writer's notebook · writing workshop

Building a culture of bravery in writing workshop

In these early days of writing workshop, we work on being brave...

mentor texts · outdoors · writer's notebook

Walk Like a Writer

Observational walking is useful for professional writers and it can be good for students too! This fall, head outside with your students for a walk around your school's neighborhood. But first, read ASK ME by Bernard Waber and Suzy Lee!

back to school · family · olw · writing workshop

A Parent’s Guide To Writing Workshop

Back to School Night is around the corner! When it comes to writing workshop, what do we need families to know?

back to school · community · first day · writing workshop

Back to School Posts on TWT

We've curated some of our top 'Back to School' posts to help you plan and launch your writing workshop.

slice of life

Write. Share. Give.

WRITE a slice of life story on your own blog. SHARE a link to your post in the comments section. GIVE comments to at least three other SOLS bloggers.

writing workshop

7 Things I Want the Writers in my Classroom to Know

I am uneasy referring to myself as an author. I have writers I admire and I know there’s a vast divide between us, but I write. I enjoy writing; I write to improve my voice and my craft all in an effort to teach my students what it means to be a writer. As an educator I know all my students ARE writers. I don’t qualify who is and who is not a writer by the quality of their writing. I am working to give myself this same level of acceptance as a writer.

community · environment · writing workshop

Why We Gather: The Importance of a Classroom Meeting Area

You might be so completely used to your classroom arrangement that it seems normal to you -- but it maybe could be better.

writing workshop

A Place for Quiet

How do you structure your workshop to work for all personalities?

conferring

Five Resources To Charge Up Your Writing Conferences

Knowing what to teach is just as important as knowing how to teach. Here are five resources that will help with the what. Bonus: some are free!

poetry

Put poetry into your writing tool kit all year!

Naturally, April seems to be the month to introduce poetry units of study as either part of writing or reading workshop, and that is a lovely celebration to look forward to. But, why wait until April? Why not bring the power of poetry into our workshops from the very beginning of the school year?

conferring · partnerships · peer conferring · tcrwp · Teachers College

Moving from Partnerships to Peer Conferring

I attended Kathleen Tolan's "Once You Have Taught Workshops for Years, How Do You Go from Good to Great? Tap the Power of Peer Conferring and Supporting Student Independence and Goal-Setting." Workshop at the TCRWP Writing Institute. Kathleen's session made me realize that once we've been doing this work (i.e., writing workshop) for awhile, it's… Continue reading Moving from Partnerships to Peer Conferring

Slice of Life Story Challenge

Slice of Life Tuesday

Write. Share. Give.