Straight From Students: Why Teachers Should Write

Sunday August 21, 2016Monday August 20, 2018 Melanie Meehan8 Comments

During the last week of school, I met with a group of fourth graders to have an end of the year reflective conversation. We can learn so much about what to do throughout they year by asking students to reflect and share what they found to be powerful. Many times, students are our very best… Continue reading Straight From Students: Why Teachers Should Write

Maximizing the Adult Resources in Our Classrooms

Saturday August 13, 2016Monday August 15, 2016 Melanie Meehan15 Comments

Over the summer, a few of us at TWT all received questions about how to manage extra adults in the classroom. Today and tomorrow, Deb and I have begun our own little mini-series addressing this issue. Tomorrow, Deb will share important ways to make the classroom a place for everyone, emphasizing communication and management strategies.… Continue reading Maximizing the Adult Resources in Our Classrooms

writing workshop

What Are Their Tools For Independence? Starting With What Matters Most

Thursday August 4, 2016Monday August 8, 2016 Melanie Meehan29 Comments

One of the most important questions I always have in the back of my head when I am working with students is how to ensure that the concept I am teaching will become a part of the students' independent repertoire. How can I tell that I am teaching the writer and not just enhancing the one… Continue reading What Are Their Tools For Independence? Starting With What Matters Most

charts · mentor texts · poetry · writing workshop

Have Charts, Will Travel. Mentor texts? Even better!

Saturday June 25, 2016Thursday June 23, 2016 Melanie Meehan1 Comment

My last post was about some of the reflections that I want to remember when I teach any genre of writing, but I also wanted to share more of our poetry workshop and some of the amazing poems students wrote during our time by the lake. Teaching poetry in an outdoor education setting to fifth-grade students is… Continue reading Have Charts, Will Travel. Mentor texts? Even better!