Despite strong support for integrating reading and writing instruction, writing practice is often crowded out of the schedule in elementary classrooms. To promote increased emphasis on writing, a working group of literacy researchers highlights three writing goals and six research-based reading-to-writing practices to enliven instruction with more…

Revision is an important aspect of the writing process but is often challenging for students. Peer review can be helpful, but training is needed for it to work effectively. This article suggests an approach to preparing students for peer review by teaching specific evaluation criteria and leading collaborative practice in reviewing papers written…

English Language Learners (ELLs) often face challenges when participating in peer review activities in writers' workshops. This article identifies some of the potential difficulties that ELL writers may experience, and provides teachers with strategies to address these problems. The author describes a simple three-step peer review training model…

Understanding relies on the reader's ability to "read between the lines" and connect textual evidence with their own experience, knowledge and beliefs. The Common Core State Standards highlight the importance of using text-based evidence to develop arguments and support interpretations, including analysis and appreciation of author's craft. In…

In the writer's workshop, teachers are highly challenged after the minilesson during the independent writing time. In that segment, teachers are confronted by the demands of conferencing with numerous students and responding to writing in a limited amount of time. Writing partnerships link students in long-term pairs, resulting in two valuable…

Relates how student writers learn from one another when they share their writing with classmates in the "Author's Chair." (MM)

Describes how sharing students' writing in small groups is a good alternative to sharing writing with the whole class. Provides "Author's Circle" guidelines to clarify group procedures. (MM)

Examines the practice of assigning writing topics to students versus allowing them to choose their own topic, and suggests a way to strike a balance. (JC)

Reviews research concerning the relationship between reading achievement and student leadership. (FL)