So many good things in this episode with the wonderful Leah Thomas!

Ok, it's actually way more than 3...but I have placed them into 3 main categories!

Make it Exciting and Meaningful

Build Community

Learn from Your Writers

You will hear how to set a strong foundation for writing from the beginning with techniques such as:

• Sharing "real-world" writing for students
• Creating a safe and positive environment
• Being a part of the writing community
• "Kid-watching" during writing time
• Encouraging risk-taking and trying new things
• and more!

There are several episodes that go along with this one:

#73, 84, 85, 87, 109, and 114

Also mentioned in the episode:

Kindness Speech by 10 year old girl

D. Smith's Inspiring Message

www.k12.thoughtfullearning.com

www.youngwritersmagazine.com

**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers!

Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:)

Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWrite

About Melissa:

Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education. Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.

Melissa knows that too often, explicit writing instruction is pushed aside in elementary education, and she feels it is her calling to help schools make it front and center, providing teachers with the knowledge and support necessary to implement effective and engaging writing instruction.

Teaching to Transform, LLC was founded by Melissa in 2018 and partners with school districts to provide professional development in writing instruction.

If you would like to learn more or refer Melissa to your district, check out her website below!

Today's episode features a very special guest, Mrs. Melanie Meehan!

As a reader of the Two Writing Teachers Blog for many years and a fan of Melanie's books, it was wonderful to get to talk with her all about writing!

I know you will find inspiration hearing Melanie speak of:

• her writing belief statement
• the importance of teachers as writers
• thoughts on templates and GOs
• the recursive nature of the writing process
• balancing foundational skills with the creativeness of writing
• and so much more!

Don't miss out on this fabulous episode! And-be on the lookout for Melanie's new book with co-author Maggie Roberts in Spring 2026

About Melanie Meehan:

Melanie Meehan is the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator in Simsbury, CT, and is passionate about developing young writers, as well as human beings with curiosity, empathy, and responsibility for the world. Melanie was a member of the writing team for the Connecticut Social Studies Frameworks, and is passionate about equity and social justice. She slices at Just Write, Melanie. Melanie has written three professional books. Every Child Can Write: Entry Points, Bridges and Pathways for Striving Writers, was published in October 2019 by Corwin Press. The Responsive Writing Teacher: A Hands-on Guide to Child-Centered, Equitable Instruction, co-written with Kelsey Sorum, was published in February 2021, and Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Writing is her most recent book, published in April 2022.

Melanie holds a B.A from Cornell University, a Masters in Special Education from the University of Hartford, and her Sixth Year in Educational Leadership from Central Connecticut State University. Additionally, she has an MFA in Creative Writing from the Solstice Low-Residency Creative Writing Program of Pine Manor College. She has published articles in Highlights Magazine, and won the 2016 Tassy-Walden Award for New Voices in Children’s Literature. You can find her on X @MelanieMeehan1.

In this episode:

Steve Graham, Teaching Elementary School Students to Be Effective Writers

**Teachers! We want to hear from you! We want to hear your story, experience, aha moment or insights related to Getting Students to Write! The more we share, the more we learn together, the more we can accomplish for our writers!

Click the link below and record a voicemail. Your story may be featured on the podcast:)

Send a voice message to GettingStudentstoWrite

About Melissa:

Melissa is an enthusiastic educator and continuous learner with over 19 years' experience in education. Her passion and expertise is transforming writing programs so that teachers are confident in writing instruction and student writers thrive! She strongly believes teachers are the key to effective instruction and their writers are their best resources.

Melissa knows