There are multiple potential hurdles that prevent students from becoming effective informative writers, including possible resource texts that may be above their benchmarks, as well as students' lack of experience with specific strategies for note-taking and organization of their thoughts. The use of thinking maps, especially circle maps and tree maps, to help develop their note-taking and informative writing skills can't be overstated when supporting students to becoming more engaged in their writing.
Author: Therapi Kaplan
A mom, a wife, a teacher, a learner, and a novice cook. I write about adventures in being all four and life lessons to be learned.
Two Strategies to Keep Connected During Remote Instruction
According to the co-founder of Bithiah’s House, a nonprofit organization for foster youth, Michelle Thompson, " 61% of the population, both adults and children, have experienced at least one form of trauma in their life."
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Generating Ideas for Opinion Writing: Meet Writers Where They Are
A Great Coach This past summer, my daughter, Sophia, practiced diving. Coach Jodi was kind enough to open her backyard pool up to us for private swim lessons. Sophia would stand at the pool's ledge, toes curled around the ledge, and arms pointed together into the pool. Next, Coach Jodi would say, "Go!" The outcome… Continue reading Generating Ideas for Opinion Writing: Meet Writers Where They Are
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Expanding Vocabulary and Use of Transitions in Students’ Writing
The work of Elfrieda (Freddy) Hiebert, professor and founder of textproject.org, explains further that “lists do not help our kids retain or expand their word knowledge. Students need networks of words that are grounded in ideas.”
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Virtual Small-Group Instruction
I have learned from Meghan Hargrave, "Hold tight to what we know works and let go of concerns that we can't control."
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Seen, Valued, Heard: Creating Heart Maps to Build Identity
What do you notice in the world that you would like to change?” “Are there examples of injustices, inequality, or prejudice in my school, neighborhood, town or city?”
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Journal Writing Strategies While Living Through a Pandemic
"Writing about distressing events and how we feel about them is the only kind of writing that clinically has been associated with improved health," Louise DeSalvo
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Teaching Writing: A Review and Book Giveaway
"The most important belief is that kids need the opportunity to grow up as writers, writing a lot, just as they talk and read and do math a lot," (Calkins, '20).
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How to Know When to Move Forward with Language Learners
I recently was working with a kindergarten teacher who was teaching a group of six kindergarten students, all identified as novice English Language Learners. My experience observing and working with this group reinforced my own understanding of Andrea Honigsfeld’s research in her recent book, Growing Language and Literacy. In it she solidifies my understanding that… Continue reading How to Know When to Move Forward with Language Learners
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English Language Development Frames
When my sister and I were kids, we played Super Mario Brothers on Nintendo. I witnessed her saving the princess at least three times during our summer video game marathons. I watched as she passed through all the levels seamlessly. She knew what was expected of her at each level that would prepare her for… Continue reading English Language Development Frames
