I've come to realize that this whole "I'm going to recopy all of my writer's notebooks into one" thing has become exceedingly tedious. I found another old Miquelruis Notebook yesterday and realized I need to be putting that into my master notebook. This is just one of MANY entries from 2006: Aaaagggggh! What did I… Continue reading Scanning, Cutting & Pasting, or Rewriting?
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.
WN Entry: Making A List
I got inspired by Reflections from the Rockies' Post entitled "My Favorite Things About Colorado So Far." Since a good deal of my students' first couple weeks of Writing Workshos will revolve around the creation of lists (and then the development of a list item into an entry in their writer's notebook), I thought, "Why… Continue reading WN Entry: Making A List
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Steppin’ It Up: Real Writer’s Notebooks
No longer will my students be using composition notebooks or spiral-spined notebooks with perforated edges in Writing Workshop this year. I'm making a move and providing them with REAL writer's notebooks (read: Moleskine Cahier Notebooks). I found them at a pretty affordable price at Moleskines.com. (Please note: I haven't ordered them yet, so I don't… Continue reading Steppin’ It Up: Real Writer’s Notebooks
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My Writer’s Notebook: A Poem by Brod Bagert for Poetry Friday
I taped this poem into the inner front cover of each of my students' writer's notebooks this past year. I didn't think it meant anything to them until, as an end of the year gift in June, one of my students made me a collage of a bunch of the writing things she had collected… Continue reading My Writer’s Notebook: A Poem by Brod Bagert for Poetry Friday
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WN: Weekend Check-Ins
Last year I adopted (and adapted) an idea I got from Davis and Hill's Book, The No-Nonsense Guide to Teaching Writing. For an entire year I gave my students weekend writing assessments. However, they were essentially checklists that didn't inspire my students to really do much thinking about their writing. Hence, in conjunction with two… Continue reading WN: Weekend Check-Ins
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It’s almost the last Poetry Thursday. :(
Apple At the center, a dark star wrapped in white. When you bit, listen for the crunch of boots on snow, snow that has ripened. Over it stretches the red, starry sky. --Nan Fry I simply love the visual imagery this poem evokes. I think it's an excellent mentor for students who are trying to… Continue reading It’s almost the last Poetry Thursday. 😦
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CWP Bulletin Board
Unlike New York City, my school doesn't require me to put a task card or list the standards for things I place on bulletin boards. Hence, I'm at a loss for what to do with the big open space on the Celebrity Writer Profile Bulletin Board I put in the hallway outside of my classroom.… Continue reading CWP Bulletin Board
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Keeping Track of Writing Conferences
I often feel like I'm conferring with the same kids over and over again in Writing Workshop. Hence, I've created a new tool, a KID TRACKER, to help me keep track of who I meet with in strategy lessons and for conferences. At the end of Writing Workshop, I intend on shifting the clothespins of… Continue reading Keeping Track of Writing Conferences
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Words of Wisdom Bulletin Board
Words of Wisdom Bulletin Board Originally uploaded by teachergal My friend Carrie, and my in-laws-to-be, came up to Rhode Island to help me set up my classroom this weekend. Carrie helped me put up my WORDS OF WISDOM Bulletin Board in my classroom, which my students put together last year. Doesn't it look like a… Continue reading Words of Wisdom Bulletin Board
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T.G.I.P.F.
During my first year of teaching fifth grade, I introduced this poem to my students while preparing them for a trip called "Bridges and Boundaries: African-American and American-Jewish Relations" (at the Jewish Museum). We talked about what it meant to be equal in this country. A deep discussion ensued. I hope you become inspired to… Continue reading T.G.I.P.F.
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New Magazine for Student Writers
The first issue of Launch Pad: Where Young Authors and Illustrators Take Off will be coming out this January/February (2008), according to Reading Today, which arrived at my apartment yesterday. I explored Launch Pad's Website and found the following information about student submissions: Launch Pad invites submissions of creative works by young authors and illustrators,… Continue reading New Magazine for Student Writers
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Poetry Thursday & Calling Out
I found this anonymously written poem at the TeacherHelpers Website. It's an interesting take on a child who is trying to do the write thing. Patience My teacher asked a question and I gave it lots of thought; Then I slowly raised my hand to do just as I'd been taught. Then someone yelled the… Continue reading Poetry Thursday & Calling Out
