When your "to-do" list is super long at back-to-school time, should you take time for poetry, writing and friends? A resounding yes! How are you making time to nourish your teacher soul during these challenging times?
Category: creativity
Thoughts on a Way Forward: An Interview with Cornelius Minor
When the COVID-19 crisis hit, probably like many of us, I sought out voices of hope. For me personally, I knew one of those voices would be Cornelius Minor. I knew him to be the kind of teacher with the capacity to help us all see things in a new way during this unfamiliar period of virtual teaching. Fortunately, I was able to reach him by text. We sat down recently on a Zoom call to discuss his views on teaching remotely, his book, and a way forward.
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Respecting Student Creativity: Teaching Writing With A Social Justice Lens
Whether students choose to express themselves in the form of writing prose, poetry or creating a video, the choice belongs to the writer.
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Yes &… with Digital Tools We Can
As we set off to create writers who write in tandem with the printed world and the digital world there are a few we need to consider.
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Make Writing Better. Start With The Writer.
Think about the writer and making the writer better. What are the needs of a writer? What opportunities does technology offer to make the writer better?
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A Breakthrough In Poetry: How To Bring Playfulness to Every Genre
Kids are inundated by rules. If the gift of writing is freedom of expression, are we imposing too many "rules" on writers? What if the rules of every genre, like poetry, were limited to just two or three?
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Write at the Start: No More Morning Worksheets
How can we let writing be part of a "soft start" for students instead of making them complete joyless worksheets? How do your students start the day or class period? Please join the conversation!
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No More Cookie-Cutter Teaching
As educators, we need to take ownership of our teaching. If you think your tried and true lessons are lackluster, change them. Start with looking at your students and asking yourself, what do my students need? What are their strengths? Next, look at the VERBS in your standards. Precisely what is it your students need to master in this unit? Finally, embrace the art of teaching, follow their lead.
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The Promise of a Writing Maker Space
As I opened my classroom door Friday I knew we would be writing a poem for Mother's Day. I was feeling a bit guilty about the ease and maybe the lack of thought that I had put into the gift this year. As I switched on the lights and straightened books, I thought about Wonderopolis. I entered Mother's Day in the search box and found a wonder on Mother's Day and an invitation to dive into Writing Maker Space!
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A Book for Passionate Creators + a Giveaway
Have you lost your muse? Create Now is the kind of book you need to help you transform your creative process and get you inspired to write.
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Make Your Mark by Blogging!
I have plans, big plans, for my third grader writers this year. Topping the list is helping them to become bloggers.
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Creative Writing is Not Hot
Each year for the past nineteen years, the International Reading Association has published a list of What's Hot and What's Not in literacy education in their magazine, Reading Today. The list is based on surveys of twenty five of the world's top literacy gurus, such as Richard Allington, P. David Pearson, and Timothy Rasinski. Survey respondents were… Continue reading Creative Writing is Not Hot
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 