This is the spot where you can look for ideas and tips for teaching writing. We will post ours periodically. We welcome your ideas which also might be posted here. Email us at info@icanwriteonline.com.

But first, let's start with the basics:

Writing workshop is the most powerful means for teaching students to write as real writers do. Here is a list of basic beliefs to guide your instruction during writing workshop.

• Writers need time to write — Students learn to write by writing and writing often. Writing workshop gives them time daily to write about an ongoing piece.
• Writers need models — As teachers, we are powerful models of writing. Students love having us share our stories or thoughts. Authors of students' favorite books are a second source of modeling. We can double our impact by choosing truly excellent literature for read alouds. We can have discussions with our classes about elements in the writing including, dialogue, details, similes or examples, among others.
• Writers need to write for authentic audiences. — If students are writing a persuasive piece, have them come up with a personal opinion and write the appropriate person. Students can write the principal or their parents about a school or home rule with which they disagree. Show them the power of their words!
• Writers need to write for real reasons — Students love animals. One class I visited wrote Governor Jeb Bush about ways to protect the endangered manatee.
• Writers need meaningful, specific feedback. — Telling a student her writing is wonderful is a great compliment but does not convey information about why it is wonderful. Telling her that she used clear. specific details and that her piece was organized logically will help her to remember to continue using those tools.