Today is our FIFTH blogiversary. That’s right! Five years ago today we started Two Writing Teachers. Here’s a little look at five things that have changed between June 12th, 2007 and June 12th, 2012.
- Five years ago Ruth and I had met in person just once. Now we have seen each other in person quite a few times (for being 565 miles apart) and have presented together at least five conferences.
- Five years ago I was engaged to be married and living in Manhattan. Now my husband and I live in Pennsylvania and delight in raising our daughter.
- Five years ago Ruth and her husband had one son. Now they have been married for over ten years and are the parents to three children.
- Five years ago Ruth and I were unsure if a blog written by two people who lived miles apart would work. Now we have published a book together despite the distance.
- Five years ago we didn’t know any of you. Now we are part of an incredible community of writers and educators.
We are so fortunate to have all of you in our lives. Thank you for your support over the past five years!
Would you be so kind as to leave a comment with your geographic location and your job title/grade you teach? Also we’d love to know how long you’ve been reading our blog (even if you’ve never commented before). It’s our little way of recognizing you as our reader. Thank you!
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Whoohoo!!!!!
Congrats on all of the impact you two make in the world of teaching, and keep up the great sharing and collaborative projects.
Kevin
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I live and teach 4th grade in Utah. I guess I have been reading your blog for three or four years. I’m always passing it along to other teachers as an awesome resource. Thanks for writing!
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I’ve just been reading the blog for the past few months, but your book has been helping me in my teaching for the past year. I teach 8th grade language arts in Hot Springs, Arkansas. I thank you for sharing your work with us all and for providing the community through which we have all met.
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Congratulations. I can’t remember for sure when I started reading your blog regularly, but I think for about the last three or three and a half years. I am always inspired by you and Ruth, as well as the community of writers with the Slice community and just learning so much from your posts and comments that people leave. Thank you for all of the amazing learning that you have inspired.
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Thank you to everyone who has left a comment on this post. I’m touched by your kind words for the work we’ve been doing for the past five years.
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So, when are you changing your hair color???? I can see red hues. Really, congratulations, girls! You should also mention your anniversary at the writing institute. I read your post about the jitters before the big keynote–it’s natural, and you will shine.
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Your blog has impacted my personal professional development this past year…more than any other blog out there ! You both are selfless and giving and resonate so true. I know that it takes so much time to do what you do for all of us; but I want to encourage you both to keep on. I am a reading specialist/coach in the Chicago suburbs and have the honor of being an adjunct in a phenomenal masters program at Judson University in Elgin….where I have been sharing your blog big time 🙂 I will have the opportunity to hear Ruth first hand next week at our Literacy in Motion conference. Next year I hope I can get to All Write in Indiana. After Donald Graves died, I was so saddened by his loss…wondering who would carry on his vision. I have found many that believe in Writing Workshop and Slice here weekly…amazing ! xo nanc
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Wow, just think of all the writing and teaching lives (of students and teachers!) you two have changed through those 5 years! Amazing! 🙂 I teach in Dublin, OH (suburb of Columbus) and I was lucky enough to meet Ruth at the Dublin Literacy Conference! Through this year I taught middle school Spanish and summer school ESL, and next year I will be teaching high school ESL for the first time. (oh man, will I be looking back through your archived posts like crazy!!!)
I found your blog last June when I needed ideas for teaching writing in summer school, and like so many others, I lurked for a while until your community ended up being the “push” I needed to start my own blog. My very first post was a Tuesday SOL in August, and I think I’ve sliced every Tuesday (and this year’s March challenge) since! You have brought back the writer in me and given me so many new teacher friends and mentors. It has been an incredible experience, and I hope you both continue sharing and encouraging for many more years!
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Kudos or 5 years.. I have been reading your blog for less than a year and love it! Sometimes so timely… a big boost and affirmation.. reading from LA…
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Congrats on five years! That’s amazing. When I discovered you in Jan of 2011, I lurked for a bit. I was just thinking about starting a blog, about transforming my teaching of writing, of being more of a presence. You blog has been an inspiration for me. Thanks for all you do!
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Oops! Lost the ‘Y’–Your methods have equipped me . . . xoxo
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A fab five years indeed! You are amazing women sharing your passions and affecting so many all over the world. I love TWT because I refer to your reading lists to buy books for my grandchildren. I also use your teaching tips, references, insights and whatever else I glean from your posts to facilitate my women’s inductive Bible study class more effectively. My class is very active mature ladies between 65 and 95 years old (some still shoot their age in golf!) and are avid readers who love to learn. our methods have equipped me to apply fresh ideas to my ‘teaching’ style. The bonus of TWT is I’ve known Ruth for about 25 years and her wonderful, talented, gifted precious mother is my best friend (but we’re about 1100 miles apart now). I am in awe of Ruth and Stacey for their creativity, wisdom, enthusiasm and investments they have made in their own schools and communities and all of us in the blogosphere. Thank you ladies, I can’t say it enough, you are amazing!
