How Do I Begin the Year with Elementary Writers?

Step into Ann Marie Corgill's classroom as she shares practical strategies for creating an elementary writing environment where all writers can grow and thrive. Drawing on research and years of classroom experience, Corgill breaks down what matters most when launching writing with children—from classroom setup and routines to instructional practices that nurture writers' development.

Part of NCTE's How Do I . . .? series, this book takes readers inside Corgill's intentional planning and teaching during the first critical weeks of school. With clarity and care, she shows how joyful, high-quality writing instruction can take root for all students—not just those who arrive already loving to write.

Readers will learn not only what effective writing practices look like, but why they matter. Corgill also shares recommended resources that have shaped her own teaching, inviting readers to extend their learning and deepen their understanding of writing instruction.

Filled with photographs and classroom artifacts, the book offers close-up views of writers at work, including classroom design, tools for writers, routines, anchor charts, student writing, and more—making it easy for teachers to imagine what's possible in their own classrooms.