The Writing Revolution
Note: this was written in 2016. Since that time, another book has come out titled The Writing Revolution. Also in 2016 I was just in the beginning stages of creating Growing Writers Level 2, so I was experimenting with some of the exercises mentioned below. I incorporated a few of the ideas that were most developmentally appropriate into the Growing Writers curriculum. Also, I no longer see this on the Sopris West site but there are plenty available used!
Last year, I was thrilled to come across a simple book called Teaching Basic Writing Skills. I found myself saying “Yes!” out loud as I read the introduction and philosophy. The author, Judith Hochman, is the first person I have come across whom I consider to be as thorough as I am in how we approach writing instruction. I was also very excited to hear that her work is reaching those students most in need through a non-profit called The Writing Revolution. She has developed a method (the Hochman Method) which I would love to learn more about, but so far when I have inquired, all their trainings are on the East Coast. So I just use some of the exercise pages from her book for 2nd graders – but I know there is more to it. I’d love to hear your comments if you have been trained in this.
The Hochman Method is most effective in – and really designed for – grades 2-12, and, luckily, Growing Writers is here to fill the need in K-1. Growing Writers does everything the Hochman Method does to support all writers, including those at risk for failure. The book, Teaching Basic Writing Skills is available through Sopris Learning. It costs around $75 but comes with a CD you can use to make your own worksheets, so I felt like I got my money’s worth.