Tag Archives: classroom writing activity

3 Strategies for Formative Assessment and Feedback

Hetal Ascher
Hetal Ascher

Formative assessment refers to assessment used to inform our instruction, and formative feedback refers to the feedback we give to students to help them grow and learn. This blog post contains three strategies for formative assessment and feedback and some … Continue reading

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Travel Writing Activities: Escape From Cabin Fever

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Every new year holds much promise as we look ahead: 12 months of possibility for learning and adventure. Sitting in my house in the middle of a week of pouring rain, however, after nearly 2 years of staying close to … Continue reading

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4 Low-Prep Creative Writing Ideas

Hetal Ascher
Hetal Ascher

In need of a quick, low-prep lesson? Here are some creative writing activities that my students and I have enjoyed over the last year. These ideas work whether you are teaching in person, online, or hybrid, and they all allow … Continue reading

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One-Pagers: Teaching ELs to Review Content

Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes

What is a one-pager? It is an activity for students to demonstrate the highlights of what they have learned from listening to a podcast, viewing a film, reading a novel or a poem, or completing a unit of study in any … Continue reading

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Music and Writing

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

Music can evoke powerful emotions and memories in human beings. We love a particular piece, or we hate it strongly, or it brings us back to a place and time. Music can also put us into a mindset for writing … Continue reading

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Making Discussion Boards More Engaging

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

With the world’s education systems shifting to online instruction as the COVID-19 pandemic continues into a new academic year, teachers need to think carefully about how we can maintain the interactive features we value in face-to-face classes without endangering our … Continue reading

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Activities for Teaching Writing to Young Learners

Betsy Gilliland
Betsy Gilliland

When we learn a new language, writing is often the last skill we focus on. Listening and speaking take priority, and reading can be integrated into textbook exercises as we learn grammar, for example. Writing may be neglected because of … Continue reading

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Linking Writing to ELs’ Lives Using Quickwrites

Judie Haynes
Judie Haynes

Recently, I came across a mention of quickwrites (QWs) on Twitter. I immediately felt that they were a  terrific way to support English learners (ELs) as they learn to write. According to Linda Reif, author of The Quickwrite Handbook: 100 … Continue reading

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