Middle School Café - A Podcast for Secondary ELA Teachers

Engaging Students in Writing - Strategies to Increase Student Engagement

March 28, 2023 Carolyn Wahl Season 1 Episode 20
Engaging Students in Writing - Strategies to Increase Student Engagement
Middle School Café - A Podcast for Secondary ELA Teachers
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Middle School Café - A Podcast for Secondary ELA Teachers
Engaging Students in Writing - Strategies to Increase Student Engagement
Mar 28, 2023 Season 1 Episode 20
Carolyn Wahl

In this episode, I explore the unique challenges of teaching writing to students who have returned to classrooms after learning online during the pandemic. I reflect on how online learning has affected their skill level and ability to write at grade-level expectations - recognizing that transitioning "back to normal" may not be enough for our current student population! It's essential that teachers strive towards a supportive environment so they can provide guidance while helping them reengage skills that may have suffered over the last few years.


I also share how you can break down a larger writing assignment into smaller pieces to make it more manageable for students. I took a beloved writing activity, Dinner Party, and share how we turned it into a whole class assignment - something more manageable for the students today.  This activity is a great way to help students engage in writing while focusing on many different standards in a way they can handle this year.  


Related blog posts: 

Activities to Engage Students in Writing - https://elamatters.com/2023/03/14/8-activities-to-engage-students-in-writing/

Unlocking Students’ Creativity: Dinner Party Research Project - https://elamatters.com/2023/02/28/unlock-students-creativity-and-critical-thinking-skills-with-the-dinner-party-research-project/


Be sure to join the Secondary ELA Facebook group where we will be continuing the conversation on reengaging students in writing!


Tune in on your favorite podcast apps Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify, Stitcher, and more!  If you’re loving this podcast, please rate, review, and follow!




Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondaryela

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/

TPT Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe

Show Notes

In this episode, I explore the unique challenges of teaching writing to students who have returned to classrooms after learning online during the pandemic. I reflect on how online learning has affected their skill level and ability to write at grade-level expectations - recognizing that transitioning "back to normal" may not be enough for our current student population! It's essential that teachers strive towards a supportive environment so they can provide guidance while helping them reengage skills that may have suffered over the last few years.


I also share how you can break down a larger writing assignment into smaller pieces to make it more manageable for students. I took a beloved writing activity, Dinner Party, and share how we turned it into a whole class assignment - something more manageable for the students today.  This activity is a great way to help students engage in writing while focusing on many different standards in a way they can handle this year.  


Related blog posts: 

Activities to Engage Students in Writing - https://elamatters.com/2023/03/14/8-activities-to-engage-students-in-writing/

Unlocking Students’ Creativity: Dinner Party Research Project - https://elamatters.com/2023/02/28/unlock-students-creativity-and-critical-thinking-skills-with-the-dinner-party-research-project/


Be sure to join the Secondary ELA Facebook group where we will be continuing the conversation on reengaging students in writing!


Tune in on your favorite podcast apps Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify, Stitcher, and more!  If you’re loving this podcast, please rate, review, and follow!




Website: https://middleschoolcafe.com/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/secondaryela

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolcafe

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/middleschoolcafe/

TPT Shop: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Middle-School-Cafe