video visit_2, originally uploaded by happygirl_77. Yesterday was Ball State University's first virtual author visit of the school year. Sue Price and Betsy Likens(middle school language arts teachers) joined their classes in order to visit with Betsy Lewin and Doreen Cronin (careful, there's sound at Doreen's site!), author-illustrator team of Click Clack Moo. Sue and Betsy reported… Continue reading Virtual Author Visit
Author: Ruth Ayres
Unhurried. Finding the magic in the middle of living. Capturing a life of ridiculous grace + raw stories.
Moving from Storyboards to Drafts.
In Keith Bollman's fifth grade class, students are beginning to consider moving into drafts. They've envisioned their writing and are moving out of the rehearsal stage and into drafting. Today I taught them how to stretch a scene. The Great Pumpkin Switch by Megan Mcdonald and Ted Lewin is one of the texts in play in the… Continue reading Moving from Storyboards to Drafts.
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Ruth’s Memoir Monday: Getting Laney.
Earlier this week I wrote a quick write in my writer's notebook about getting my cabbage patch kid. (Last week for Memoir Monday, I toyed with the So What? of writing about Laney.) I thought I'd get it scanned and then posted in that format, yet, it just hasn't happened. So, because it's nearly Poetry Friday… Continue reading Ruth’s Memoir Monday: Getting Laney.
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Storyboards.
This summer I heard Penny Kittle speak about using storyboards. This week I've tried them out in classrooms. They aren't all that different from one of the ways I talk to kids about planning. I encourage them to think in scenes & then sketch in their notebook a flow chart of sorts, using pictures and… Continue reading Storyboards.
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Ruth’s Slice of Life: Messy Bedroom.
I read in Katie Wood Ray's Study Driven: Showing what surrounds a character can help the reader understand a lot about the character (34). It inspired me to write about my daughter's bedroom in order to make sense of what's happening inside of her lately. Out of respect for her, I don't want to share… Continue reading Ruth’s Slice of Life: Messy Bedroom.
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Let ‘Em Work It Out!
So today I was in a second grade classroom. After the focus lesson, I sent them back to do some important work on envisioning their story and making a plan. Students are all of the place as far as their personal writing processes and their work toward writing a personal narrative. Therefore, there were many,… Continue reading Let ‘Em Work It Out!
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Develop a Vision.
I've been thinking lately about the importance of writers having a vision for the work they will do. This is one of those ideas that has become more and more important to me as I work with more and more students. The ones who write well are the ones who are able to envision their… Continue reading Develop a Vision.
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Inquiry Stance.
Many of the classrooms I'm working in are launching into a personal narrative study. I've encouraged all of them to approach their study from an inquiry stance. Meaning, get lots of personal narratives and have students read, read, read them. Then choose a couple and have students study them as writers. I've been reading Study… Continue reading Inquiry Stance.
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Ruth’s Slice: I’ve Gotta Secret!
I was putting the little guy down to bed and he whispers: "Momma, I gotta secret. Wanna know it?" Smiling, because, really, what kind of secret could a two and a half year old have from his mom, I whisper back, "You want to share it?" "Uh-huh," he nods, serious. "Okay, what is it?" I… Continue reading Ruth’s Slice: I’ve Gotta Secret!
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Write Beside Them.
Late last week, this book came in the mail. Write Beside Them, by Penny Kittle has me glued to the couch, with highlighter in hand. I'm beginning to think it may be easier to highlight the stuff that I don't want to remember than all of the words that are striking me at the… Continue reading Write Beside Them.
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Hello Slicers!
Welcome! Please link your Slice of Life Story.
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Ruth’s MM: Laney Windelon.
In 1984 my parents gave me Laney Windelon, my very own Cabbage Patch kid to adopt. I remember Laney being the first gift to ever bring tears to my eyes. She was made just for me. I wanted: red hair; two braids; blue eyes; closed mouth smile; and a dimple. My mom searched… Continue reading Ruth’s MM: Laney Windelon.
