As I was placing my bags in the backseat of my car, I looked up at the sky. It was a majestic array of colors, almost as heavenly as aurora bourealis. I paused and took a deep breath, feeling the crisp New England Air fill my lungs. Ahhhh, autumn! This is my favorite season because… Continue reading WN Entry: Rhode Island Sunrise
Author: Stacey Shubitz
Stacey Shubitz is a K-6 literacy consultant and former elementary teacher. She is the author of CRAFT MOVES and other professional books on writing workshop. Her new book, MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES (Guilford Press, 2026), empowers parents to navigate the special education system.
Friendly Letter Writing Unit of Study
Over the summer Kate and I planned out a short unit of study on friendly letter writing for our students. We re-grouped today since we're launching it tomorrow. Here's the plan as it stands right now. DAY 1: Writers learn about the different kinds of letters and the purpose of letter writing. (SHOW students different… Continue reading Friendly Letter Writing Unit of Study
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Practicing Written Responses to Texts
My students will be taking the NECAP Reading Test this-coming week. I've been trying to prepare them for the written responses to reading they'll be doing. Therefore, I've tried to create some of my own materials. Here's one thing I did. First, we read Lenore Look's book Uncle Peter's Amazing Chinese Wedding. Second, we talked… Continue reading Practicing Written Responses to Texts
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An Inspired Writer
The purpose of Ruth's other blog aims to inspire readers and writers. She definitely did that with me today! I decided that what I had already bought my Mom for her upcoming birthday was not enough. Thus, I took Ruth's idea and transformed a memoir I wrote about my Mom for Lucy's Writing Class in… Continue reading An Inspired Writer
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creative ways of publishing
Ruth is WAY more creative than I am. Therefore, she's my inspiration when it comes to scrapbooking, creating living room wall displays (that's a whole post in and of itself), and much more. Hence, when I read her post entitled "heros" on her other blog, I was inspired by the last thing she wrote, which… Continue reading creative ways of publishing
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Assessing Narrative Writing
I went to the TCRWP Website in order to link my last post. While I was there I noticed that the K-8 Continuum for Assessing Narrative Writing has been posted on the public part of the Project's Website. It is NOT for duplication. This document is still a work in progress, at it was last… Continue reading Assessing Narrative Writing
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A Must-Read for All WW Teachers
An article published this past summer in Education Next came across my desk today. "The Lucy Calkins project: parsing a self-proclaimed literacy guru" disturbed me for two reasons: 1. Lucy was my professor for four courses when I was a graduate student at Teachers College. She taught me how to be a better teacher of… Continue reading A Must-Read for All WW Teachers
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Strategy: Write Using A Photo
Whenever I want my students to bring in a photograph to help them write, I usually say NO PORTRAITS since there are rarely good stories that come from them. Hence, I put together this mosaic, which can be used in a demonstration prior to having the kids bring photos to school, so that I can… Continue reading Strategy: Write Using A Photo
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Thinking Critically About the Writing Workshop: Reflecting on the Way I Teach Writing
I wanted to reflect on some questions my former professor, Stephanie Jones, presents at the end of chapter 11 in her book Girls, Social Class, and Literacy. She asks readers to consider some questions about the Writing Workshop that they teach. Here are her questions and my answers: 1. How are students positioned in Writing… Continue reading Thinking Critically About the Writing Workshop: Reflecting on the Way I Teach Writing
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Checking Drafts BEFORE Publishing
I just began an e-discussion with someone about whether or not teachers should check their students' drafts (i.e., EACH STUDENT'S DRAFT) prior to allowing the kids to move forward and publish their work. We both think the same way: ABSOLUTELY! This absolutely needs to happen in order to ensure that not only is the child… Continue reading Checking Drafts BEFORE Publishing
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Take a look around you
When I taught in NYC, I was fortunate enough to work one block away from Central Park. Therefore, when the urge struck me, I'd take my students out to Central Park with their writer's notebooks to record their noticings. They wrote beautiful poems in the Park, but rarely stories. I've come to believe that we… Continue reading Take a look around you
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Poetry Friday in My Classroom
Last week I began having my students share poems (original or ones they love from other poets) on Friday mornings. Only one person signed up so far this week and I know he's going to be absent today due to a medical appointment. I'm wondering if anyone else will sign up... I really hope so!… Continue reading Poetry Friday in My Classroom
