I love Thanksgiving, mostly because it rolls into the Christmas season. My life as a writer changes during these weeks of the year. I shift my focus to documenting the season and my family's response to it. I decrease my word count. I breathe more and rush less. I still have goals, but I tend… Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving
Author: Ruth Ayres
Unhurried. Finding the magic in the middle of living. Capturing a life of ridiculous grace + raw stories.
Right Back At It…
I figured by now I would have time to write a post reflecting on NCTE. However, I apparently forgot (once again) that there are a limited number of hours in a day. The post will have to wait. Instead, here is a brief list of highlights. Laurie Halse Anderson, Katherine Patterson, and David Levithan hosted… Continue reading Right Back At It…
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Guiding Words.
These words from one of my favorite writers, Jane Yolen, in one of my favorite books about writing, Take Joy, are guiding my portion of our presentation at NCTE.
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Word Count
I've had a daily word count for awhile. I'm not sure exactly when it started, but I think it was while writing Day by Day. However, it was while becoming serious about writing fiction that my word count became as much a part of my day as brushing my teeth. I think this is true… Continue reading Word Count
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11 on 11.11.11
It's kind of been a long week, so I'm going to save the blog post that has been tumbling around in my mind until I have a little more time to pull it together. Instead I'll give you 11 snippets on 11.11.11. Thank you for the comments and feedback on this post. I'm glad the… Continue reading 11 on 11.11.11
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Filling Needs.
I have this job that I'm incredibly thankful for. It gives me a chance to focus -- really focus -- on the teaching of writing. Naturally I'm interested in all areas of literacy, as well as other content areas (for those of you who don't know I'm a licensed biology and chemistry teacher), but my… Continue reading Filling Needs.
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Forty Years.
Happy anniversary Mom and Dad! Forty years ago today they were married. It's kinda a big deal, you know, to be married for forty years. It gives me pause and makes me think about what it takes to have that level of commitment. Like usual, my thoughts swirl around to teaching writing. What does my… Continue reading Forty Years.
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Words that are Speaking to Me
All that is necessary for the triumph of damaging educational policies is that good educators keep silent. --- Alfie Kohn
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NCTE: A Little List
I. Am. So. EXCITED! I can't wait to present with Stacey, Patrick Allen, and Troy Rushmore. We are discussing the way our personal reading and writing lives influence our teaching. It'll be fast paced, useful, and fun. If you plan to attend, make sure to say hello. 🙂 I get to visit with people I… Continue reading NCTE: A Little List
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Storytelling
One of the ways Martha Horn suggests launching workshop is to spend a significant amount of time steeping the workshop in storytelling. In fact, she suggests every child tell a story aloud to the entire class. She shares this approach along with Mary Ellen Giacobbe in their book Talking, Drawing, Writing (Stenhouse, 2007). She also… Continue reading Storytelling
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Words that are Speaking to Me
What we call little things are merely the causes of great things; they are the beginning, the embryo, and it is the point of departure which, generally speaking, decides the whole future of an existence. One single black speck may be the beginning of a gangrene, of a storm, of a revolution. - Amiel, Henri… Continue reading Words that are Speaking to Me
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Just Listen. Just Listen. Just Listen.
These two words cycle through my mind every, oh I don't know, maybe, every five seconds during writing workshop (and other times of the day, but I'll keep focused on being a teacher of writers). Just listen. Just listen. Just listen. It's a mantra that I'm trying to program into myself. I've been saying these… Continue reading Just Listen. Just Listen. Just Listen.
