book review · writing about reading

Written Response in the Reader’s Notebook

Welcome to Reading Workshop: Structures and Routines That Support All Readers offers K-6 teachers a guide to setting up and sustaining a successful reading workshop. In this post, we’ll dive into one part of this book, which encourages students to write about their reading and keep readers’ notebooks.

Beyond the Fundamentals Blog Series · mentor texts · writing workshop

Student-Written Mentor Texts: Beyond the Fundamentals of Writing Workshop

While many teachers seem knowledgeable about mentor texts and teacher-created texts, it is my hope that focusing on student-written mentor texts will lead more teachers to realize students can be mentor authors, too.

Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts Blog Series · young authors

Student-Written Mentor Texts: Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts

As you embark on using, student-written mentor texts push yourself beyond the flawless and visually perfect pieces. Look for the gems buried behind the messy and sometimes crumpled papers. Search for opportunities for all students to shine and guide other writers. All writers have value.

Diving into Information Writing Blog Series · informational writing · mentor texts · tcrwp · teacher of writing

Teacher-Written Mentor Texts: Diving into Information Writing

I’ve long believed teacher-written texts can serve as excellent mentor texts during a unit of study. While I’m a huge advocate of student-written mentor texts, sometimes student writing doesn’t have everything we need it to contain. We can tailor our own writing to our units of study. We can do this because we can be… Continue reading Teacher-Written Mentor Texts: Diving into Information Writing

social studies · tcrwp

Some Handwritten Notes from the Sat. Reunion

Regular readers of this blog have probably noticed my absence this last week.  I was feeling, for lack of a better word, lousy.  I came back from last weekend’s TCRWP Saturday Reunion raring to go, but got stopped by forces beyond my control.  I don’t like feeling under the weather (who does?), especially when there… Continue reading Some Handwritten Notes from the Sat. Reunion

standardized tests

Better Written Responses

As some of you know, one of my colleagues and I put the finishing touches on a p.d. we’re doing, later this week, yesterday afternoon.  One of the things we spent some time planning yesterday was a mini unit of study on how to apply the qualities of good writing to test writing on standardized… Continue reading Better Written Responses

art · wn entry

DAILY SOMETHING: Cards or Written Messages That Convey Sentiments?

I spent yesterday afternoon creating “cards” for my bridesmaids. I didn’t want to attach an impersonal card to each of their gifts, so I decided to dig up old pictures, use my scanner and my “Creative Delights Companion” to create some written messages. This is what I came up with: I hope they’re worth the… Continue reading DAILY SOMETHING: Cards or Written Messages That Convey Sentiments?

assessment · Lenore Look · picture book · standardized tests

Practicing Written Responses to Texts

My students will be taking the NECAP Reading Test this-coming week. I’ve been trying to prepare them for the written responses to reading they’ll be doing. Therefore, I’ve tried to create some of my own materials. Here’s one thing I did. First, we read Lenore Look’s book Uncle Peter’s Amazing Chinese Wedding. Second, we talked… Continue reading Practicing Written Responses to Texts