I’ve been thinking a lot about my year teaching third grade and the writing my students did. I had thoughts, opinions and ideas about what went right and where I still needed to make changes, refine my practice, be more strategic. Then, it dawned on me: I really need to ask my students what they think.
When Writers Drive the Workshop is a book with heart. Brian Kissel writes with passion, voice, humility, conviction, and wisdom. The stories he shares from the student writers he worked with are stories that will stay with you, reminding you why doing this work matters so much. Read the rest of the book review and leave a comment for a chance to win your own copy of When Writers Drive the Workshop! (You will want to win!)
Are your students ready to be Summer Writing Ninjas? Some challenges to keep the writing going this summer…
It’s Tuesday! Time for Slice of Life!
It’s Tuesday! Write. Share. Give.
My son, a kindergartener, is reluctant to write at homework time. But is he a reluctant writer?
As much as I try to flatten the walls of my classroom using technology, the truth is there are still walls. It is me and 25 third graders, and most recently, a fabulous student teacher. Still, the walls are there and often I don’t get to see other teachers in action. Last month, I had the opportunity to remedy that problem for a day.
Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the Classroom SOLSC for Students! Time to celebrate!
Welcome to Day 30 of the Classroom SOLSC for Students! As you reflect on the challenge this year, what would you do differently next year?
It’s Day 29 for the Classroom SOLSC for Students!
Welcome to Day 28 of the Classroom SOLSC for Students!
How do we teach a growth mindset, along with all the other aspects of writing that require explicit instruction? Read on to find out more and for the chance to win an autographed copy of Growing a Growth Mindset: Unlocking Character Strengths through Children’s Literature by Dr. Kevin Sheehan and Jessica Ryan.
It’s Day 27 in the Classroom SOLSC for Students! Are you ready to #CelebrateMonday?
Welcome to Day 26 of the Classroom SOLSC for Students! It’s our final Sunday of the challenge.
Welcome to Day 25 of the Classroom SOLSC! It’s the last weekend of the blogging challenge…are your students still writing?
Welcome to Day 24 of the Classroom SOLSC! Happy Friday!
My third graders are wrapping up their unit on personal essay. While some have grasped the structure and have articulated reasons and examples to support their argument, others have struggled to understand the concept of an essay. I want to take some time to think about what went right when teaching this unit and where the breakdowns occurred.
I believe in writing. I believe that the more you write, the more you discover your own thoughts and ideas. Your voice grows stronger. You become more fluent. Writing becomes a part of who you are, how you see the world, how you process your thoughts, how you communicate effectively with others. It is not enough for students to just write during writing workshop. Writing needs to be woven into the fabric of the day, across subject areas, in ways that are meaningful and authentic for students.
Will you be willing to roll out the Welcome Wagon for our new Slicers this March?
One Little Words (OLWs) sometimes find you, as if it were meant to be…
