audience · journalism · shared writing · writing workshop

Where the Curriculum Meets the Real World: Straight From the Classroom

What a treat! A news article written by a class of fifth graders, just for you...writing teachers! Come read about the joy and learning that happened when one fifth-grade class took on a collaborative piece of writing.

audience · Author Spotlight Series · Joy · picture book

Make Your Audience’s Eyes Shine

Author Chana Stiefel shares how a maestro’s philosophy can help you connect with readers.

audience · authentic writing · Belief Statements · blogging · COVID-19 · writing workshop

Beliefs Inspire Actions During Remote Learning

My beliefs about teaching and learning have grounded the decisions I make, in the classroom and now during this time of remote learning. Come with me on a video tour of how my beliefs are shaping my actions. Share in the comments how your beliefs are influencing the instructional decisions are you are making.

academic choice · accessibility · audience · authentic writing · bulletin boards · classroom environment · EAL · low-stakes · writing workshop

Writing on the Walls

What we place on the walls of a classroom tells students, or any other person who enters the room, what is valued most, and what we should value most in our classrooms is student work.

audience · authentic writing · coaching · collaborative planning · content-area writing · engagement · Innovators · motivation · student engagement · writing workshop

Thinking Big About Writing

The writing work in our building is transforming, and it is exciting to be a part of the change, to witness the impact on kids as we make our workshops increasingly authentic and compelling. We are constantly reflecting on what’s working—what’s leading to measurable shifts in how we plan for writing (and how kids experience writing)—as well as where we might be getting stuck: places there is genuine motivation to transform the task, and yet, our best intentions are still missing the mark in some significant way.

audience · choice · feedback · goals · Mary Ehrenworth · middle school · response · time for kids

Taking Stock: Moving Forward

As teachers, how might we reflect on our own practice in a way that could make a difference for our students next year? Here are a few lenses for setting some goals...

audience · engagement · middle school

Where is the Attention?

Sometimes it can be difficult to imagine creating or allowing a wider audience to read our students' writing. But there is great possibility in doing so. It just takes a shift in attention...

academic choice · apps · audience · authentic assessment · authentic writing · creativity · digital tools · digital writing · Intentional Teaching · minilesson

Yes &… with Digital Tools We Can

As we set off to create writers who write in tandem with the printed world and the digital world there are a few we need to consider.

audience · authentic writing · writer's notebook · writing workshop

Spontaneous Sparks

My students got extra creative when we used some extra time in a spontaneous way!

audience · authentic writing · blogging · Student ownership · writing workshop

Making the Writer Better: Getting Started with Blogging

As I move forward in planning summer professional development for the teachers in my district, I am already finding the infographic invaluable.  In planning my session, “Getting Started with Blogging” I found the information on the infographic guiding each slide and each step as I planned the presentation.

audience · authentic writing · creativity · curriculum planning · digital writing · George Couros · Innovators · writing workshop

Make Writing Better. Start With The Writer.

Think about the writer and making the writer better. What are the needs of a writer? What opportunities does technology offer to make the writer better?

audience · authentic writing · blogging · digital writing · greenbelt writing · independent writing · independent writing projects · writing workshop

Branding Student Blogs

As an instructional technology coach, I have the privilege of working alongside teachers as they bring their students into the world of blogging.  Many of the teachers I work with are new to blogging. They rely on me to steer them into an experience that will engage the student, lift student writing, and fit within the already packed school day. I guide these teachers to create branded blogs.