As part my MFA program, I've had to write eight page papers on a paragraph or two of text. That's a lot of words about not too many words. I've also watched my daughters draft critical analyses on literary works in both high school and college. Writing a literary essay is a lifelong skill that… Continue reading Literary Essays: Setting the Stage
Category: charts
Sticky Notes, Arrows, and Margins, Oh My!
Sharing strategies to prepare for revision later can set up students for success.
A Peek into Opinion Writing
Here's a peek at some of my favorite tools for opinion writing and perhaps some ideas for developing tools for other genres, as well.
A Writing Workshop Learning Walk
As much as I try to flatten the walls of my classroom using technology, the truth is there are still walls. It is me and 25 third graders, and most recently, a fabulous student teacher. Still, the walls are there and often I don't get to see other teachers in action. Last month, I had the opportunity to remedy that problem for a day.
A Peek Into My Evolving Chartbook
Over the years, my chartbook has evolved. Here are some of the latest pages.
The Power of Tools in Teaching and Learning
Kate brought us in closer to consider the importance of the tools’ accessibility and their effect on learning. Not only do these tools need to be accessible to the students, but students need to understand how and when to use them for learning.
Getting to Know Writers
You can learn a lot about students when you give them a chance to tell you want they know!
Have Charts, Will Travel. Mentor texts? Even better!
My last post was about some of the reflections that I want to remember when I teach any genre of writing, but I also wanted to share more of our poetry workshop and some of the amazing poems students wrote during our time by the lake. Teaching poetry in an outdoor education setting to fifth-grade students is… Continue reading Have Charts, Will Travel. Mentor texts? Even better!
Sometimes we only write in writing workshop
My sixth graders have been busy drafting their feature articles this week, and I had a series of mini lessons planned to begin each writing workshop day. My students, however, had other ideas.
Dialogue in First Grade
See how these first graders added dialogue to their narrative writing.
An Anchor Chart Mashup
Come along as I take you on an anchor chart tour in the classrooms of our school.
Creating Classroom Environments: Charts to Start the Year
Start the year off right with charts that make expectations, strategies and tips on writing visible for students.