#165 Building Writing Culture in your Classroom (pt.1)

#165 Building Writing Culture in your Classroom (pt.1)

Author: Jacob Chastain & Pam Ochoa October 29, 2023 Duration: 0:00

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Welcome everyone to the Craft & Draft podcast! We are so excited to bring you what we love, talking with you about workshop, literacy, writing, reading, and real world teaching. 

In this episode, Jacob and Pam discuss why it is important to build a writing and reading culture in your workshop. Jacob shares how Stephen King’s book On Writing helped him understand how to build a writing culture.  He explains how students must understand how to get their words on the page, read other authors, and help student writers think about their own writing choices.

Pam shares how she builds a writing culture by creating moments where students share their writing with each other. The students are given opportunities to offer feedback and use that feedback to revise their writing.

Join Jacob and Pam as they consider the writing and reading community in the classroom!

The post #165 Building Writing Culture in your Classroom (pt.1) appeared first on Craft & Draft.


Jacob Chastain, from Teach Me, Teacher, and Pam Ochoa, an Abydos trainer, bring their combined classroom and coaching experience to every conversation on Craft & Draft. This isn't a theoretical lecture; it's a practical dialogue built on their specific Craft & Draft approach, designed to make the reading-writing workshop model work in real secondary classrooms. You'll hear them unpack the nuances of workshop teaching, from structuring effective mini-lessons to facilitating meaningful student conferences. They delve into the intentional separation of craft study and drafting time, offering actionable strategies for fostering independent, engaged writers and readers. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in the teachers' lounge with two insightful colleagues who aren't afraid to discuss the challenges and celebrate the breakthroughs. The podcast serves as a steady resource for educators looking to move beyond theory and into the day-to-day reality of building a dynamic literacy workshop. Tune in for honest reflections, concrete examples, and the collective wisdom of two practitioners dedicated to refining their craft alongside their listeners.
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