If You Believe Writing Matters, You Need to Subscribe to Dr. Troy Hicks' Podcast

As a teacher-writer and a teacher of writing, I enjoy learning as much about writing instruction as I can. I recently found out about an amazing podcast called Writing Matters with Dr. Troy Hicks. Dr. Hicks presents the who's-who of writing experts, each bringing a unique perspectives to each conversation. So far, I have come away inspired by the knowledge, strategies, and insight the interviewees highlighted below share with Dr. Hicks.

Jennifer Laffin - September 1

Jennifer currently runs TeachWrite, LLC, an education consultancy company, she started to help teacher-writers become teachers who write and thus becoming better writing teachers. In her interview with Troy, she recounts being a 4th and 5th grade teacher, not really knowing how to teach writing, and how she sought out the resources to learn on her own. She quickly came to realize that writing teachers needs to be teachers who write. Listed below are the changes she describes that occurred in her classroom as a result of her efforts.

1. The relationship changed from teacher-to-student to writer-to-writer. 

2. She gained credibility with her students because she could related to what they were experiencing as writers, and could speak to how she handled similar situations. 

3. Sharing her writing struggles with her students helped them to learn that struggle is part of the process, and that struggling does not mean you are not good enough or not a good writer.

4. Her students began taking more writing risks that lead to growth in their writing proficiency.

Shawna Coppola and Marcelle Haddix - September 15

When asked about "the ways in which [teachers] can help keep [students identities] at the center, and honor their voices , and  bring some of [students'] stories into the work [teachers] are mandated", Shawna and Marcelle provided the following insights:

• "Broaden the idea of what kinds of writing is privileged in school, honor the funds of knowledge that children bring to school, honor their real interests, honor the skills they use outside of school (ex. TikTok, making memes, spoken word poetry slams) and bring some of those forms and modes into the classroom." (Shawna Coppola)
• "Teachers and students need to start from an understanding that writing is everywhere in every day life (TV scripts, directions for the setting) and finding ways to make writing visible in the classroom...for schools to have curricula where different forms of writing...become how we define writing." (Marcelle Haddix)
• "Teachers have to cultivate their own writing practices and writing identities to be a teacher of writing." (Marcelle Haddix)

Thomas DeVere Wolsey - September 15

Thomas spoke specifically about assessment as it relates to writing, and describes what generative, productive kinds of assessment look and feel like.

1. Assessment needs to be not just something at the end - writing is interactive and looks like the writing done outside of school
2. Real assessment promotes learning - peers and teacher provided information that is useful and moves writers forward
3. There must be a climate and culture in which students and teachers trust each other to provide feedback.
4. Feedback must be timely, goal-oriented, and move the writer forward.

Michele Haiken - September 8

Michele offered scaffolding strategies she uses with her middle school writers to help them visualize, collect evidence, and use academic language. 

• Break down prompts to help students see an outline
• Sentence starters
• Creating organizers

"Students need guidance. Then, take away supports after they have had enough practice to become independent writers." I absolutely agree and love that she said it.

If you are a writer and a teacher of writers, you want to listen to the diverse experiences that Dr. Hick's subject-matter experts present. You can subscribe to Writing Matters with Dr. Troy Hicks on your favorite podcast platform.