This episode features Ana Valentina Patton, an Instructional Coordinator at KLA Academy in Miami and a contributing writer for the Two Writing Teachers blog. Together, Stacey and Ana tackle the challenges teachers face during the mid-year slump, when energy dips and the pressure of test scores can overshadow the joy of writing. Ana shares practical ways to reclaim presence and authenticity as a teacher-writer, focusing on small shifts that make a big difference in the K-6 classroom. Drawing on her global teaching background, Ana offers strategies for connecting and making writing a more joyful, meaningful part of daily classroom life.

GO DEEPER:

• A Teacher's Guide to Mentor Texts, K-5 (The Classroom Essentials Series) by Carl Anderson
• Building on “Rallying a Community of Writers”: A February Support System by Ana Valentina Patton
• Morning message ideas from Responsive Classroom
• “Persistence and Pedagogy” by Amanda Potts
• Rallying a Community of Writers by Jessica Carey
• Sign up for the 19th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge on Two Writing Teachers
• When Teachers Write: Three Shifts Toward Becoming a Present Writing Teacher by Ana Valentina Patton
• Writing Tools: 55 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark

Ana Valentina Patton, the Instructional Coordinator at KLA Academy in Miami. With over 20 years of experience across the globe—taught in Venezuela, Egypt, and now the U.S.—Ana is an expert in literacy coaching and writing workshops. She’s passionate about the 'reciprocal power' of teaching and learning, and she’s here to help us cultivate stronger writing communities in our schools.

Instagram: @anavpatton

Blog: https://anavpatton.org

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