A series of writing workshops for HISD educators is giving teachers new tools for showing students how to become better writers.

In the June 11 workshop, participants practiced the technique of selecting a “seed topic” to inspire students’ writing through personal memories and experiences.

“When something is meaningful and important to you, you can tell a better story,” said Thompson ES teacher Lenora Green. “Just a prompt can be anything and may not be meaningful to you, but…if it means something, you’ll do a great job at it.”

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In each of the workshops, teachers are taught a single writing concept to take back to their classes. In class, students will be invited to use that piece or technique in their own writing to share experiences from their own lives.

Thirty elementary teachers attended the workshop held June 8-11, and additional sessions are scheduled for the weeks of June 15, June 22, July 13, and July 20 at Briarmeadow Charter School. The workshops are designed to support HISD’s Literacy By 3 movement and encourage the blending of reading and writing instruction.

Teachers can register for the workshops on eTRAIN under CU2687 K-5 Writer’s Workshop.