5 Ideas for Improving Student Writing

Episode #10: Jennifer Serravallo on the 10-Minute Teacher Show

From the Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis

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5 Ideas for Teaching Writing

Jennifer Serravallo (@jserravallo) is a literacy consultant, speaker, and the author of several popular titles including the NY Times Bestselling The Reading Strategies Book, the newly-released Writing Strategies Book, and the two-time award-winning Independent Reading Assessment Series. She was a Senior Staff Developer at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and taught in Title I schools in NYC.

Happy 5 Idea Friday! Today, best-selling author Jennifer Serravallo shares five strategies for improving writing in your classroom today.

Thank you PowerSchool Learning for sponsoring this episode. To learn more about how I use PowerSchool Learning in my blended learning classroom, see my blog post on 5 Effective Blended Learning Strategies.

In today’s episode, Jennifer and I discuss:

  • The importance of focusing on one goal when teaching writing
  • Pitfalls of a lack of focus when teaching writing
  • The most common mistake teachers make when using writing partners
  • Tips on why you should wait to correct grammar and punctuation
  • A super idea for sticky note outlining that works for fiction and nonfiction writing
  • A common mistake that causes students to not want to write
  • A secret for motivating writers

I hope you enjoy this episode with Jennifer Serravallo! Thanks, Jennifer, for giving away your new book, The Writing Strategies Book, for one lucky iTunes reviewer.

Listen to the Show Now

10-Minute Teacher Show Stitcher

Learn about Show Sponsor PowerSchool Learning

Want to hear another show about teaching writing? Teacher Jennifer Burgin talks about empowering peer review in the classroom in this episode.


Selected Links from this Episode


Full Bio


Jennifer Serravallo

Jennifer Serravallo is a literacy consultant, speaker, and the author of several popular titles including the NY Times Bestselling The Reading Strategies Book, the newly-released Writing Strategies Book, and the two-time award-winning Independent Reading Assessment Series. She was a Senior Staff Developer at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project and taught in Title I schools in NYC. Tweet her @jserravallo.


Contests included in this show

Click Here to Leave a Review

  • BOOK GIVE AWAY:The Writing Strategies Bookthe writing strategies book
    • Manner of Selection of Winners: All participants with a valid Twitter or Instagram handle who leave a review on iTunes for the 10-Minute Teacher between February 10, 2017 and midnight on February 12, 2017 will have their handles put into a random drawing to determine the winner.
    • Geographic Area and Eligibility: This is being shipped by the author and the location that is being shipped to should be commensurate with the shipping cost to North America. If it is not, an alternate winner may be awarded.
    • Dates: February 10, 2017 – February 12, 2017 at midnight EST.
    • How Prizes Will be Awarded: All names of people who leave reviews on iTunes will be put into a random drawing by the prize administrator.
    • Determination of date of winner: On February 15 the name will be drawn and the winner will be notified. (This will give time for the iTunes Reviews to show up.)
    • No purchase necessary.
    • Alternate method of free participation. You may also enter with a social media posting on Instagram or Twitter linking to the show using the hashtag #10MT.
    • Winner’s name will be posted on this blog before February 27, 2017.
    • Void where prohibited.
  • MakerBot Replicator Mini+ Giveaway Contest Rules
    • Manner of selection of winners: All classroom teachers with a valid Twitter or Instagram handle who leave a review on iTunes for the 10-Minute Teacher show will have their handles put into a random drawing to determine the winner. Those who leave a review between 2/1/2017 and 2/3/2017 will have two entries for each review. The winner will be required to verify that they are a classroom teacher and that the MakerBot Mini+Replicator will be used in the classroom. Or, if the winner is not a classroom teacher, we must verify with an appropriately designated principal or administrator of the location in a classroom where the device will be placed. Winning another prize during the contest period from the 10 Minute Teacher Show does not exclude the winner from winning this prize. All reviews of the show are eligible for entry.
    • Geographic Area and Eligibility: Due to shipping costs, this contest covers the United States and Canada. Classroom teachers or those in schools who will place the device in a classroom for student use are eligible to apply.
    • Dates: February 1, 2017 – February 14, 2017 at midnight EST.
    • How Prizes Will Be Awarded: All names of people who leave reviews will be put into a random drawing by the prize administrator.
    • Determination of date of winner: February 15, 2017 the name will be drawn and the winner notified and verified to be a classroom teacher or to place the device in a classroom. If the winner does not meet qualifications, another winner will be selected.
    • No purchase necessary.
    • Alternate method of free participation: You may mail your name, mailing address, email, phone number, and school name to ATTN: Lisa Durff 26 Beall Street, Frostburg, Maryland 21532.
    • Winner’s name will be posted on this blog before February 27, 2017.
    • Void where prohibited.
Disclosure of Material Connection: This is a “sponsored post and podcast episode”. The company who sponsored it compensated me via cash payment, gift, or something else of value to edit and post it. Additionally, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I believe will be good for my readers and are from companies I can recommend. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.) Please also note that all opinions are my own or belonging to the guest on the show and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of any sponsor or employer.

The post 5 Ideas for Improving Student Writing appeared first on Cool Cat Teacher Blog by Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher helping educators be excellent every day. Meow!



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via Vicki Davis at coolcatteacher.com. Please also check out my show for busy teachers, Every Classroom Matters and my Free teaching tutorials on YouTube.

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