assessment · reflections · Reflective Practice · self-assessment

Ending a Year of Teaching Writing with a Group Reflection

One thing I love so much about being an educator is the cyclical nature of the school year. The beginning of the year brings promise, renewed energy, and a certain mania. The middle of the year brings familiarity, routine, and structure. The end of the year brings a slower pace, stepping back, reflection. There is… Continue reading Ending a Year of Teaching Writing with a Group Reflection

slice of life

Slice of Life Tuesday

"With every story, I began to form myself from the inside out." ~Dani Shapiro, Still Writing: The Perils and Pleasures of a Creative Life I love this quote from Dani Shapiro.   Each Tuesday, we are practicing the art of narrative writing.  We are sharing our stories with one another.  We are forming a community of writers.… Continue reading Slice of Life Tuesday

balanced literacy · classroom · independent writing · lesson plans · lucy calkins · minilesson · organization · professional development · tcrwp · units of study · writing workshop

How To Read A Unit of Study

As the school year comes to a close, many of the schools I work with are launching into a week or so of in-service, summer institutes, and other professional development. It's "curriculum season" in many places around the country. For many writing teachers, that means diving into the Units of Study for Opinion, Information, and Narrative Writing by Lucy… Continue reading How To Read A Unit of Study

conferences

ALL WRITE!!! Daring Greatly

  On Wednesday my students, for two years, will be getting on their bus and riding home after our final day together. It will be bittersweet as I give them my last hug as their teacher. From there I will gather my bag, a few belongings and leave my classroom. I will pack it up… Continue reading ALL WRITE!!! Daring Greatly

writing workshop

TWT post: Google docs + writing workshop = happy writing teacher (and happy writing students)

When I was asked to pilot Google docs in the last month of our school year, I was enthusiastic... but also a bit blasé. It seemed like a wonderful “new thing”, and although I am all for trying out new things in my classroom, I also knew that I had developed and fine tuned a… Continue reading TWT post: Google docs + writing workshop = happy writing teacher (and happy writing students)

authors · giveaway · grammar · illustrators · professional books · professional development · public education · summer vacation

Five on Friday + Book Giveaways

Want to obtain some high quality professional development at no cost to you? Need some books to sink your teeth into this summer? Feel like kicking back and just enjoying some time off? If you answered "yes," to one of these questions, then read on!

writers · writing workshop

Office Work

I love the idea of spending the first several days of school learning how to be a writer. By studying other writers’ processes, we can begin to demystify the act of writing.

celebration

A Recipe for a School-wide Writing Celebration

This recipe for a school-wide writing celebration offers one idea for a way to include all students without the anxiety that often comes from presenting in front of a large group. Also, it is easy to prepare and the outcome is delicious!

slice of life

SOLS and an Invitation

Write, Share, Give

digital writing · independent writing · independent writing projects · summer vacation

Summer Writing for You, the Teacher

You've got to practice writing to teach writing!

critique group · writing

How About a Critique Group: Fostering Teacher Writers

Are you ready to join a writing critique group? Take the plunge and sign up as we start you on a new writing journey!

writing workshop

Book Review: Linda Rief – Read Write Teach

"I must be what I teach: writer, reader,speaker, listener." - Linda Rief Teaching our kids to read and write with commitment and passion is an ever evolving labor of love.  There are so many expert educators to read, so many moving pieces to choreograph, so many new ideas to sift through, figure out and put… Continue reading Book Review: Linda Rief – Read Write Teach