reading · writing

Focus Spots

Last week my husband and I vacationed in Ogunquit, Maine.  We took a sunset cruise out of Perkins Cove, which gave us a wonderful opportunity to explore the coastline from a different vantage point.  Just a few minutes after our boat got into the open water I noticed a woman sitting out on a rock… Continue reading Focus Spots

Slice of Life Story Challenge

First SOLSC of August

education

There are teaching jobs out there!

Educators around the country have received pink slips due to budget crises in districts across the country.  That being said, there are jobs in education out there (though you have to be somewhat flexible with regard to geographic location). Subscribers to ASCD SmartBrief, an e-mail newsletter, receive education headlines five days a week.  Additionally, at… Continue reading There are teaching jobs out there!

James Howe · poetry · tcrwp · teacher of writing · writing workshop

Ranting & Writing

My afternoon session, "Writing from the Heart: Finding Your True Voice," at the TCRWP Writing Institute was taught by James Howe (aka: Jim).  During the course of the week Jim provided us with a variety of writing exercises, which lasted from 5 - 20 minutes, to help us write from the heart. One of the… Continue reading Ranting & Writing

Slice of Life Story Challenge

Share a Slice of Your Life!

NWP · politics

NWP: Call for Action

The education funding bill that relates to the National Writing Project (NWP) will be marked up in the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee this week.  Please contact your senators to request continued support for NWP funding in the Fiscal Year 2011 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS and ED) Appropriations Bill.  If your… Continue reading NWP: Call for Action

professional books · publishing

Book in Progress

A few people have left us comments asking about the writing process for our forthcoming book, Day By Day: Refining Writing Workshop Through 180 Days of Reflective Practice, since we announced that we were writing one last summer.  These folks have queried us about everything from how we went about writing the proposal for our… Continue reading Book in Progress

ELL · strategies · strategy lessons · writing workshop

Supporting ELL Students in Writing Workshop

One of the best closing sessions I attended at the Writing Institute was given by Amanda Hartman.  "Scaffolds and Supports We Can Put in Place to Support Our ELLs (K-2)" was a 45-minute session that provided teachers with practical ways to support English Language Learners, or ELLs.  While the session was targeted to primary grade… Continue reading Supporting ELL Students in Writing Workshop

community · slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge

SOLSC & Community

It's funny how the Slice of Life Story Challenge has created a virtual community of writers.  In November, Ruth and I met up with Bonnie Kaplan and Kevin Hodgson when we attended the NCTE Annual Convention in Philadelphia.  Two weeks ago, I found myself in a session with Kelly Sandborn, who was one of our… Continue reading SOLSC & Community

choice · conferring · craft · process · purpose · writers

Purpose, Process, & Craft with Carl Anderson

Carl Anderson (aka: The Conferring Guy) has not only listened to the Beatles' music; he has studied it.  He has determined by the Beatles wrote particular songs, how they wrote them, and what they did to write them well.  Carl shared what he has learned by studying the Beatles' music with an audience of educators… Continue reading Purpose, Process, & Craft with Carl Anderson

Roy Peter Clark · teacher of writing · teaching tools · writers · writing

The Power of the Parts

I'm slowly making my way through the keynote addresses from last week's Writing Institute.  Today I bring to you my notes and some highlights from Roy Peter Clark's speech, "The Power of the Parts: How Writers Learn and How Teachers Teach." Clark wrote a book I've been reading for awhile now, Writing Tools: 50 Essential… Continue reading The Power of the Parts

James Howe · tcrwp · technology · writing

Why Writing Matters More than Ever

James Howe's Keynote Address, "Only Connect: Why Writing Matters More than Ever in an Age When We're Always Connected but Rarely Connect" resonated with me on many levels.  On an educator level, I constantly shake my head when I hear of children being babysat by video games instead of people.  Additionally, I've sat at many… Continue reading Why Writing Matters More than Ever