This past week I've had several conversations with young writers about how to write something. Not the logistics of making letters or spelling words, but how to craft their writing in order to make the reader feel or know something. With our youngest writers this conversation has centered around illustrations. With intermediate writers it has… Continue reading How to Write
Category: choice
Teach the Writer
I wish we could change the world by creating powerful writers forever instead of indifferent writers for school. ---Mem Fox I just want to take a deep breath and read those words again. Exactly. "Powerful writers forever instead of indifferent writers for school." Sigh. This is why I'm thankful for writing workshop. It helps us… Continue reading Teach the Writer
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Facebook Event – Day 3
Our Stenhouse Facebook Event continues today. Today's downloadable, printable writing tip is entitled "Classroom Writing Center." This tip will help you create or renovate a space where students can access materials during writing workshop. You can find this tip on our Facebook Page. Here's what you need to do to participate in our Facebook Event.… Continue reading Facebook Event – Day 3
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Nudging
I've been thinking about the difference between pushing and nudging lately. Last summer I listened to Katie Ray and Matt Glover talk about nudging primary students as writers. At first I didn't think much about the term. However, it has marinated inside of me and is now part of the fabric of my understanding of… Continue reading Nudging
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I {Heart} Writing Workshop
In honor of Valentine's Day, let's make a luscious list of all the reasons we love writing workshop. I'll start the list here and you add to it in the comments. Sweet! Writing workshop helps writers see the world differently. When people live like writers, they have more compassion and mercy and acceptance of others.… Continue reading I {Heart} Writing Workshop
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Highlights from the Week
I have been in a lot of different writing workshops lately. Just this week I've been in 13 writing workshops and have met with 13 different teachers in either reflective practice meetings or planning meetings. Therefore, I have SO MUCH I want to record. Which leads me to my current dilemma: what do I not… Continue reading Highlights from the Week
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WIP?
The past few months I've been reading several authors' blogs and I keep coming across the abbreviation W.I.P. Finally I figured out it means Work In Progress. WIP is part of the language of writers, therefore I introduced the term to fourth graders today with this chart: W.I.P. Decisions Topic --- What will I write… Continue reading WIP?
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We’re Making Books!
Whenever I have the privilege of being in a kindergarten classroom, I'm fairly certain I missed my calling in life. Today was no exception. I am a believer in making stuff in writing workshop. I picked this term up from Katie Ray. It just makes sense. Writers make stuff and writing workshop should be no different. Therefore,… Continue reading We’re Making Books!
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(Writing) Center Time for Older Students
Whenever I used to hear the words "Center Time" I immediately thought about early childhood classrooms. However, that notion changed in 2008 when I created a Poetry Station for my fourth graders. The Poetry Station was created for students to use during the "morning work" period of the school day. It was a choice, not… Continue reading (Writing) Center Time for Older Students
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Purpose, Process, & Craft with Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson (aka: The Conferring Guy) has not only listened to the Beatles' music; he has studied it. He has determined by the Beatles wrote particular songs, how they wrote them, and what they did to write them well. Carl shared what he has learned by studying the Beatles' music with an audience of educators… Continue reading Purpose, Process, & Craft with Carl Anderson
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Do Your Best
So our internet is down ... my husband's flights were canceled yesterday ... he finally arrived home around midnight after being in South America for the past two weeks ... and today he went to the doctor only to find out that the spider bite from the Amazon is nothing to worry about, but he… Continue reading Do Your Best
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Thinking About Choice
One of the sessions I attended at the conference last week was June Yazel's "The Power of Choice." It has been rattling around in my mind since. June believes choice is the defining factor of writing workshop. I believe this too. Sometimes it seems as though we strip choice away from writing workshop. I'll be… Continue reading Thinking About Choice
