#224 Keeping the Joy of Writing Instruction

#224 Keeping the Joy of Writing Instruction

Author: Jacob Chastain & Pam Ochoa February 18, 2025 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. 

Far too often educators give up teaching the love of reading and writing during instruction.  They feel pressure from the curriculum developed due a need to perform on high stakes testing.

In this episode, Jacob and Pam discuss how to help students develop a love for reading and writing while maintaining a high level of learning that will meet the rigorous requirements necessary for high stakes testing.

Pam explains how she never shirks self selected reading and writing time.  She shares how she ties that time to her lessons.  Jacob remembers how he designed his lessons so the students would create their own learning goals and set a purpose for the reading and writing.

Join Jacob and Pam as they talk about how to keep the joy in the reading and writing instruction and more!

Part one of this can be found by clicking here. 

The post #224 Keeping the Joy of Writing Instruction 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

Craft & Draft
Podcast Episodes
#202 The Craftbook and Draftbook Tutorial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Several of the Craft and Draft listeners have requested more information regarding how to set-up the Craft and Draft Notebook System They begin with the first page of the Craft Book. Jacob shares how he has his students…
#201 The Knowledge Gap Has Gaps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome to Craft & Draft, where we explore the art of teaching and the science of learning. In today’s episode, hosts Pam Ochoa and Jacob Chastain continue their summer book study of “The Knowledge Gap” by Natalie Wexler…
#200 The Knowledge Gap Book Study Finale and Our Thoughts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome to Craft & Draft, where we explore the art of teaching and the science of learning. In today’s episode, hosts Pam Ochoa and Jacob Chastain continue their summer book study of “The Knowledge Gap” by Natalie Wexler…
#199 Chapters 9-10 of The Knowledge Gap (Book Study) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome to Craft & Draft, where we explore the art of teaching and the science of learning. In today’s episode, hosts Pam Ochoa and Jacob Chastain continue their summer book study of “The Knowledge Gap” by Natalie Wexler…
#198 Chapters 7-8 of The Knowledge Gap (Book Study) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome to Craft & Draft, where we explore the art of teaching and the science of learning. In today’s episode, hosts Pam Ochoa and Jacob Chastain continue their summer book study of “The Knowledge Gap” by Natalie Wexler…
#197 Chapters 4-6 of The Knowledge Gap (Book Study) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome to Craft & Draft, where we explore the art of teaching and the science of learning. In today’s episode, hosts Pam Ochoa and Jacob Chastain continue their summer book study of “The Knowledge Gap” by Natalie Wexler…
#196 Chapters 1-3 of The Knowledge Gap (Book Study) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Welcome to Craft & Draft, where we explore the art of teaching and the science of learning. In today’s episode, hosts Pam Ochoa and Jacob Chastain kick off their summer book study diving into “The Knowledge Gap” by Natal…
#195 The Knowledge Gap Book Study (Join Us!) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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. This summer on the podcast, Jacob and Pam…
#194 Is the Knowledge Gap Real? (Book Study Intro) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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. In this episode, Pam and Jacob talk about…
#193 How to Get an English Teaching Job [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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’s interview time! Interviews are often…