AI in the Writing Workshop: Finding the Write Balance

by Dennis Peterson Kristina Magliozzi

We’re poised at a stunning point in human the advent of generative AI. As writing teachers we are faced with this profound Can we evolve alongside this technology, and bring it into our classroom in ways that enhance rather than harm the integrity of our work?

Find the “write balance” with AI in the Writing Workshop, a blueprint for teachers to navigate this new terrain while preserving the essence of creative struggle and critical thinking. Dennis Magliozzi and Kristina Peterson provide a detailed look at how to ethically integrate AI into writing units across the school year, including personal narrative, poetry, analysis, and research. Their ready-to-use exercises, activities, and prompts give you a framework of best practices. Your students will learn to critically evaluate AI-generated content and engage with AI as a collaborative thinker rather than simply accepting what AI produces.

Build your confidence and competence using ChatGPT and other AI tools while discovering the possibilities of engaging students in new and meaningful ways. Be a part of human history.

Genres: Education

192 pages, Paperback

Published April 10, 2025

Reviews

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as part of professional development with my department.

In this book, the authors, who are experienced teachers building upon their own experiences, share about their research and firsthand experience with incorporating AI in the classroom with their student writers.

I found this to be a really valuable resource that left me feeling so much more hopeful about AI as a teacher of writing, while also validating the concerns I hold about the topic. While I still have questions about AI and how to best incorporate it as an ELA teacher, I appreciated the way the authors acknowledged the ever-growing arena of AI and indicated that they were aware that some questions cannot yet be answered. The authors did a great job of building upon their experiences while keeping in perspective what works best for teachers and what is best for students. As an ELA teacher, I recommend this.

[Kelly Stalions · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took part in a book club comprised of 8 teachers from LOCS over the course of the last month. We met twice. Our meetings were definitely thought-provoking and, as a group, we made some practical applications. However, the book on its own--while full of good information--was a bit repetitive. Two teachers basically recounted one full school year of their AI experiences integrating with Writers Workshop. Write first! Struggle second! I get it. We need to balance HI (human intelligence) and AI (artificial intelligence). There definitely is a place for AI in the workshop model. I wanted a bit more practicality but understand that because the landscape of AI is ever-changing, that would be difficult. The book came with some online resources as well, but they were not anything to write home about.

[Daniel Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a teacher struggling with AI in my classroom, this book offers practical solutions grounded in real classroom experience. It’s refreshing to hear from other educators who are actively engaged with the same problems that I am, and who are “living it” day to day with the rest of us. I encourage all teachers to check it out!