conventions · grammar · punctuation · writing workshop

Patterns of Power: Review + Giveaway

At a time when  thoughts turn to sandy beaches and alarm clock-less days, it takes a very special professional book to make me wish (at least a little) that it was September and I could start implementing all these fabulous, fun and important lessons now! Patterns of Power: Inviting Young Writers into the Conventions of Language is a book that will make you happy to have the opportunity to be a teacher, working with young writers to help them explore, wonder, and apply the conventions they learn. It's a book that I believe will transform how teachers and students look at conventions

writing workshop

Organization Wishes and Happy Writing Dreams

Are you the writing teacher you dream to be?

Looking Back and Moving Forward Blog Series · writing workshop

Making the Most of May and June: Looking Back and Moving Forward

By taking some time in May and June to try new writing projects, we can motivate students to stay connected and continue living the writerly life when no one is assigning them to do it. They can write (and read) because it’s part of who they are and how they live each day. Let’s not allow May and June become movie-watching, worksheet-filling, killing-time days. Let’s make each day count and keep our writers enthusiastic about all the possibilities being a writer brings.

authentic writing · blogging · choice · creativity · digital writing · greenbelt writing · writing workshop

Write at the Start: No More Morning Worksheets

How can we let writing be part of a "soft start" for students instead of making them complete joyless worksheets? How do your students start the day or class period? Please join the conversation!

spelling · writing workshop

Super Spellers: Review + Giveaway

How do you approach teaching writers to spell? Mark Weakland's book Super Spellers: Seven Steps to Transforming Your Spelling Instruction might have some new insights for you!

blogging · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · writing workshop

Reflections on the Classroom SOLSC 2018

The Classroom SOLSC is over for this year...now come the reflections!

SOLSC Classroom Challenge

2018 CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 31 OF 31

Woohoo! Day 31 of the Classroom SOLSC! You and your students made it!

SOLSC Classroom Challenge

2018 CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 30 OF 31

Welcome to Day 30 of the Classroom SOLSC! How would you sum up this experience in 6 words?

poetry · writing workshop

Immersion into Poetry with Centers

Third grade poetry centers are one way to immerse students in the different literary devices and figurative language we find in poems.

SOLSC Classroom Challenge

2018 CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 29 OF 31

Welcome to Day 29 of the Classroom SOLSC! How are you planning to celebrate your students efforts in the challenge?

SOLSC Classroom Challenge

2018 CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 28 OF 31

Welcome to Day 28 of the Classroom SOLSC! Care to leave a video on Flipgrid about your experience?

SOLSC Classroom Challenge

2018 CLASSROOM SOLSC FOR STUDENTS: DAY 27 OF 31

Welcome to Day 27 of the Classroom SOLSC! Today we are looking for your feedback on the format we used this year.