Because writing isn’t print.

I MIGHT know what you’re wondering RigHT ABOUT NOW:

What the heck is a loose part, Stockman? 

And that’s a fair question.

Loose parts are blocks and buttons and beads.They’re LEGO and PlayDoh and clay. Loose parts are stones and sticks and leaves. They’re packing peanuts, paper clips, and string. Loose parts are scrap cardboard. Sticky notes. Index cards.

Loose parts are items that we can lift, move, mix, and remix.

And believe it or not, they’re also powerful writing tools.

So this is another ONE OF YOUR courses about engaging print resistant kids.

Kinda. I say more about it here, on the welcome page.

If you work with print resistant kids, you’ll find great support here. But this course isn’t for teachers like you alone. Loose parts might engage kids who hate putting down print, but they empower every writer in the room, regardless of age, experience, or comfort level.

Print creates a barrier for all of us, and knowing when and how to scale it changes everything.

It’s Nice to meet you, by the way.

I’m Angela Stockman, and I love learning about writers and teaching writing well. All of that learning has been quite an adventure, and it’s helped me discover a few things worth sharing. So, I wrote some blog posts and a couple of books, and I started a little Facebook group. I found my people on Twitter, and I started sharing what I was noticing about writers. And writing. And loose parts play.

Some people started listening and loosening up their own workshops, too. Then, they started noticing some of the same things that I was noticing. And they wrote to me about it. They invited me to visit. They welcomed me into their schools and classrooms, and we all continued learning together—from the writers we were supporting.

We noticed that they were more than engaged. They were empowered writers, and the quality of their work was improving, too.

I want to show you all that I’ve learned.

This course is a little different.

My work has continued to evolve since my first two books were released, and I’m excited to share it with you. Whether you teach at the primary, intermediate, middle, or high school level, you’ll find the content relevant. And if you’re interested in bringing loose parts into your writing workshop or classroom but uncertain how or where to begin, I’m providing a solid three step instructional model for you: Build it. Better it. Bridge it to print.

This is how writers scale print barriers. This course will help you understand what this means and prepare you to teach this way.

Here’s what you can expect:

• First, we’ll consider the relationship between structure, meaning, and print.
• We’ll create a richer image of today’s writer, what writing looks like in the professions, and what it looks like in the wild, too.
• Then, we’ll examine the influence of loose parts play on learning, historically.
• We’ll consider the power of loose parts inside of our writing workshops and classrooms and adopt (or adapt) a three step process for using them to help writers scale print barriers.
• I’ll show you how I prepare to coach deeply into each bit of writing produced, and I’ll make sure that you have tools that enable you to do the same.
• And of course, you’ll be invited to reflect, set goals, and connect with me along the way. 

Once you’ve registered below, every course module will appear to you at the very bottom of this page.

There’s also a bonus:

Everyone who registers for this course will gain free access to the Make Writing: Spaces course as well. Why? Because I know that some of you will want to rethink the way you’ve designed your workshops and classrooms, and this course will help you do that.