires a small improvement they accumulate quickly. Students become proud of how high their version level becomes. Students internalize that no piece is ever really finished - it's just in its latest version. #G2Great
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A3 Another thing about this process of versions is that it shows kids how you can get better and that no one really writers anything perfectly the first time, so it fits a growth mindset. that we keep growing as writers as we work harder. #G2Great https://t.co/dyL3FCH6Ps
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
Q4 #G2Great@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/WBsfAHrems
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
A4 Our ultimate goal is for our students to be productive citizens. Peer to peer sharing provides opportunity to practice social skills, constructive criticism and build empathy. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A4 talking with another person about our thoughts and ideas always expands our thinking. Although powerful for all writers, this is particularly important for ELLs since talking gives them time to rehearse with one person before they share out with a larger group, #G2great https://t.co/yuFYmNnCnV
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
A4 One on one or small group sharing is a lot less scary than presenting to the whole class, it gives our ss the chance to try out ideas with a smaller audience before unleashing them on the world. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A4 Strivers benefit from discussing ideas before they write, particularly ELLs. We work to develop a culture of conversation throughout the writing process, sharing learning and building understanding. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A4 These small sharing sessions encourage peer review and listening amongst the participants in a setting that is lower stakes than in front of the whole class or even with the teacher. #G2Great #fsttw pic.twitter.com/A3m4MGT2k1
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
Q5 #G2Great@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/7rbTCSIq0x
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
A5 Writing is thinking refined. Command of the essential elements of writing equals the ability to communicate effectively. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A5 We must all learn to speak for ourselves, no one else is going to take a job interview or ask for a raise for any one of us. Writing is not only a communication skill, it is a means to organize and prioritize thought so we can clearly express ourselves. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A5 Anything we do with a purpose is more effective and powerful that anything we do without purpose and this of course holds true in writing, Kids are far more motivated to write if they see a rationale for it, so writing with purpose is key. #g2great https://t.co/RgIiGrp7oR
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
A5 Being a strong communicator is a source of pride and helps to diminish the frustration of not being understood. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A5 By focusing on writing elements, frameworks help every writer, striver to thriver -- the future computer engineer, doctor, welder, poet or novelist. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A5 And writing helps us prioritize information, so key as we are deluged with information. #G2Great
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
Q6 #G2Great@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/a5PiZ4AXUR
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
A6 We trust teachers. You know what your ss need and are the best person to curate guided choices. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A6 Managed choice sets our ss up for success. We know choice is important in getting kids to be readers - but, it still has to be books that the ss can comprehend. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A6 Asking ss to write from the outside in - to practice essential elements of writing while using current studies as the subject matter does double duty teaching content area and writing at the same time. #G2Great #fsttw
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A6 Let's get over this idea that all of our students are future novelists or that fiction is the only way for us to express our creativity. Let's practice creativity by writing about content area learning. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
Q7 #G2Great@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/Tj5GjHtJt7
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
A7 Thriving writers are confident and capable communicators. #G2Great #fsttw
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A7 A thriving writer combines essential elements of writing into an effective text that is cogent and fluent. #G2Great #fsttw https://t.co/Yf4ioXEPBq
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A7 I think thriving writers read a lot. Its not unusual to find that striving writers are often striving readers as well, So surrounding them in text they can and want to read builds reading confidence which can transfer to writing confidence, #G2great https://t.co/1g5mgNlCpW
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
A7 A thriving writer knows that revision is their friend. #G2Great#fsttw pic.twitter.com/gcLQ0ruKBX
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A7 A thriving writer has confidence in their writing. #G2Great #fsttw pic.twitter.com/wCvgoYYobd
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
A thriving writing is not intimidated by an empty page. They have confidence that they can make themselves be understood. #G2Great
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
A final quote to add to
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
tonight's #G2Great chat.@Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @ScholasticEd@DrMaryHoward@franmcveigh@hayhurst3 @brennanamy pic.twitter.com/OFBFd4eH0m
Thank you for participating in tonight's #G2Great chat
— Fran McVeigh (@franmcveigh) January 18, 2019
with @Stephharvey49 @michaelsalinger @saraholbrook @Scholastic
EPIC!!!
Thanks to all the hardworking teachers who took time to participate. Sara and I are teacher groupies! thanks. #G2Great
— michael salinger (@michaelsalinger) January 18, 2019
Great evening! Thank you all for taking time from your real life to jump on and weigh in with us, #G2great https://t.co/bV99zEaJpS
— Stephanie Harvey (@Stephharvey49) January 18, 2019
Thanks to all who participated. I'm still reading and responding! Wow, this was fun! Thanks to @franmcveigh and @DrMaryHoward for making it happen! #G2Great
— Sara Holbrook (@saraholbrook) January 18, 2019
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