Intentional Teaching Across the Writing Process, Grades K-8
Deepen your understanding of how to teach writing and create a classroom environment where all students grow as writers.
Build confidence in teaching writing through this online graduate course for K–8 teachers. Learn how to teach the writing process, analyze student work, design responsive lessons, support multilingual learners, and create engaging writing experiences that help every student succeed.
- Classroom Teachers & Interventionists
- Course: EEDUC 6176-80
Ready to bring energy and purpose to your writing instruction? This online course will help you teach writing responsively in grades K-8 so you can ensure that every student grows and enjoys writing. You’ll examine the three essential elements of effective writing instruction – time, choice, and response – and consider how each impacts student growth. You’ll learn to design whole group, small group, and individualized instruction utilizing powerful mentor texts, and leave knowing how to facilitate powerful learning in a thriving classroom community of writers.
By the end of the course, you will:
- Understand foundational principles and effective practices in writing instruction
- Examine how students develop as writers over time
- Use student work to assess growth and plan targeted instruction
- Create focus lessons on craft, conventions, and genre using mentor texts
- Evaluate and adapt your school’s writing curriculum to meet student needs and grade-level goals
- Experience the writing process firsthand to strengthen your teaching
To get the most out of this course, you’ll need access to a K–8 classroom for completing assignments.
Heather Rodman, Literacy Trainer
Heather Rodman has been a Literacy Trainer at Lesley University’s Center for Literacy Teaching and Instructional Leadership for 12 years. As a former elementary classroom teacher and literacy coach, she brings 30 years of experience in literacy education, instructional coaching, and professional learning. Heather works with educators, literacy coaches, and school leaders to develop teacher expertise that leads to student success.
Required Texts
You are responsible for purchasing/having access to the following professional texts for this course:
- Anderson, C. & Glover, M. (2024). How to become a better writing teacher. Heinemann.
- Bomer, K. & Arens, C. (2020). A teacher’s guide to writing workshop essentials: Time, choice, response, grades K-5. Heinemann.
- Fletcher, R. (1996). A writer’s notebook: Unlocking the writer within you. Harper.
- Pinnell, G.S. & Fountas, I.C. (2017). The Fountas & Pinnell literacy continuum: A tool for assessment, planning, and teaching (2nd Edition). Heinemann.
This option must be taken for 3 graduate credits. Take the course individually or as an elective in our 18-credit Online Graduate Certificate in Developing Literacy Expertise Through Responsive Classroom Teaching.
Interested in professional learning at your school or district? Schedule a meeting with one of our faculty trainers.
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