DrewTeach

In honor of National Letter Writing Month, our DWP writing circles had the absolute privilege of hosting Tona Bell from !

Tona shared her deep passion for the handwritten word and inspired us with a powerful message: the art of letter writing isn’t just about staying in touch; it can be a profound tool for positive social change.

Now, the Drew Writing Project is extending an invitation to YOU. Grab your favorite pen, find some paper, and join us in writing letters this month. Let’s make a difference, one envelope at a time! Drop a ✉️ in the comments if you’ll be writing with us!

Our latest episode of features a discussion with Troy Hicks and Kristen Turner, authors of Teaching Writing in the Age of AI. They discuss the ethical and practical challenges of using tools in writing instruction and offer strategies that nurture student thinking, creativity, and academic integrity. https://bit.ly/487RJCZ

Honored to host teacher and author Maria Jose’ Fitzgerald for a special DWP Writing Circle. 💫
She spent the evening sharing her writing process, the sparks of inspiration behind her stories, and reflections from her publishing journey with our community of educators and writers.

We celebrated her newest middle-grade mystery, Mystery on Macaw Mountain, now available. Her debut novel, Turtles of the Midnight Moon, received the Green Earth Book Award and was named a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, recognizing its powerful storytelling and environmental themes.

Thank you, Maria Jose’, for inspiring our writing community and reminding us how stories rooted in culture, nature and imagination can bring readers together. 👏👏👏

A beautiful day on the Drew campus for the NJCTE & Drew Writing Project 2026 Spring Conference ☀️✏️

Educators and administrators from across New Jersey came together to share their practices, learn from one another, and celebrate the power of teaching and writing. It was a day filled with new connections, inspiring ideas, and the joy of seeing familiar faces again.

Grateful to be part of such a thoughtful and passionate community of educators!

✨ Want a meaningful way to launch your next unit?

In this thoughtful piece, Laura Schmidt shares how starting with a first - page analysis can build curiosity, sharpen close reading skills, and set clear expectations from day one. By slowing down and really examining the opening of a text, we create space for authentic discussion and let students thinking lead the way.

Sometimes the simplest shifts make the biggest impact. 📖
Consider how this approach might transform the way you begin your next unit.

Read the full article @ bit.ly/4cOIVGn

♥️📚Happy ! 📚

As Valentine’s Day marks the beginning of this special week, we celebrate the heart of education - the passion, purpose and people who make teaching so meaningful.

Love Teaching Week is an annual celebration of teaching, leading, and learning in ways that unite and invigorate educators and the students they inspire.

Here at Drew University, the educators in the Education Department proudly share their love of teaching everyday, fostering growth, championing equity, and preparing the next generation of changemakers.

To all who , thank you for the energy you bring, the minds you open and the hearts you shape. 💛

Rubrics don’t have to be the end of the story. They can be the beginning.🌅

In Reimagining Rubrics as Part of the Revision-Writing Process, Dr. Liz Decker invites us to rethink traditional assessments by showing how rubrics can guide reflection, deepen revision, and help writers think more intentionally about their choices.

Read the full article and reimagine assessment as part of the writing journey. ✍️👩‍💻💫

Read the full article @ bit.ly/4blpFbZ

For our 2026 Spring Conference, NJCTE and the Drew Writing Project invite educators to explore the meaning of balance in teaching, specifically, what it looks like and feels like to be both responsive and responsible in our practice.

In their collaborative work, Kylene Beers and Bob Probst define responsible readers as those who can set aside personal beliefs to consider what a text offers, and responsive readers as those who see reading as a path to intellectual and emotional growth. Both are essential for preparing students for today and the future.

✨NJCTE membership is included with conference registration

When: March 10 from 8am-3pm
Where: Drew University

To register: bit.ly/4jK3t3h

🚨There’s still time to register‼️

Join us for Spring 2026 DrewTEACH Virtual Workshops, a dynamic series designed to enhance teaching practices through innovative strategies and tools.
From Exploring the AI Landscape: Evaluating Tools for Purpose and Practice to AI as a Co-Writer!

These expert-led sessions offer valuable insights for educators. All workshops take place on Wednesdays from 7:00 - 8:30 PM on Zoom.

Choose individual sessions for $15 or an ALL ACCESS PASS for $75. Elevate your teaching—register now at drewteach.org/workshops

Please join me and my co-author Troy Hicks for a deep dive into AI and how it can be a useful tool for co-writer in the classroom.

This virtual presentation is Wednesday, January 28th, 7:00-8:30pm EST
Cost: $15

Register now at:
Drewteach.org/workshops

As we welcome the New Year, DrewTEACH continues to bring together educators who value collaboration, connection, and growth.
Together, we learn, lead, and inspire making the year ahead even stronger for educators and their students.

Cheers from 🥂

#2026 #