Greatest Hits: Culture of the Writing Workshop

Greatest Hits: Culture of the Writing Workshop

Author: Jacob Chastain & Pam Ochoa April 2, 2025 Duration: 0:00

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in an episode. Pam’s new schedule and Jacob’s have conflicted more than normal! We will be back to the regular schedule soon! In the meantime, here is one of our favorites from the early days of the show.

In this episode, Jacob and Pam discuss the impact of the writing workshop on the culture of the classroom as well as the culture of the school.

Teachers hear all the time that the school culture must change, but how do educators know that the culture has changed for the better. We both share how we need to identify the type of culture that we desire. We recognize that behaviors and moods may change vary from day to day; culture stays steady throughout the year.

Jacob and Pam share techniques and strategies that help solidify culture. We recall stories from the classroom which serve as examples that impact our schools in positive ways.  We both agree that writing and making connections that matter to the student writer has the greatest impact on the classroom and it has the power to permeate throughout the school.

Jacob lets us in on an active research project and how his project provided data and a plan to create a school wide approach that empowers students to transfer the learning from their writing workshop to other subjects. He discovered that this study brought an awareness of the power of writing to the attention of the teachers in his school.

Join us as we look at the impact that reading and especially writing has on our students, classrooms, and entire school.

The post Greatest Hits: Culture of the Writing Workshop 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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