I am so grateful to have this resource available to me as an educator at no cost. Maybe someday, I'll get to thank whoever is behind the Google Curtain in person. In the meantime, I'll share what's been working and I'll look forward to hearing about how some of you end up doing it even better!
Category: conferring
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...
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Conferring Carl on Writing Conferences
Want to improve your conferring? Carl Anderson's new book, A Teacher's Guide to Writing Conferences, will help you learn the ins and outs of conferring well with young writers. Read the Q&A with Carl, then leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win a copy of your own!
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This is the year I’m going to keep better records.
Want to keep (better) conferring records, but don't know where to begin? This post will help you discover analog and digital record-keeping systems.
Read all the way through since there will are lots of downloadable templates to help you get started.
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A few ideas for conferring
Potentially, one of the most impactful opportunities we have for making a lasting difference on our students as writers is when we pull up next to them and confer with them. It's SO worth spending some time reflecting, setting goals, and developing tools and strategies for the conferring work we do as teachers.
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End of Year Reflections and June Planning
As we approach the end of another school year, many of us begin making plans for outgrowing ourselves. But what might be some lenses to think through when taking on such a task? I have a few ideas . . .
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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
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Don’t Skimp on the Compliment.
Mark Twain once said, "I can live for two months on a good compliment." While our students should regularly receive compliments from their teachers, good ones can fuel their ambition and willingness to stretch themselves as writers.
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Putting the Large Stones In First: A September Check-In
Nervously lowering myself into a chair, I scooted myself closer to the table. Around me sat three new colleagues. My new 7th grade teaching team. Having moved from my familiar home in small-town Oregon to a strange and exciting new land called New England, I wasn't sure quite what to expect. Our team leader, a… Continue reading Putting the Large Stones In First: A September Check-In
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A Closer Look: Learning About Our Writers with Formative Assessment
Sound assessment plays a vital role in showing and in detailing progress students are making toward reasonable goals.
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Conferring: Writing Workshop Fundamentals
“Lift the ball with your right hand, and pretend your right knee is tied to your right elbow.” Placing the orange ball uncertainly in my right hand, I glanced over at Mr. Brown, my new basketball coach. Fixing his gaze squarely upon me, he added, “You can do this.” It was my 8th grade year,… Continue reading Conferring: Writing Workshop Fundamentals
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Feedback That Moves Writers Forward: Review and Giveaway
Feedback That Moves Writers Forward: How to Escape Correcting Mode To Transform Student Writing, written by Patty McGee, is a must-read for educators who know we can do far better for students when it comes to talking with them about their writing.
