word study · writing workshop

What I’ve Learned about Word Study

I recently had the good fortune of watching the wonderful Natalie Louis deliver a word study lesson at a school in Harlem. It was so cool. For a mostly upper grade person like me, word study has always been a bit shrouded in mystery. What exactly is the difference between phonemic and phonological awareness? What… Continue reading What I’ve Learned about Word Study

argument writing · opinion writing

Stronger Essay Writing: Differentiating Between Reasons and Evidence

The word essay comes from the latin exigere, meaning "to ascertain," or "to weigh." It was used in the late 15th century as a verb, meaning "to test the quality of." Writing in essay form certainly leads to these things: weighing of evidence, testing the quality of reasons, ascertaining the strength of an argument. When we teach students… Continue reading Stronger Essay Writing: Differentiating Between Reasons and Evidence

informational writing · social studies

Setting Up for Writing about History

Will you be teaching your students to write about history soon? Read this first!

conferring · EAL · ELL · multilingual

A Writing Conference with an English Language Learner Using Google Translate

Read on for a snippet of a writing conference using Google Translate with an upper elementary student who is learning English.

conventions · dialogue · editing · grammar · paragraphing · punctuation

Five Grammar Lessons With Sneaky Double-Duty Goals 

Check out these quick, easy grammar lessons that will clean up and power up your students' writing.

informational writing · research

Building Ideas in Research Writing

Research-based writing need not be collections of facts. Teach your students to interpret as they research and to use their ideas to expand their writing.

independent writing · persuasive writing

Independent Persuasive Writing Projects

A possible plan for a unit on persuasive writing independent projects

slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · writing workshop

CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 31 OF 31

Huge Congratulations! Today is the final day of the March classroom Slice of Life Story Challenge.

slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · writing workshop

CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 30 OF 31

It's the penultimate day in this month's Classroom Slice of Life Story Writing Challenge. Join us!

slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · writing workshop

CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 29 OF 31

Wow! It's Day 29 Classroom Slicers!

PD Possibilities Series

Getting the Most Out of Any Professional Development: P.D. Possibilities

Today, Anna wraps up our March blog series on professional development and offers tips for getting the most out of any PD, anytime, anywhere, on any topic.

slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · writing workshop

CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 28 OF 31

Welcome to Day 28 of the Classroom Slice of Life Story Challenge.