The past few months I've been reading several authors' blogs and I keep coming across the abbreviation W.I.P. Finally I figured out it means Work In Progress. WIP is part of the language of writers, therefore I introduced the term to fourth graders today with this chart: W.I.P. Decisions Topic --- What will I write… Continue reading WIP?
Author: Ruth Ayres
Unhurried. Finding the magic in the middle of living. Capturing a life of ridiculous grace + raw stories.
What is MOST important?
This question has been tumbling around in my mind lately: What is most important when it comes to literacy instruction? It stems from state mandates, district expectations, curriculum guides, and instructional minutes being cut. More importantly, though, I believe it is a question each of us ought to answer. Years ago I read a book… Continue reading What is MOST important?
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Mentor Texts in the Midst of Writing
When we think of using mentor texts when teaching writing workshop, often our first thought is to use them at the beginning of a unit of study so students can gain a sense of the genre they are going to write. Recently, the stars have been aligned in my writing life. First I embarked on… Continue reading Mentor Texts in the Midst of Writing
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Words that are Speaking to Me
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you. --- Maya Angelou Remember awhile back when I shared about my YA reading life? I promised to share the way I'm closely rereading and studying a few of the books. One of the titles is Kristina McBride's (she's blogger!) The Tension of Opposites… Continue reading Words that are Speaking to Me
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Remembering September 11th
If you teach eighth grade or younger, it is highly unlikely that your students personally remember the events of September 11; many of our students weren't alive when the attacks occurred. For me, that's tough to get my mind around. The day burned a vivid memory on my brain. As teachers, it is our duty to… Continue reading Remembering September 11th
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We’re Making Books!
Whenever I have the privilege of being in a kindergarten classroom, I'm fairly certain I missed my calling in life. Today was no exception. I am a believer in making stuff in writing workshop. I picked this term up from Katie Ray. It just makes sense. Writers make stuff and writing workshop should be no different. Therefore,… Continue reading We’re Making Books!
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Ruth’s SOLS: Starting School.
For many, today marked the start of a new school year. For my son, it marked the start of a school career. He went to school for the very first time today. I went with him. I was excited and nervous; happy and sad; looking back and looking forward --- all rolled into one big… Continue reading Ruth’s SOLS: Starting School.
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One Time Stories
Do you know the old saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree?" I'm experiencing it first hand. My oldest daughter, Hannah, was given a writer's notebook by her third grade teacher. She is in love. Serious love. Last Friday she asked her teacher if she could bring her notebook home over the weekend… Continue reading One Time Stories
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Saturday Mornings
This is my vision of you on Saturday mornings: A mug of something warm -- coffee, tea, or chai -- in your hands Snuggled in a comfy chair Allowing peace to replace the stress from the week Happily thinking about the power of words and education to change the world Wait a minute -- maybe… Continue reading Saturday Mornings
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Settling in to Write
A procedure I appreciate in many writing workshops is the use of a quiet writing time (Some teachers call in No Walk No Talk. It happens after the minilesson in order to give the writers in the room a chance to settle into their writing. Here are some reasons I like this procedure. It provides… Continue reading Settling in to Write
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Beginning Procedures
I'm a believer in routine. When writing workshop is predictable everyone is able to work more efficiently. It takes several weeks to build the procedures necessary to create the culture of writing workshop. Over the past two weeks I've collected some footage of routines in primary classrooms. One of the important things about developing routines… Continue reading Beginning Procedures
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Words that are Speaking to Me
When you first start writing --- and I think it's true for a lot of beginning writers --- you're scared to death that if you don't get that sentence right that minute it's never going to show up again. And it isn't. But it doesn't matter --- another one will, and it'll probably be better.… Continue reading Words that are Speaking to Me