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Enjoy reading your blog so much. I found you when I had a broken femur four years ago and could do nothing but surf the web. Loved the great ideas since. I just retired about 3 weeks ago, but have taught 6th grade ELA for 23 years in Louisiana. Total years of teaching 35! I will still read every blog. Our classes did the Slice of Life Challenge this year. It was so inspiring to see so many students want to achieve that goal of writing everyday.
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The two of you have inspired me beyond measure. I am so glad you made the choice to create a blog. My teaching has improved because of TWO WRITING TEACHERS.
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I just discovered your blog this winter. I am from Prince Edward Island in Atlantic Canada. I love learning more about reading and writing from you. I teach a literacy intervention program to grade two and three students and I love to get new ideas for minilessons or mentor texts. Keep up the the excellent work. Happy blogiversary.Peggy
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I found your blog three years ago, stalked you for one year, then because of you I plunged into the blogging world, and soon after joined in SOL. Because of you my life (teaching and personal) have been forever changed and enriched beyond anything I could have ever imagined. I teach first grade in a small rural school near Ponca City, Oklahoma. Happy blogiversary to you both, and thank you.
Tammy
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I am a 5th grade teacher from Marion, OH. I have been reading and enjoying your blog since hearing Ruth speak at the Dublin Literacy Conference in February.
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Five years and still going strong! I joined the Facebook page about a year ago and participated in the March Slice of Life Challenge for the first time this year. I teach elementary gifted in Iberia Parish, Louisiana. It’s fun to read the comments and see what a wide audience you have. Keep it going!
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I live in Clarkston, Michigan and have been reading your blog ( and utilizing your website) for at least 3 years. You are wonderful! Thank you for helping me grow both personally and professionally!
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Wow! What an accomplishment! I live and teach in Dix Hills, New York and I’ve been following you for about 3 years. My goal is to become an active SOL’er (hopefully soon). Thank you Stacey and Ruth for the inspiration!
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Congratulations. You have changed many lives in 5 years. I followed TWT quietly for quite a while before I joined SOL in March 2011. I teach grade 3 and 4 at International School of Estonia. I wish you energy and inspiration to keep going!
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Congratulations on both your achievements and your tenacity (I can imagine how challenging it must be to keep all aspects of your professional and personal lives going simultaneoulsy). I am very glad I got brave enough to actually participate in your on-line community. You have worked hard to model and scaffold your readers in a way that teachers should always work with their students. Thank You Both for all you do!
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Happy Blogiversary to You! I am so fortunate that I found this community of writers! I am constantly inspired. I am from the Akron, Ohio area. I am currently “in transition” as far as grade level and position in the district where I teach (will know more in August). I have been writing, posting and commenting since March 2012. Thanks to you Stacey and Ruth for sharing your expertise with this community-we wouldn’t be the same without you!
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I am making up and singing a “Happy Blogiversary” song right this minute. 🙂 That is because I teach first grade (in Southern California about 60 miles East of Los Angeles)! I came at the end of February this year just in time for the March challenge. This has been a revolutionary experience for me. Writing has been so good for me, professionally and personally. I am still learning as I enter my 32nd year of teaching. The internet gives us like minded sojourners, inspiration, and encouragement to find and use best practices. I am so thankful to Stacey and Ruth for your committment to our learning community.
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Sorry – I teach fourth grade in Albuquerque, NM.
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Congratulations…what a fabulous milestone! You have created quite a community here, Ruth and Stacey,so much to be proud of! I live in northern New Jersey and teach language arts, writing workshop and social studies. How long have I been a TWT reader? Like Elsie, I can’t remember clearly enough to be specific, but I think it’s been about three years. I, too, “lurked” a bit, then commented…and then took the leap and started blogging myself. So I owe the two of you thanks for setting me on the road to what has been a wonderful learning journey.
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Congratulations! It was serendipity that allowed me to stumble upon your blog just this past spring. I joined you all in March – what a great experience – and now, even though I am not getting around to posting each week (it’s summer), I feel like you have given me a community of friends and supporters. I read and comment, even if I don’t write each week. I miss the group when I forget to check in. I feel like I’ve come home when I return to your blog after exploring other writing blogs and challenges. Thank you so much – here’s to another five (at least!).
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Congratulations! I have been enjoying your blog for the last 6 months. I teach fourth grade at Mountainview International Christian School in Salatiga, Indonesia.
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Five years means you have written lots of posts and so many teachers have been inspired by them. And the writing challenge–what a way to learn about writing. So thanks Stacey and Ruth for such an informative and fun site for those of us who believe in the power of workshops.
I live in Columbia, Missouri which is in the center of the state. I teach fourth grade.
