History

History of the Writing Revolution

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Advancing Thinking Through Writing for 30 years

History
1988 – 1999

Dr. Judith Hochman serves as head of The Windward School, a renowned elementary and middle school in New York for students with language-based learning disabilities. At Windward, the Hochman Method is introduced, yields tremendous success for students, and receives national recognition.

1991

 The Windward Teacher Training Institute is established. Teachers from schools across the nation attend courses about the Hochman Method. Dr. Hochman publishes the book, Basic Writing Skills.

2008 – 2011

Dr. Hochman consults with New Dorp High School in Staten Island, New York in an effort to embed the method in all subjects and grades school-wide. Improvements were noted in standardized test scores.

2009

Dr. Hochman publishes Teaching Basic Writing Skills: Strategies for Effective Expository Writing Instruction.

2012

The award-winning feature article, “The Writing Revolution,” is published in The Atlantic about the role of The Hochman Method in the turnaround of New Dorp High School. During the same year, The Windward School named the building that houses  its  Teacher Training Institute for its founder, Dr. Judith C. Hochman.

2014

The Writing Revolution is incorporated and receives its 501(c)(3) status as a nonprofit organization. TWR hires its first faculty members, Toni-Ann Vroom and Dina Zoleo, and begins partnering with Washington, D.C. and New York City schools.

2016

The Writing Revolution grows to reach approximately 1,500 educators and 45,000 students.

2017

Dr. Hochman and Natalie Wexler published The Writing Revolution: A Guide for Advancing Thinking Through Writing in August. The book became a tool for educators seeking to implement the method.

2018

The Writing Revolution begins training educators and partnering with districts in Louisiana.

2019

The Writing Revolution expands to reach approximately 5,000 educators and 150,000 students.

2020

Drs. Dina Zoleo and Toni-Ann Vroom become The Writing Revolution’s Co-Executive Directors in March.

2021

TWR has trained educators in all 50 states and 13 countries

2022

The Louisiana Department of Education launched its revised ELA Guidebooks (grades 3-5)  curriculum, with TWR strategies embedded throughout.