In this season five premiere, Stacey Shubitz and Melanie Meehan discuss the key issues affecting writing instruction at the moment. They examine the current debate over technology in the classroom, weighing the benefits and challenges of using digital tools for young writers. The conversation covers the neurological and educational value of handwriting, the increasing influence of AI and automation on student writing, and the significant role of oral language development. The hosts also explore how teachers can balance assignments with student choice to promote agency and genuine engagement in writing. Listeners can expect thought-provoking dialogue, useful insights, and a preview of upcoming conversations with expert guests.

Mentioned in the Episode:

• “Balancing Choice and Assignments in Writing Instruction: Finding Common Ground” by Stacey Shubitz
• “Connecting Caregivers: The Importance of Oral Language“ by Melanie Meehan
• Cultivating the Reader and Writer: Teaching Literacy as an Integrated Science by Young-Suk Grace Kim
• Finding Common Ground Blog Series (August 2026) by the Co-Authors of TWTBlog
• Foundational Skills for Writing: A Brain-Based Guide to Strengthen Executive Functions, Language, and Other Cornerstones for Writers by Melanie Meehan and Maggie Beattie Roberts
• More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI by John Warner
• Writing Workshop in Contentious Times: A Digging Deeper Dialogue with Stacey Shubitz and Melanie Meehan

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Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.

You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

In the season four finale, Stacey Shubitz and Melanie Meehan tackle the increasingly contentious topic of “writing workshop” in today’s educational climate. They reflect on the origins and evolution of the writing workshop, the research supporting its key principles, and why certain foundational practices remain crucial, even if the label itself is under fire. Drawing from recent evidence-based recommendations and their own classroom experiences, Stacey and Melanie unpack what truly effective writing instruction looks like and why authentic, joyful writing communities matter now more than ever.

Resources Mentioned:

• “All Children Can Write” by Donald H. Graves
• Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
• “Evidence-based recommendations for teaching writing” by Steve Graham, Alyson A. Collins & Stephen Ciullo
• Literacy Specialist Graduate Program at Teachers College
• More Than Words: How to Think about Writing in the Age of AI by John Warner
• Sentence Structure for Young Writers: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie
• The Art of Teaching Writing by Lucy Calkins
• Transfer Writing Skills Across Genres: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey
• Writing, 20th Anniversary Ed.: Teachers & Children at Work by Donald H. Graves

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.

You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

In this episode, Stacey dives into what happens when educators reconnect with the familiar passions that ground them after a demanding school year. While the daily hustle of teaching often forces educators to put their own needs on the back burner, summertime presents a vital opportunity for them to reclaim their personal identities. Through a reflection on what it means to be a "swimmer with a lowercase s," Stacey explores the powerful shift that happens when teachers step out of their educator personas and reconnect with their own identity as writers. This episode is a call to action for teachers to dust off their notebooks, embrace writing practices that bring them joy, and find peace in the rhythm of the craft. Listeners will discover how making time for their inner writer this summer can help them unplug, decompress, and build a writing repertoire for future school years.

GO DEEPER:

• Listen to one of our first TWT podcast episodes, “Why Teachers Should Write.”
• Read Creating a Consistent & Meaningful Writing Life, or It's Not Magic (but it IS): The Power of Being a Teacher Who Writes.
• Check the deep TWTBlog archives by visiting the category “teacher of writing.”
• Check out Tapping the Writer Within: Practical Ways to Help All Students Claim Their Wri-dentity by Ralph Fletcher.

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.

You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

• Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
• Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.

For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.