The other day, I did it again. I drafted an email to my bosses. Read it. Reread it. Hit send. Got distracted. Then… saw it. The error. These moments of regret keep me humble! And so, when I notice students not applying taught spelling and grammar concepts, I remind myself that they are not defiantly… Continue reading Editing Along the Way…Often in 5 Minutes or Less
Category: checklists
Minilesson Alternatives: Considering OTHER Ways to Kick Off Workshop
If you have ever felt that you were going through the motions of a minilesson, know that there are plenty of other ways you can choose to gather as a community and launch writing time. Here are ten alternatives for beginning a writing workshop session - - with joy, intention, and inspiration.
Share this:
Share this:
Seeing Problems as Opportunities
Problems during writing workshop can become opportunities to reflect on our instruction and work as a community to find solutions.
Share this:
Share this:
Looking Forward
The end of the school year is the perfect time to venture out of our classrooms and learn about what is happening in classrooms across our school buildings. These opportunities remind us that the work we do with writers is collective.
Share this:
Share this:
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.
Share this:
Share this:
Three Quick Ways to Know How Students Are Doing
How can I make progress pathways for young writers working from anywhere clearer for them? Inviting students into the evaluation process is helpful, and my hope is that one of these ideas will inspire you.
Share this:
Share this:
Three Ways to Introduce Personal Editing Checklists in Writing Workshop
Here are three different ways you might introduce individual editing checklists to your students.
Share this:
Share this:
Transitioning From Support to Independence
What areas of independence do you wish writers took on more freely in your workshop?
Share this:
Share this:
Different Ways to Use Checklists in Writing Workshop
Student-facing checklists can be a powerful tool. While rubrics are helpful for teachers, checklists are helpful for students. Checklists can serve to provide clear targets for writers as they strive to craft pieces of writing. But what might be different ways to use them in your writing workshop? Read to find out...
Share this:
Share this:
Conferring with Writers: Beyond the Fundamentals of Writing Workshop
"How about we read Goodnight, Gorilla?" Raising my eyebrows, I gazed hopefully at my two year-old daughter. "Or maybe we could read The Grouchy Ladybug? You love that one!" "No!" Her brow furrowed, my youngest was emphatic. "That one! That one! Moon!" Using her tiny pointer finger, she pointed to Margaret Wise Brown's… Continue reading Conferring with Writers: Beyond the Fundamentals of Writing Workshop
Share this:
Share this:
Writing Checklists: Tools for Independence and Goal-Setting
I am a list person. I have lists by my computer, by my bed, in the kitchen, in my car console-- And I love crossing things off my lists. One of the reasons I like lists is they tell me what to do, but my lists serve different purposes; sometimes they help me remember what… Continue reading Writing Checklists: Tools for Independence and Goal-Setting
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 