COVID-19 · cultural relevance · current events · digital tools · digital writing · Distance Learning · EAL · guest blogger · literacy coaches · mentor texts · minilesson · struggling writers

Inviting Voices from the Community

As the 2020-2021 school year sets to start, we recognize that educators need each other more than ever. We need to hold onto our beliefs about the teaching of writing while becoming ever more flexible in our approaches. We need to grow in our understanding of Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy (as described in Gholdy… Continue reading Inviting Voices from the Community

current events · middle school · writing · writing workshop

Tools of the Trade — A Guest Blog Post by Vicki Meigs-Kahlenberg

We can’t control what happen next in our news feeds or in the lives of our students. By making intentional time in our curriculum for writing, sharing and publishing, we can equip our students with the most powerful tools we have available to develop and strengthen their voices within our classrooms, and create a confidence within to speak their truths out in the world.

current events · interview · picture book

An Interview with the Author of Come with Me + a Giveaway

As educators, we are uniquely positioned to teach children to respect and love each other. We have the power to show them how to make the world a better place. We can shape the next generation of children so they will choose to be accepting of people who look different, have a different set of beliefs, or originate from a different cultural background. This is an enormous responsibility, but we are fortunate if we can do this work to bring about change in our corners of the world.

current events

Running Towards Danger

After writing “My Advice to New Moms in the Wake of the Terror in Boston,” I didn’t think I had much else to say about yesterday’s terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon’s Finish Line.  But then I started reading newspaper articles and watching more accounts of heroism from yesterday’s Marathon and I realized I wanted… Continue reading Running Towards Danger