community · conferring · COVID-19 · feedback · remote learning · Seen, Valued, Heard: Writing to Establish Community Blog Series

Seen, Valued, Heard: Providing Feedback AFTER Establishing Community

If your fall instruction plan includes any kind of virtual teaching, then building and maintaining relationships will be more crucial than ever. In order to engage and motivate students, educators must work to genuinely connect with students before focusing on academics.

antiracist · reading · social action · social justice

Read With Us: How To Be An Antiracist

Though our topical blog posts pause for the summer, we hope you will join us as we engage in literacy-rich and anti-racist work by reading How To Be An Antiracist.

COVID-19 · independence · independent writing · summer vacation

Reimagine Tools for Summertime Writing

Many of us will be satisfied if kids choose to JUST WRITE this summer. However, for the students who are ready to do more than just write, we can provide them with a nudge to transform tools they’ve leaned on during the school year so they can become updated tools for at-home, independent use this summer.

Author Spotlight Series

Announcing the 5th Annual #TWTBlog Author Spotlight Series

For the next seven days, published picture book, middle-grade, and professional book authors will take over #TWTBlog to share their thoughts on writing, their writing processes, and the path to publishing with you. Check out their daily posts for book + author chat giveaways!

conventions · COVID-19 · editing · grammar · Inventive spelling · punctuation · spelling

Using Personal Editing Checklists At-Home

Many caregivers believe that grammar, usage, mechanics, and spelling is what matters most when reading their child's writing. Children’s writing should be readable, not perfect. What matters most RIGHT NOW is that kids are engaging in the act of putting words on the page or on a screen. Therefore, we can teach young writers how to use a personal editing checklist to help them make their writing more readable anytime they finish crafting a piece of writing.

COVID-19 · reluctant writers · remote learning · writer's notebook

Engage Striving Writers by Keeping a Notebook During the COVID-19 School Closures

Brevity, choice, and routine matter when you’re trying to encourage a reluctant writer to put words on the page when you’re engaging in remote schooling.

COVID-19 · remote learning · writing workshop

What to Expect from the #TWTBlog Team During COVID-19 Extended School Closures

I'm not sure what next week or next month will look like, but I can tell you what to expect from our team of co-authors, contributing writers, and guest bloggers as we seek to navigate this unprecedented time.

Maribeth Boelts · mentor texts · picture book

A Review of Kaia and the Bees

Kaia and the Bees is a picture book you can use as a mentor text in narrative writing units. The book contains many craft moves, which makes it perfect for using in minilessons, writing conferences, and strategy lessons. Learn more about the book and take a peek inside of it.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

DAY 6 OF THE MARCH SOLSC! #SOL20

Write. Share. Give.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

DAY 5 OF THE MARCH SOLSC! #SOL20

It's day five of our month-long writing challenge. Time for you to write, share. and give!

writing workshop

DAY 4 OF THE MARCH SOLSC! #SOL20

Write. Share. Give. Today's the first day we're doing a mid-month prize. Check out the details in the body of the post.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

DAY 3 OF THE MARCH SOLSC! #SOL20

Write. Share. Give. And, while you're add it, pick up some Slicer Swag! All proceeds from our Cafepress store are donated to the Pajama Program.