Creating Confident Writers: Responding to Student Needs in Class, Online, and Beyond

Presented by Dr. Troy Hicks, Professor of English and Education, Author, and Consultant, Central Michigan University; and Andrew Schoenborn, Author and English Teacher, Mount Pleasant Public Schools (MI)
Moderated by Tess Reiche, Marketing Director, Writable

Sponsored by Writable

Watch the Recording

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.
Get a CE Certificate for this edWebinar Learn more

The conversations about what students “need” to know as writers as they move from high school to college have become perennial. In this edWebinar, we make this pivot, shifting the conversation from the “what” they need to know, to think critically and creatively about the “why” and the “how.” Leaning on the Framework for Success in Postsecondary Writing, we take an approach that focuses on developing the habits of mind for successful writers. By helping students create their own writing goals and pursue their own inquiry, teachers become coaches.

By providing a number of tips and tools, we will explore how teachers can be flexible and responsive to the needs of middle and high school writers in light of remote learning, emerging technologies, and curricular demands.

By looking at three particular writing assignments (reading response blogs, multimodal non-fiction websites, and Pecha Kucha-style talks) we will explore authentic ways to empower students to view themselves as writers by using mentor texts, encouraging digital interactions, and publishing opportunities beyond the classroom.

This recorded edWebinar will be of interest to middle school through higher education teachers, librarians, school and district leaders, curriculum and instruction directors and coordinators, instructional coaches, tech directors, and teachers on special assignment.

About the Presenters

Dr. Troy Hicks is Professor of English and Education at Central Michigan University (CMU). He directs the Chippewa River Writing Project and teaches primarily in the Master of Arts in learning, design & technology as well as the Doctorate in educational technology programs. A former middle school teacher, he collaborates with K–12 colleagues and explores how they implement newer literacies in their classrooms. Since beginning work at CMU in 2007, he has earned numerous distinctions including the Michigan Council of Teachers of English Charles Carpenter Fries Award (2008), CMU’s Provost’s Award for junior faculty who demonstrate outstanding achievement in research and creative activity (2011), the Richard A. Meade Award for scholarship in English Education (2014), the Michigan Reading Association’s Teacher Educator Award (2018), CMU’s Excellence in Teaching Award (2020), and the Initiative for 21st Century Literacies Research’s Divergent Award for Excellence (2020). An ISTE Certified Educator, Dr. Hicks has authored numerous books, articles, chapters, blog posts, and other resources broadly related to the teaching of literacy in our digital age. Follow him on Twitter @hickstro.

Andy Schoenborn is a high school English teacher and award-winning author in Michigan at Mount Pleasant Public Schools. He focuses his work on student-centered critical thinking, digital collaboration, and multimedia means. In 2013, he was honored with MCTE’s Ray Lawson Excellence in Teaching Award “For faithful service, inspirational qualities, and distinguished leadership”; in 2014 he received the Great Lakes Bay Region RUBY Award “Recognizing the Upward, Bright, and Young”; in 2017 he received the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe’s ISE Award “Inspiration, Support, and Encouragement”; and in 2019 he was honored with the NCTE Linda Rief Award for “Outstanding publication in a peer-reviewed journal.” As a past-president of the Michigan Council of Teachers of English and National Writing Project teacher consultant for Central Michigan University’s Chippewa River Writing Project he frequently conducts workshops related to literacy and technology. Follow him on Twitter @aschoenborn.

Closed captioning will be added to the recording within 2 weeks of the live presentation.

Join the Be a Literacy Hero community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

Writable is a guided writing program that works for both virtual and in-person instruction in grades 3-12 that helps teachers scaffold and motivate students to become purposeful, proficient writers, and helps schools assess and monitor writing growth. With 600+ assignments and prompts (or create your own), guided feedback and grading, and district or state-level benchmark assessments, Writable helps teachers save time on prep and grading while focusing their writing instruction.