Writing lessons work best when they are integrated with engaging subject matter. It’s not just about increasing the amount of writing, it’s also about expanding on ways writing is explicitly taught, and providing scaffolding for students with varying degrees of skill and interest. Young writers can learn to be clear and organized whether they are explaining their thinking in a math problem solving task, observing in science, or taking notes and summarizing text. Engaging invitations make good, hard work fun.

 In this workshop, Heather Rader will help you grow your nonfiction bookshelf as well as increase your confidence teaching informational and argumentative writing for elementary students across curriculum.

The day will include:

•  Integrating writing to learn with math, science, social studies, and reading;

• Watching videos of these strategies in use with elementary students;

• Writing to strengthen our writer-to-writer conversations with students;

• Selecting mentor texts for all subjects; and

• Exploring writing process through learning to write and writing to learn.

 Recharge your writing workshops across the curriculum with these fun, ambitious, and collaborative ideas.  You'll leave the day supported by new ideas, energy and tools. You can view an excerpt from the participant DVD at this link:

Heather Rader works as an instructional coach and is the author of the book Side by Side: Short Takes on Best Practice.  She is the Senior Editor at Choice Literacy.

Testimonials from participants at last year's On the Same Page workshops:

Heather was excellent.  She was knowledgeable and she loves what she does.  It was a pleasure to listen to her.  I learned so much and the goodies are amazing.       

                                 Debbie Dailey

Great ideas on teaching writing across the curriculum - the minilessons, conferring, examples of the coaching in the DVD were all very informative.

                                            Lisa Altham-Hickey

Refreshing use of an ingenious way to incorporate classic ideas, give them new names and use them with students in a mature way.  Awesome speaker - so helpful with lots of resources.

                                                    Elizabeth Foss