Writing workshop, as conceived by Donald Graves and other US researchers in the 1980s, positively transformed the writing instruction of many teachers. However, others experienced considerable challenges as they tried to create workshop classrooms. This article examines the three historical conditions that defined workshop: (1) choice, (2) time…

Making connections between children's existing means of expression (play, art, and movement) and the intricacies of print is a necessary and time-honored approach to writing instruction in the early years of school, yet, after kindergarten, one that is easily overlooked. In this article, we examine an approach to writing instruction for…

Writing is a mighty way to communicate, express, question, synthesize, persuade, and teach (Fletcher & Portalupi, 2001). Hence, growing strong writers is crucial for all students. A writing workshop approach allows teachers and students the essential elements needed to perfect their writing. The author seeks to provide relief to teaching…

In this paper, I use narrative methodology to examine and interpret the experiences of Shaun, a 4th grade student in the United States, navigating his own reluctance and disaffection with writing in school -- in a writing workshop that sought to foster language experimentation, choice, and agency. From the perspective of a participant-observer and…

This article seeks to provide a research-based argument in favor of encouraging teachers to seek authentic writing territories when asking students to conduct and disseminate research. At some point, research writing moved towards formulaic, inauthentically structured essays that lacked authentic audiences and thus failed to provide the space to…

Words Rising is a project delivered by the National Literacy Trust in partnership with Anawim Women's Centre. Through monthly workshops led by a guest facilitator, the project aims to create a safe and judgement-free zone where participants can express themselves and create bonds through creative writing. This 2024 report presents insight…

Isolation is a consideration for many writers and is a term that has become synonymous with the pandemic. Perhaps this explains why the focus for much practice and research on writing development from a learning development and academic literacies context has traditionally focussed upon in-person support. Digital writing practices offer…

The authors detail how one fourth-grade teacher implemented a comics writers' workshop in the weeks that concluded the academic school year. Each phase of the comics writers' workshop is described. Students interpreted and analyzed the words, images, and design features that compose published comics before constructing and publishing their own…

Story Makers Press (SMP) is a University-based publisher which co-constructs stories with under-represented groups of children in order to diversify representation in children's literature and disrupt the way adult perceptions of normality pattern children's literature (aetonormativity). In this paper we analyse six drama and creative writing…

This article describes a major capstone course centered on public writing, whose underlying pedagogical principles are transferable to courses across the curriculum. The course aims to strengthen students' mathematical agency and their ability to effectively communicate mathematical ideas. In its unique format, students repeatedly take turns…

Many faculty struggle with designing and teaching online courses. Classic standardized course review models, such as the ones developed by Quality Matters (QM), are valuable tools, yet they often enforce rigid standards and lead to time-intensive course reviews. This paper offers a new solution as two faculty ask, "What would happen if an…

A literacy intervention aiming to scaffold university students' writing of argumentative essays in history was implemented in a first-year Global Histories course at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, where most students had English as an additional language. The intervention focused on argumentative writing because of the importance of this…

The context of higher education in Canada suffers from alarming rates of dropout and prolongation of study programmes. The lack of academic writing ability and feeling of isolation are among aggravating factors impeding on the success of graduate students. Writing retreats are identified as a potential solution to support and improve academic…

Writing experiences have a crucial role in the wellbeing of academics and PhD researchers and this paper seeks to extend a body of work on writing retreats, by exploring them from a wellbeing perspective. Drawing from literature on wellbeing and the practical experience of developing and delivering writing retreats, it highlights wellbeing…

Along with forty-nine other high school students, as the author recounts of their student, Meghan is part of an elective two-week academic writing workshop. Each day begins with a freewrite exercise like this one, designed to help students develop what the workshop directors call "fluency." Like Meghan, many students write prolifically…