adolescent literacy · argument writing · awards · blogging · conferences · content-area writing · conventions · digital writing · engagement · Kylene Beers · Lester L. Laminack · punctuation · writing workshop

Snapshots From the NYSEC Conference

My time at the New York State English Council (NYSEC) Conference through snapshots!

blogging

Time Away

Today is Labor Day so it feels like an appropriate time to temporarily sign-off since I'm expecting my second child later this month.

blogging · Teachers who write · writing · writing workshop

Nurturing Our Writing Lives: 5 Ways to Keep Writing

How can we nurture our own writing lives once the school year begins? 5 ways to help us keep writing.

BLOG SERIES: Starting with What Matters Most in Writing Workshop · blogging · writers · writing · writing workshop

We Are Writers Here! Starting with What Matters Most

When I think about what I first want my students to know, what matters most to me as a teacher of writing, more than capital letters or topic sentences or punctuation, I want them to believe they have ideas worth sharing and stories worth telling. I want them to know their voice matters and their words can make a difference. I want them to believe they are writers, right now, whatever their reading proficiency, whatever their language background, whatever their home circumstances. WE ARE WRITERS HERE. We all matter, we all belong, we all can and should write.

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.

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Introducing Two New Co-Authors

We're delighted to welcome two new writers to our #TWTBlog Co-Author Team.

blogging · Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts Blog Series

Digital Mentor Text for Blogs: Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts

Some of the most influential pieces of writing that have tugged at my heart and live in my soul are blog posts. As we planned this blog series on mentor texts, a lightbulb flashed above my head: Why not create a collection of mentor blog posts to help me improve my own writing? Why not create a similar collection for my students, to share with them possibilities and craft moves they could try, too?

blogging

Contributing Writers

After nearly three years of being outstanding collaborators on Two Writing Teachers, Anna Gratz Cockerille and Tara Smith have decided to transition from co-authors to contributing writers. To find out why and what that means, please read their words in this post.

blogging · commenting · community · writing workshop

Comments Make Community!

Comments are at the heart of blogging!

blogging · choice · DonorsChoose.org · expository · informational writing · writing workshop

Infusing Information Writing Throughout the Day: Diving Into Information Writing

A recovering hater of information writing, this post is my first step towards bringing information writing to life for my third graders! It is a vision and collection of possibliities for infusing information writing across the curriculum through the day.

blogging · creativity · motivation · writing workshop

Make Your Mark by Blogging!

I have plans, big plans, for my third grader writers this year. Topping the list is helping them to become bloggers.

blogging · bulletin boards · classroom environment · Creating Classroom Environments Blog Series · hopes and dreams · inspiration · mentor author · reading-writing connections · words of wisdom · writing workshop

Creating Classroom Environments: Places for Writers to Grow

Every summer I dream of my classroom. When considering my third grade writers, what do they need to grow and how can I provide classroom spaces for that?