authentic assessment · compliment · conferences · conferring · feedback · Resetting Our Workshop Practices Blog Series

Sharing Anecdotal Notes To Shift From Mine To Ours: Resetting Our Workshop Practices

How can we build even more self-efficacy with our student writers? A few simple moves can transform your anecdotal notes and empower you

agency · authentic assessment · choice · formative assessment · Joy · student engagement · writing process · writing workshop

(Re-)Launching our Writing Workshops With Joy in January

As I think about returning to school, I want to be excited about the week to come. I want students to feel happy to be back together. Writing workshop is my favorite part of the day, and it’s the perfect place to infuse some intentional joy for all of us. I have a two part plan to do just that.

assessment · authentic assessment · data · feedback · formative assessment · giveaway · goals · growth mindset · high school · middle school · monitoring student learning · peer conferring · personalization · reading-writing connections · record keeping · Reflective Practice · Sarah M. Zerwin · self-assessment · standards · student engagement · Student ownership · writing workshop

Point-Less by Sarah M. Zerwin: A Review and Giveaway

Sarah Zerwin is workshop to her core, and she has found ways to ensure that her assessment practices are not sending conflicting messages to kids. Point-Less will challenge readers to reflect and inspire them to advocate for change.

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.

assessment · authentic assessment · formative assessment · management · on-demand piece · self-assessment

Tips for Analyzing and Scoring a Ton of Writing

Time is precious, and your mental energy even more so. Why waste either when others before you have learned through trial and error? Avoid common missteps by reading these simple tips.

assessment · Assessment Strengthens Writers Blog Series · authentic assessment · observations · on-demand piece · self-assessment · writing workshop

The Joys, Wonders, and Challenges of On-Demand Writing: Assessment Strengthens Writers Blog Series

I'll be honest. I actually love on-demand writing assessments.

apps · authentic assessment · blogging · celebration · choice · digital writing · engagement · writing workshop

Go-To Digital Tools for Writing Workshop

Digital tools can transform your teaching by allowing students to have a writing community beyond the classroom walls, be innovative, make meaningful connections to other writers and students, have more resources readily available, and have true, authentic reasons for writing.

assessment · authentic assessment · minilesson · self-assessment · small group · strategy lesson · strategy lessons · writing workshop

Instant Minilesson Follow-Up

A strong active engagement, and a routine for informally assessing student work during the minilesson can give you the tools you need to be sure that no student leaves the meeting area completely confused.

academic choice · authentic assessment · celebration · collecting · lessons learned from students · writing workshop

Drilling Down into the Writing

Of the many ways I gain an understanding of my writers, my favorite and most valuable is gathering up all the writing and diving into reading ALL the students’ work.

authentic assessment · idea notebooks · writer's notebook

Just what are the kids writing in those notebooks?

Mrs. V. left the following comment yesterday: "Thanks for your details. Could you tell me more about their idea notebook nightly assignment? What are the requirements and how do you assess it? Also, about how much time in class are you able to spend on writing per week?" My students have the same writing homework… Continue reading Just what are the kids writing in those notebooks?

aimee buckner · authentic assessment · rubric · writer's notebook

A New Writer’s Notebook Rubric

Sometimes you have to let go of the reigns and allow your students to lead you, right.  Well, I'm preparing to do just that tomorrow when I work with my students, during Writing Workshop, to create a new notebook rubric. (I've been using one that is slightly adapted from Buckner's Book since 2006.) In “Assessing… Continue reading A New Writer’s Notebook Rubric