#182 Essays and Possibilities

#182 Essays and Possibilities

Author: Jacob Chastain & Pam Ochoa March 2, 2024 Duration: 0:00

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. 

It has been a busy year and the time of essay writing is upon everyone.  Educators in all situations are feeling the pressure to get their students up to par composing essays.

In this episode, Pam discusses how she goes about teaching the essay.  She shares some of the resources that she has used to get her up to speed in years past.  Pam explains why workshop teachers must allow the students to write from their own experiences.  These experiences come from their own life but can also be found from their responses to the materials and texts they read in class or on their own.

Join Pam as she shares all the possibilities of essay writing.  As Barry Lane once said, “…they need to be shown possibilities.”  May you find some possibilities to use in the writing workshop.

The post #182 Essays and Possibilities 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.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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