I've been thinking a lot about the balance of nonfiction and fiction texts in the classroom lately. Starting today, I'm making an effort to share more nonfiction picture books you can use as mentor texts in writing workshop. While I haven't taken stock of how many fiction picture books I've recommended as mentor texts here… Continue reading Nonfiction Mentor Text + a Giveaway
Month: August 2012
Starting Slowly
One of the things I realized about myself when I went to the Choice Literacy writing retreat is how quickly I speed through the day. I like to pay attention to the world around me, but sometimes I'm moving too quickly. For the past few weeks I've been trying to slow down my pace. It's… Continue reading Starting Slowly
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The Secret Ingredient to Creating Engaged Writers
I’ve been thinking about student engagement in writing workshop for the past couple of weeks. I started thinking about it as I was reading Guy-Write, Ralph Fletcher’s new book. My thoughts about engagement continued as I sat in Maggie Beattie Roberts’s class about technology and media at the summer Reading Institute. Everything came to a… Continue reading The Secret Ingredient to Creating Engaged Writers
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The Weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge
Please link the Slice of Life Story you write today to this post by leaving a comment. Be sure to check out other bloggers’ writing by clicking through the links in the comment section of this post. Come back later today (or even tomorrow) to read through the links of a few other Slicers who… Continue reading The Weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge
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Fun with Language
Recently someone asked me about my writing routine. As I was responding to her email, listing the times I squeeze writing into the day, I added this line: I remember I'm doing this because I like to write. The minute it's lost its joy is the minute I know I something needs to change. It's… Continue reading Fun with Language
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Words that are Speaking to Me
Always and forever at the start of a new school year... If you want to teach me to write, first you must love me. ---Avi
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A Few Things from the Reading Institute
Spending a week at the TCRWP's Reading Institute is good for my soul. I always learn so much when I attend an institute. It's going to take time for me to sort through my notes (Yes, I still take notes with a notebook and a pen!) so I can share them with you in a… Continue reading A Few Things from the Reading Institute
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Guy-Write: Chatting About Male Writers with Ralph Fletcher
Anyone who has ever read Ralph Fletcher's books for young writers (e.g., A Writer's Notebook, How Writers Work, Live Writing), will find his newest book, Guy-Write: What Every Gut Writer Needs to Know (Holt), to be a welcome addition to a classroom's writing center. Fletcher writes this book for boys who love to write who… Continue reading Guy-Write: Chatting About Male Writers with Ralph Fletcher
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What is it you do?
We were at a family reunion last weekend and had too-few minutes to visit with one of my favorite cousins who I only get to see once a year at the reunion. She asked, "So what exactly do you do?" The easy answer: I'm a writing coach. And then: I work with teachers, from kindergarten… Continue reading What is it you do?
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Pop Culture References Make Minilesson Connections Come Alive
Maggie Beattie Roberts, my section leader for "Tap the Power of Technology and Media to Teach Higher Level Comprehension," suggested using pop culture references as one way to engage students in minilessons. (Pop culture references can come from TV, movies, music, video games, fashion, celebrity culture, etc.) Our "homework," as part of the Reading Institute,… Continue reading Pop Culture References Make Minilesson Connections Come Alive
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The Weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge
Please link the Slice of Life Story you write today to this post by leaving a comment. Be sure to check out other bloggers' writing by clicking through the links in the comment section of this post. Please come back later today (or even tomorrow) to read through the links of a few other Slicers… Continue reading The Weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge
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Making Writer’s Notebooks Personal
In my last post, there was this comment: Heather on Saturday August 4, 2012 at 1:06 pm said: Thanks for these ideas! But I really can’t wait to read about your ideas on writer’s notebooks on Monday! I need to breathe new life in to them in our classroom…I do not feel that I have found a way… Continue reading Making Writer’s Notebooks Personal
