celebration · poetry

Poetry Month Celebrations: Ready-to-Go-Tip

Three quick and meaningful poetry celebrations to end the month!

celebration · Reflective Practice

Empowering Mentors at a Multiage Writing Celebration

Read how second graders mentor younger writers during a narrative writing celebration.

celebration · challenges · checklists · conventions · goals · grammar · gratitude · reflections

Quick & Fun Lesson Closures? Yes, Please!

Embrace the thrill of trying something new. Know that doing so doesn't require abundant time, energy, or preparation. Small shifts have a real impact on classroom energy, enthusiasm, and engagement. How do you add variety, joy, and/or playfulness to lesson closings?

celebration · checklists · goals · informational writing · writing workshop

Keeping the Energy In a Unit of Study

A six to eight-week writing unit may not be the equivalent of running a marathon, although some may beg to differ this year, but it still requires some creativity for strong and energetic finishes. As I work with several teachers who are in the final third of their information writing units across a variety of grades, here are a few ideas for maintaining energy.

celebration · writing workshop

Joyful Writing Memories

It's not too late to plan a celebration or put a last minute joyful writing lesson in motion.

celebration · digital tools · end of year reflection · Joy · organization · writing workshop

The Writing Teacher’s Happiness Project

To end the year on a happy note, I am setting some goals for April, May and June in my own version of a Writing Teacher's Happiness Project. What would you work on to end your year in a happy way?

celebration · Distance Learning

End-of-the-Year Distance Learning Writing Celebrations

It can be done.

celebration · early childhood · kindergarten

A Parade of Writers

It's time to celebrate the progress writers have made!

birthday · celebration

The Most Beloved Books in our Library: A Birthday Tradition

The most-read books of the year were ones authored by my students on their birthdays. Today, I share how my school made a change to a more beliefs-centered way of celebrating.

celebration · publishing

Overcoming Anxiety About Displaying Student Writing

You see the beauty in your kids' work: every misspelled word, every cross-out, every taped-on flap. You know that all that "messiness" is evidence of good work that kids are doing. Hard work. 

But outside your classroom, the rest of the world might not see it that way.

authentic writing · celebration · end of year reflection · gifts · writing workshop

Write to the Finish!

It's the final countdown to summer for me and my third graders. Here are some ways we've used writing to end the year in a meaningful way.

celebration · writing prompts · writing workshop

What’s Working? Take the Time to Celebrate It

Sometimes our writing workshops can begin to feel a little like a house we live in-- always something to improve, always something we haven't been able to get to, etc.  But I would venture to argue that, like a house, many things are working. It's time to notice and celebrate them!