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Happy Blogiversary! I’ve been reading your blog for longer than 4 years. 🙂 I’m not sure when I started but I found poems that I wrote for the week-long poetry challenge in April of 2008. I teach second graders that love to write in Springfield, Illinois. Thanks for the inspiration.
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Forgot to say, “Happy Blogiversary”!
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I teach in Northern California in a high poverty school. We are in program improvement using mandated curriculum. I look to you for inspiration, I’ve taught for over 30 years and believe that to create readers and writers we need to give students time to read and write.
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Congrats on the Blogiversary! Wish I had been here from the beginning! I started slicing in March this year. It’s great to write, read, and comment, to be part of an amazing community. Thanks, Stacey and Ruth, for bringing us all together.
I am an ESL teacher, grades 3-6, in Indianapolis, IN.
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Ruth & Stacey,
Five years and look at the community of teachers & writers that you bring together. Pretty AWESOME! Cheers to you both and Happy blogiversary!
~ Theresa
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Thanks for posting this Stacey. I always know it’s at the beginning of June…but I’m never sure of the exact date. I love the 5 things that have changed…here are 5 that have stayed the same:
1. We are still passionate about helping teachers be writers.
2. Stacey gets things done well ahead of time; I save it until the last minute.
3. We believe in the power of workshop teaching.
4. We are still writing about the same 7 topics: assessment, celebration, choice, conferring, mentors, minilessons, and routines. (Ever wonder where the chapters of our book came from? They were the things we realized we blogged about over and over!)
5. Our hair color. 😉
Thanks, everyone, for your support and encouragement over the years. It’s because of you, the TWT community, that keeps us fueled to write over the years.
Hugs,
Ruth
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Congrats on 5 year Blogiversary! I currently teach 5th grade in CT and I have been following your blog since the very beginning 🙂 Thank you for always sharing your thinking, writing, and ideas with all of us through your blog and your book!
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Wait. 1.8 million hits? That’s amazing!! I’ve been reading since2008 (I think). Happy Birthday!! You guys rock. marika. Literacy Coach/Specialist. NY, NY.
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I just found you in February. I sliced in March, it was an amazing experience. I’m in Hastings Michigan. I will be teaching Young 5’s in the fall.
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Wow – Congrats on the journey! I’m was thrilled to stumble upon your blog in Jan. of 2011. I am a K-5 reading specialist in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, IL.
Thanks for all that you two do – sharing resources, books, ideas, and building such an awesome and supportive community of writers! Keep writing!
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sorry that last post is missing the word joined in the first sentence.
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Wow – you both have accomplished so much in five years. It will be wonderful to see where the next five take you! I’m in Monticello, IL (east central IL) and teach fifth grade. I don’t know when I started reading your blog – it has been about a year I think? Maybe a bit more.
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Minneapolis, Minnesota – I just you this last fall! You became a life line for me as I returned to the classroom after seven year of working with Curriculum and Instruction. I was also on the road to support my 93 year old Mother. When things were not good I could always check out your site to help me refocus on my teaching, lesson plans and just a piece of calm. Thanks for all you do! The Slice of Life writing was a big hit in my classroom this year as well. Thanks Joanne
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Congratulations! What an achievement! So many wonderful changes for the two of you.
I have only been visiting a few months but am slowly catching up on past posts.
I teach Grade 3 in southern Ontario – in Brantford.
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Five years-so much can happen, & clearly has for you both. I’m so glad to have gotten to know you through your work, & perhaps someday we can meet in person. I’ve been reading your blog for a long while, but finally jumped into the March challenge in 2011 when I started posting. I moved into a literacy coach position in the 2010-2011 year after teaching middle school gifted students for 20 years in an independent school. I live in Aurora, CO, a suburb of Denver, where I teach. Congratulations on your wonderful accomplishments, Stacey and Ruth, not the least of which is working together long distance. You continue to amaze me!
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You and Ruth have so many reasons to be proud for these past five years! I am in Romeoville, IL (a southwest suburb of Chicago), teaching 8th grade. I included the link to a blog post I wrote a while back about the impact you two have had on me as a teacher, a writer, and a person. What you give through this blog is immeasurable.
http://readwriteinspire.blogspot.com/search?q=two+writing+teachers
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Look at how life can change in five years. It’s amazing when you spell it out like this! I think I have been reading (lurking at first) for about three years (maybe? I’ve never been good at remembering time). I am in Springfield, Missouri. I retired from teaching five years ago. Then I began to work part-time providing professional development to schools on balanced literacy/reading and writing workshop for grades K-5. Congratulations on your anniversary and I hope to be reading and writing with you for a long time.
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How cool! Thanks for sharing these stats. No wonder why someone has peeked at your blog 1.8 MILLION times. That’s amazing. I love what you do here. Thanks for your dedication to this blog.
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