Two Writing Teachers Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Explore the Power of Cognitive Writing: The Writing Roundtable Oct 26, 2025

Show notes

My Kids Can't Write: How to Advance Achievement Through Cross-Curricular Writing, by Paul Emerich France, provides K-5 teachers with practical guidance on helping students write effectively across all subjects. It explains how to incorporate simple routines and journal-based activities to make writing a regular and manageable part of classroom life. In today's episode, we talk with Paul about how to prioritize writing throughout the school day.

Paul Emerich France is a National Board Certified Teacher, Reading Specialist, and the author of six books on teaching. Recently, he has published My Kids Can’t Write with Corwin Press. He currently works as a consultant and coach, supporting teachers with implementing cognitive writing across all subject areas.

Website: Make Teaching Sustainable
Book: My Kids Can't Write, K-5: How to Advance Achievement Through Cross-Curricular Writing (Corwin Press, 2025)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sustainteaching/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sustainteaching

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Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Consider Different Assessment Lenses: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie Oct 19, 2025

Show notes

There are many different questions to consider when assessing students' writing. This episode suggests various lenses for deciding on next instructional steps.

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Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Not Your Granny's Grammar: The Writing Roundtable Oct 12, 2025

Show notes

In this Writing Roundtable episode, Stacey and Melanie talk with Patty McGee and Tim Donohue, co-authors of Not Your Granny’s Grammar.Patty and Tim explain their research-based approaches to making grammar and writing instruction engaging and meaningful for both teachers and students. They explore the history of grammar, the power of grammar notebooks and partnerships, and how to effectively integrate grammar instruction into the school day. Patty and Tim also break down the scope and sequence of their book, emphasizing teacher choice and instructional principles that nurture lifelong learners. Additionally, they highlight the invaluable grammar guide included in their book. Whether you’re a teacher looking to refresh your grammar toolkit or you’re eager to find a new approach to grammar instruction, this episode offers valuable takeaways to inspire your teaching practice.

You can check out more about this book on Melanie's post on the TWT blog.

Tim Donohue is a former high school English teacher who currently serves as an Assistant Superintendent in New Jersey. He can be reached at tdonohue2022@gmail.com

Patty McGee is a literacy consultant, author, educator, and advocate for delightful literacy practices. Learn more about Patty and her work at www.pattymcgee.org.

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Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Bring Choice Into Writers' Lives: A Digging Deeper Dialogue Oct 05, 2025

Show notes

In this first episode of our fourth season, we talk about the importance of choice in the lives of writers. Why does choice matter, and what are some ways to bring choice into the classroom?

GO DEEPER:

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Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Beliefs Drive Successful Writing Practices: A Digging Deeper Dialogue May 25, 2025

Show notes

In the final episode of our third season, we dive into the foundational beliefs that shape effective writing instruction. From emphasizing explicit teaching to fostering a community led by a teacher who writes to foundational skills like handwriting and spelling, we explore key elements that support student success. This episode will inspire educators to reflect on their teaching philosophies and empower students within any curriculum framework.

GO DEEPER:

How Great Leaders Inspire Action: Simon Sinek
Perplexity
Research Roundup (from the Build Your Expertise Blog Series on #TWTBlog)
The Evolving Landscape of Writing Instruction: The Writing Roundtable with Lester L. Laminack

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

The Salad Bowl Game: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie May 18, 2025

Show notes

The Salad Bowl Game is one of our family's favorite games to play when we're all together, and it's also a great game for building students' vocabulary in writing, as well as any other content area. Give it a try with friends when you have some time, and have some great laughs and learning in classrooms with students.

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Meet the Featured Writers in This Year's Author Spotlight Series: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey May 11, 2025

Show notes

Introducing the 10th Annual Author Spotlight Series on the Two Writing Teachers blog, featuring daily interviews with children’s authors and illustrators who share their creative journeys and writing processes. Listeners get a preview of the week’s lineup, including stories of resilience, identity, and collaboration from Tim Donohue, Tyler Gordon, Maham Khwaja, Rebecca Gardyn Levington, Patty McGee, and Padma Venkatraman. The episode also highlights exciting book giveaways and virtual author visit opportunities for those who leave a comment on the guest authors’ posts.

Get ready to be inspired by the featured authors’ experiences!

Click here to read posts from the Author Spotlight Series on Two Writing Teachers!

Thanks to our affiliate, Zencastr. Use our special link (https://zen.ai/mqsr2kHXSP2YaA1nAh2EpHl-bWR9QNvFyAQlDC3CiEk) to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan.

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Support Family Advocacy and Empowerment: A Digging Deeper Dialogue May 04, 2025

Show notes

In this special episode, Melanie turns the tables as she interviews Stacey about her forthcoming book, which helps parents understand how to make the school system work for their child with disabilities. Hear about the personal passion that fueled this project, get an overview of the book’s three-part structure, and demystify the language of special education. The episode concludes with a discussion on the vital role of self-care, agency, and advocacy for parents, underscoring the book’s unique focus on caregiver well-being and empowerment.

Go Deeper:

Follow Stacey on Instagram, where she shares tips for parents and caregivers.
Sign up for emails from Guilford Press, which will publish Stacey's book, to stay in the know about new releases.

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Three Ways to Differentiate: A Tip for Tomorrow from Melanie Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

In this Tip for Tomorrow, Melanie provides three ideas for differentiating that can work across grade levels and across genres.

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

Maintain & Nurture Writing Skills During Summer Break: A Tip for Tomorrow from Stacey Apr 20, 2025

Show notes

Let’s revisit the Spring 2017 blog series "Keep Learning Going Throughout the Summer," which explored various strategies to maintain children's writing skills during the summer break. Stacey highlights key ideas from the 2017 co-author team, including creating personalized writing spaces, gamifying the writing process, and using books to inspire writing projects. The episode emphasizes the importance of making summer writing fun, engaging, and tailored to each child's interests and needs. Listeners are encouraged to share these strategies with colleagues and students’ families to prevent summer writing loss.

GO DEEPER:

Recap of the Keep Learning Going Throughout the Summer Blog Series
Twitter Chat Archive (Many participants’ tweets are no longer present due to deactivating their accounts.)

Send us Fan Mail

Please subscribe to our podcast and leave us ratings/reviews on your favorite listening platform.
You may contact us directly if you want us to consult with your school district.

Melanie Meehan: meehanmelanie@gmail.com
Stacey Shubitz: stacey@staceyshubitz.com

Email us at contact@twowritingteachers.org for affiliate or sponsorship opportunities.
For more about teaching writing, head to the Two Writing Teachers blog.

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