On November 18th, Lucy Calkins’s Writing Workshop, hosted by Victoria (China) Education Group and organized by Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID), was held at Shanghai High School. Professor Lucy Calkins delivered a captivating keynote speech on "How to Foster Excellent Reading Teaching Practices" for the attending teachers. Mr. Yin Houqing, Deputy Director of the Academic Committee of the Chinese Society of Education, President of Shanghai Society of Education，and Deputy Chairman of the Basic Education Teaching Steering Committee of the Ministry of Education, attended the event as a special guest. Mr. Feng Zhigang, Principal of Shanghai High School, and Dr. Maggie Koong, Chief Principal of Victoria (China) Education Group were also in attendance. Over 500 teachers from bilingual schools in the Yangtze River Delta, Beijing, and other provinces and cities attended the writing workshop at the Puxi campus of Shanghai High School.

Lucy Calkins is the Founding Director of both Mossflower Reading and Writing Project (formerly the Reading and Writing Project) and of Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP). She has been on the faculty at Teachers College, Columbia University for over four decades, as the co-director of the Literacy Specialist Program. Lucy has written over fifty books. The Art of Teaching Writing is generally regarded as a foundational book in the teaching of writing. Lucy Calkins began her career teaching at the primary, middle, and high school levels before collaborating with Don Graves, a renowned American writer, in researching children's literacy. This collaboration is credited with transforming writing instruction by bringing writing workshop practices from college classrooms into K-8th classrooms.

This workshop was hosted by Ms. Melody Ng, a board member of the Victoria (China) Education Group. Principal Feng Zhigang delivered a welcoming speech, extending a warm welcome to Professor Lucy Calkins and all the distinguished guests. He emphasized the importance of mutual exchange and collaboration for enhancing understanding and expanding wisdom, expressing Shanghai High School's willingness to provide a platform for academic research and innovative public interactive exchange. Director Yin Houqing delivered a keynote speech on the topic of “Children’s Reading in the Digital Age,” highlighting the undeniable significance of children’s reading in the digital era. He emphasized the need to cultivate reading interests, skills, and critical thinking, while also maintaining an understanding and perspective on the importance of standardized language and writing in the fragmented era. Dr. Maggie Koong then introduced Professor Lucy Calkins' professional achievements to the audience.

During the workshop, Professor Lucy Calkins showcased her innovative on-site teaching, inviting five fourth-grade students from SHSID to join her on stage. This exciting interactive session not only allowed the participants to experience the dynamism of her teaching methods firsthand but also provided the students with a valuable opportunity to interact with an internationally renowned education expert. In her on-site teaching, Lucy Calkins seamlessly integrated her extensive teaching experience, engaging with the students to explore reading and writing techniques together. As part of her workshop, Lucy Calkins demonstrated the importance of students finding their unique voice through recollecting experiences and creating engaging pieces of writing. This exchange not only ignited the students' enthusiasm for learning but also offered practical examples and inspiration for the educators present.

After the keynote speech, the workshop featured three separate parallel sessions: one with Professor Lucy Calkins, one with Professor Jepilyn Matthis, and the other with Professor Casey Maxwell. Professor Casey Maxwell focused on addressing Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten teachers, delving into Drawing and Writing to Put the World on the Page. Professor Jepilyn Matthis, drawing from her extensive experience, specifically addressed educators of grades one and two, with her theme centered on Essential Methods for Teaching Writing. Professor Lucy Calkins concentrated on addressing teachers of grade three and above, providing in-depth insights into Teach the Qualities of Powerful Writing. These three parallel sessions offered participants more specific and specialized teaching content, allowing educators from different grade levels to find practical guidance tailored to their specific situations. The diverse session setup aimed to meet the varied needs of educators, providing them with more personalized and in-depth professional support.

As the organizer of this event, SHSID successfully concluded Lucy Calkins' first visit to China. This event was not only a training session for educators' professional competence and expertise in children's writing but also provided a platform for rich academic exchange. It has paved new practical paths for future writing instruction, contributing to the ongoing development of educators' professional skills and fostering advancements in the field of children's writing.

Written by Carrie Mao

Pictures by Carrie Mao, Victoria (China) Education Group

Edited by Serene Yang, Ginger Xu, Cong Luo, Wu Shiyu (Intern), Bianca Noguera