collaborative planning · middle school · observations

Nurturing a Sense of Optimism Through Vertical Visits

Although this time of year predictably proves to be extremely busy, creatively scheduling a little bit of time to visit at least some of your next-year's writers can pay valuable dividends.

mentor texts · revision · writer's notebook

Reimagine Notebook Entries Using a Mentor Text

Using a mentor text can be a little like taking a course from a published writer- we can allow him or her to teach us how to be stronger writers. This can certainly happen with our drafts... but we can also do this work in our notebooks. Oftentimes, doing so can free young writers up to do larger-scale revision. Here's one way I tried that...

Strengthening professional learning blog series

Leading a Professional Book Club: Strengthening Professional Learning

If the desire to strengthen your professional learning burns strong inside you (and perhaps in some of your colleagues, as well), consider organizing and facilitating a book club! In this post, I offer a simple-to-follow road map on how to make this fun and beneficial experience a reality for you and some of your colleagues.

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

It's Tuesday! Come write, share, give...

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

Let's get together, Slicers! Come write, share, give...

communication · conferring · inspiration · middle school · minilesson

Trust the Kids

Finding ways to trust kids, it might be said, creates more space for learning. In this post, I offer a few ways trust can be manifested in a writing workshop...

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

It's April! Back to our regularly scheduled Slice of Life Tuesday. With only a one day break, let's get back together, Slicers! Come write, share, give...

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

It's April! Back to our regularly scheduled Slice of Life Tuesday. With only a one day break, let's get back together, Slicers! Come write, share, give...

revision · writing process

Revising for Meaning

At the heart of all great writing is meaning.  Writers select details carefully and deliberately, depending on the message we wish to convey to readers. How can we let meaning guide revision? Read here about a few ways...

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

It's April! Back to our regularly scheduled Slice of Life Tuesday. With only a one day break, let's get back together, Slicers! Come write, share, give...

giveaway · SOLSC

SOLSC Participant Pledge 2019

Congratulations to all for an amazing March Slice of Life Story Challenge! If you faithfully met the criteria for the challenge by slicing and commenting each day in March, we invite you to complete our form to become eligible for a prize!

Slice of Life Story Challenge

DAY 31 OF THE MARCH SOLSC! #SOL19

Welcome to the final day of the Slice of Life Story Challenge. This is it! Day 31! Write! Share! Give!