Evidence-Based Methods of Teaching Writing

Dates:  August 26-27, 2025

Times: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST

Location: In person at Teachers College, Columbia University

Price:

• Early Bird Discount: $425

• Regular Rate: $500, after May 1, 2025

• Group/Team Discount: $350 per person for groups of 10 or more. (If you qualify for a discount the price will appear at check out.)

• To apply for a scholarship click here, and see below for more information.

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Who should attend: K-12 classroom teachers (literacy) curriculum and instructional specialists, coaches, principals, and school administrators.

Upon completion: Participants who complete this conference will receive a Certificate of Participation. Licensed educators in NY state are also eligible for a Continuing Teacher Leader Education (CTLE) certificate for a total of up to 12 CTLE hours. Comment end

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In this course, educators will learn practical strategies to support students as they develop writing skills, even if they are new to teaching writing themselves. Drawing on relevant educational research, the course will focus on understanding writing process instruction that includes structures for explicit instruction, guided practice for students, and strategies for providing meaningful feedback and fostering student independence. Participants will learn about the three main text types – informational, narrative, and opinion/argument texts. The institute will also include the study of exemplar texts and ways to use them in classroom instruction to promote student agency. By the end of this course, educators will walk away knowing how to create a supportive writing environment and implement effective teaching practices that build confident, capable writers.

Learning Objectives:

• ​​Understand and Implement Writing Process Instruction – Learn structures for explicit instruction, guided practice, and meaningful feedback to support student writing development.

• Develop Strategies for Teaching Key Text Types – Explore instructional approaches for informational, narrative, and opinion/argument writing, considering student exemplars within each genre.

• Use Mentor Texts to Support Writing Growth – Study high-quality mentor texts and learn how to incorporate them into instruction to model strong writing and foster student agency.

• Create a Supportive and Independent Writing Environment – Apply research-based strategies to cultivate a classroom that encourages student confidence, independence, and engagement in writing.

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Institute Scholarships: 

We are pleased to offer scholarships for teachers and school leaders to attend Teachers College Advancing Literacy institute events. We invite interested teachers and literacy leaders to apply to learn with the Advancing Literacy team and fellow educators this summer. 

These scholarships are in memory of two devoted teachers and community members: our friend and colleague Kathleen Tolan, who mentored many of us as teachers and staff developers; and Kitty Donahue, a dedicated teacher and author, who attended events at Teachers College for many years and brought an enthusiasm for teaching and learning that was palpable. 

Please use this form to apply, to be considered for a scholarship applications should be submitted one month in advance of the institute. 

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Logistics Overview: 

• Acceptance for the institute is contingent upon receipt of payment within 14 days (for all tickets purchased). 

• For early bird pricing, payment should be received and accepted by April 30, 2025. 

• Click here to access a Quote for your purchase, if needed.

• Once payment is received, please log in to your Dashboard (on our website) and assign the seat(s). If you need to make any modifications to seat assignments, please notify us at advancingliteracy@tc.columbia.edu. 

• We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, and a participant who has been accepted to the institute may be unable to attend. If you must withdraw, please let us know as early as possible. Once payment is made, it confirms your commitment to attend. If you must withdraw after paying, a $75 withdrawal fee will apply. Additionally, if you withdraw within one month of the start of the institute, we will be unable to issue a refund.