Over the years, I’ve explored countless professional resources on writing instruction. While many have offered valuable insights, the books below have had the greatest impact on my teaching practice philosophy and instructional approach. More importantly, they are the resources that have led to the most significant growth in my students’ writing production, confidence, and independence.
This list is not exhaustive, but each of these works has deeply informed how I teach writing—especially to students who struggle with language-based teaching practice and learning differences.
Writing Skills by Diana Hanbury King
This book was recommended to me by my Orton-Gillingham fellow, who recognized that I needed far more depth than what could be covered during a two-week OG coursework intensive. Writing Skills is a comprehensive and practical resource that functions almost like a writing instruction manual.
What makes this book so valuable is its breadth. It addresses writing from the ground up, covering:
- Sentence construction
- Paragraph development
- Multiple types of writing
- Essay structure
- Writing assessment
- Proofreading strategies
- Group instruction
- Spelling integration
- Handwriting
- Keyboarding
This text helped me understand how all aspects of writing connect, rather than treating teaching practice writing as an isolated skill. It remains one of my go-to references when planning instruction for students with complex writing needs.
Teaching Practice Basic Writing Skills by Judith C. Hochman
This book excels in the area of expository (informational) writing. It offers an abundance of clear, concrete strategies for teaching practice:
I discovered this book about two years after first encountering The Writing Revolution. Because it is written by the same author, it serves as a perfect companion text—particularly for educators looking for practical examples.
- Sentence expansion
- Paragraph construction
- Logical progression of ideas
- Early composition skills
The examples are explicit and accessible, making it much easier to translate theory into classroom teaching practice. I found it especially helpful for students who need structured support without being overwhelmed.
The Writing Revolution by Judith C. Hochman and Natalie Wexler
I discovered The Writing Revolution after seeing it mentioned repeatedly in a professional Facebook group. I’ll be honest—I have a love-hate relationship with this book.
On one hand, it is an excellent conceptual resource that emphasizes the importance of sentence-level instruction as the foundation for writing. On the other hand, I found it challenging to implement without additional support. I often questioned whether I was “doing it right”—for example, when I later learned at a conference that appositives and relative clauses are not the same thing.
What ultimately helped was outside guidance from educators who had successfully implemented the approach. (Thank you, Mac and Cheese Learners—your resources clarified so much for me, and enabled me to create resources for my students that bring these strategies to life!)
While I no longer rely on the book’s single- and multi-paragraph outlines, I am grateful for the foundation it gave me. I eventually found other composition resources that provided more scaffolding, particularly for students who struggle to make large cognitive leaps. Writing is an area where teachers must understand every possible scaffold, because the task can be incredibly demanding for many learners.
Side note: My experience is based on the first edition of The Writing Revolution. I have not yet reviewed version 2.0.
Powerful Writing Strategies for All Students by Karen R. Harris, Steve Graham, Linda M. Mason, and Barbara Friedlander
This book is the shining gem of my writing resources collection.
I discovered it after hearing extensive discussion about SRSD (Self-Regulated Strategy Development) on social media. While several companies offer commercial interpretations of SRSD, I strongly prefer the original research-based approach developed by Karen R. Harris and her colleagues.
SRSD was specifically designed for struggling writers, and its effectiveness is unmistakable. Through this approach, my students have made dramatic gains in:
- Composition length
- Organization
- Clarity of ideas
- Academic tone
- Writing confidence
After just a few weeks of instruction, even my most hesitant writers are able to take a prompt and independently produce a coherent, logical, linear, and academically sound composition. For practitioners seeking a research-backed, highly effective framework for teaching practice writing, this resource is unparalleled.
Final Thoughts
At Aligned Academics, Strong writing instruction requires more than worksheets and prompts—it requires deep knowledge of structure, scaffolding, and student needs. These resources have shaped not only how I teach writing, but how I think about it.
When educators invest in high-quality professional teaching practice & learning, students reap the benefits in powerful, lasting ways.
