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«Back to all edWebinarsBuilding Independent Writers: Teaching Moves that Foster Agency, Problem Solving, and Engagement
Thursday, May 21, 2026 @ 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Presented by Alicia Luick, Staff Developer, The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower
Sponsored by The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower
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Across elementary classrooms, teachers are striving to help students become writers who can take initiative, make decisions, and sustain their work with increasing independence. In this edWebinar, educators will explore practical teaching moves that support students in becoming thoughtful, self-directed writers who approach writing with curiosity, confidence, and purpose.
The goal of this session is to help K–5 teachers and instructional leaders strengthen their ability to nurture independence in young writers. Attendees will learn how small shifts in instruction—such as the way teachers confer and lead small groups, structure mini lessons, and support students during independent writing time—can help children develop agency, problem-solving skills, and greater engagement with their writing.
Presenters from The Reading & Writing Project will share classroom-tested strategies drawn from writing workshop practice. Attendees will explore ways to:
- Teach students how to generate and sustain their own writing work
- Support writers in solving problems independently rather than relying on the teacher
- Use conferences, small groups, and mid-workshop teaching to strengthen decision making and ownership
- Create classroom conditions that encourage risk taking, stamina, and engagement
Educators who attend will leave with practical ideas they can apply right away to help students grow as confident, independent writers. This edWebinar will be of interest to K–5 teachers and school leaders.
About the Presenter
Alicia Luick is a Staff Developer at The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower. She began her career in education as a classroom teacher before serving as a districtwide literacy coach. This breadth of experience has made her a valued partner to schools and districts working to develop cohesive, schoolwide approaches to literacy instruction grounded in best practices. Alicia is deeply committed to supporting coaches, administrators, and teachers in strengthening literacy instruction. She is particularly interested in helping students transfer their skills as readers and writers to learning in other disciplines, including social studies, science, and mathematics. She holds dual master’s degrees in curriculum and teaching and in administration. Alicia has led advanced sections at literacy institutes, presented at national conferences, and co-authored books in the Units of Study series.
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Join the Teaching Reading and Writing community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.
The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower was created out of the pioneering work that Lucy Calkins began over 40 years ago. Inspired by her research, she developed innovative curricula and methods that transformed the way children learned to write. For decades since, she has worked with educators to help students become what she always knew them to be: proficient and enthusiastic writers, readers, and thinkers.
Today, RWP-M remains deeply rooted in this experience, while also holding true to this a spirit of innovation and continuous learning. Lucy Calkins and her team author the Units of Study in Reading, Writing, and Phonics and several series of engaging decodable texts. More than authors of curricula, at its core, RWP-M is a community of practice, a think tank, and a professional development organization dedicated to transforming the way students learn to read, write, and think.
