Workshop Resources

March 19, 2026

Building confident and independent thinkers through reflective, response-based writing.

“Today we’re continuing our work with response-based writing and looking at how building prior knowledge helps students understand more and write stronger responses.”

Access all of the workshop handouts.

Need Nonfiction Resources for your classroom?

Grab Ready-to-Use Handouts

  • Double-Entry Learning Log (Input and Elaboration)

  • Triple-Entry Learning Log (Input, Elaboration, & Application)

  • Nonfiction Summary Writing with FACTS

  • CER Response Writing with FACTS

VIDEO RESOURCE

WATCH NOW: Get an introduction and examples of learning logs here.

Need a Grades 6–8 Nonfiction Summary Response Writing Rubric and the Grades 6-8 CER Writing Rubric?

References & Inspiration

Anderson, C., & Ray, K. W. (2018). A teacher’s guide to writing conferences. grades K-8. Heinemann. 

Applebee, A. N., & Langer, J. A. (2011). EJ Extra: A snapshot of writing instruction in middle schools and high schools [free access]. English Journal, 100(6), 14–27. https://doi.org/10.58680/ej201116413

Beers, K., & Probst, R. E. (2016). Reading nonfiction: Notice & note stances, signposts, and strategies. Heinemann.

Burke, J. (2019). The 6 academic writing assignments: Designing the user’s journey. Heinemann.

Cappiello, M. A., & Dawes, E. T. (2023). Text sets in action: Pathways through content area literacy. Routledge.

College Entrance Examination Board. (2003). The Neglected “R”: The Need for a Writing Revolution. Report of The National Commission on Writing in America’s Schools and Colleges. New York, New York. 

Culham, R. (2010). Traits of writing: The Complete Guide for Middle School. Scholastic.

Emdin, C. (2021). Ratchetdemic: Reimagining academic success. Beacon Press. 

Ewoldt, K. B., & Morgan, J. J. (2017). Color-coded graphic organizers for teaching writing to students with learning disabilities. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 49(3), 175–184. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059916681769

France, P. E. (2025). My Kids Can’t Write, K–5: How to Advance Achievement Through Cross‑Curricular Writing (1st ed.) Corwin.

Gallagher, K. (2023). In the best interest of students: Staying true to what works in the Ela Classroom. Routledge.

Gallagher, K. (2025). To read stuff you have to know stuff: Helping students build and use prior knowledge. Heinemann.

Gallagher, K., & Kittle, P. (2018). 180 days: Two teachers and the quest to engage and empower adolescents. Heinemann.

Graham, S., & Perin, D. (2007). Writing next: Effective strategies to improve writing of adolescents in middle and high schools – A report to Carnegie Corporation of New York. Washington, DC:Alliance for Excellent Education.

Graham, S., Bruch, J., Fitzgerald, J., Friedrich, L., Furgeson, J., Greene, K., Kim, J., Lyskawa, J., Olson, C.B., & Smither Wulsin, C. (2016). Teaching secondary students to write effectively (NCEE 2017-4002). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance (NCEE), Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from the NCEE website: http://whatworks.ed.gov.

Hammond, Z., & Jackson, Y. (2015). Culturally responsive teaching and the brain: Promoting authentic engagement and rigor among culturally and linguistically diverse students. Corwin, a SAGE Company.

Harper, R. G. (2022). Write now & write on, grades 6-12: 37 strategies for authentic daily writing in every content area. Corwin Literacy.

Harvey, S., & Goudvis, A. (2017). Strategies that work : teaching comprehension for understanding, engagement, and building knowledge, grades K-8 (3rd ed.). Routledge.

Heard, G., & Nye, N. S. (2024). Awakening the heart: Teaching poetry, K-8. Heinemann.

Hochman, J., Wexler, N., Maloney, K., & Lemov, D. (2024). The writing revolution 2.0: A guide to advancing thinking through writing in all subjects and grades. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Jackson, J. (2014). How to teach students to critically think about text: 15 easy to follow techniques for the K-12 teacher. Jackson Consulting, Inc.

Jackson, J. (2016). How to teach students to write informational text: A deconstructed, step-by-step approach to teaching k-12 students to write. Jackson Consulting, Inc.

Jetton, T. L., & Shanahan, C. (2012). Adolescent literacy in the academic disciplines: General principles and practical strategies. The Guilford Press.

Lent, R. C. (2016). This is disciplinary literacy: Reading, writing, thinking, and doing . . . content area by content area. Corwin Press.

Lent, R. C., & Voigt, M. (2019). Disciplinary literacy in action: How to create and sustain a school-wide culture of deep reading, writing, and thinking. Corwin Press.

Moje, E. B., & Sutherland, L. M. (2003). The Future of Middle School Literacy Education. English Education, 35(2), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.58680/ee20031634

Muhammad, G. (2021). Cultivating genius: An equity framework for culturally and historically responsive literacy. Scholastic.

Muhammad, G. (2023). Unearthing joy: A guide to culturally and historically responsive curriculum and instruction. Scholastic Professional.

Olson, C. B., & Land, R. (2007). A cognitive strategies approach to reading and writing instruction for English language learners in secondary school. Research in the Teaching of English, 41(3), 269–303. https://doi.org/10.58680/rte20076014 

Prather, L. (2019). Story matters: Teaching teens to use the tools of narrative to argue and inform. Heinemann.

Sedita, J. (2023). The writing rope: A framework for explicit writing instruction in all subjects. Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.

SHANAHAN, T., & SHANAHAN, C. (2008). Teaching disciplinary literacy to adolescents: Rethinking content- area literacy. Harvard Educational Review, 78(1), 40–59. https://doi.org/10.17763/haer.78.1.v62444321p602101 

Tokuhama‑Espinosa, T., Nazareno, J. R. S., & Rappleye, C. (2024). Writing, Thinking, and the Brain: How neuroscience can improve writing instruction. Teachers College Press.

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