early childhood · monitoring student learning

What Do You Do With a Child Like This?

Demonstrating that print carries a message is the first and most important step when taking a writer from talking and drawing to writing words.

early childhood · monitoring student learning · writing workshop

Tailoring Our Teaching with Conferring: The Basics with the Youngest Writers

What chair are you sitting in when it comes to conferring? Is it too hard, too soft or just right? Read on to find common questions and tips when sitting beside the youngest writers.

early childhood · monitoring student learning · writing workshop

Teacher Prompt and Support Continuum—Talking to Drawing

Prompting and support can be tricky business. Here are some tips for early writers who have moved from the verbal story and are ready to draw. These suggestions will help you support the right things at the right time in the right way.

early childhood · writing workshop

It Starts With a Conversation

A peek inside a preschool writer and picnic style workshop.

early childhood · writing workshop

A Tiny Invitation

Tiny hands are limitless story tellers.

early childhood · play · primary grades · stereotypes

Boys and Girls Playing Together

I recently read Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture (2011) by Peggy Orenstein.  While hospitals don't hand out manuals to parents who leave with a newborn, this book is the closest thing I've found to a manual on how I want to raise my daughter.  (As for… Continue reading Boys and Girls Playing Together

board books · early childhood · picture book · Read Aloud · reading

An Interview with Leslie Patricelli + Giveaways

About a month or two after my daughter was born, I posted several status updates on my Facebook page complaining about the quality of the board books we had.  They were too short, with few if any words, and didn’t hold my attention.  I know board books serve a legitimate purpose in a baby’s literacy… Continue reading An Interview with Leslie Patricelli + Giveaways

early childhood · guest blogger · memories · writing

GUEST BLOG POST: The Journey

Caroline Gonzalez currently works as an Instructional Support teacher for grades 1-3 in South Brunswick NJ.  After 21 years of teaching, she is completing coursework to attain an Administrator's License.  She is the proud mother of three children who is entering a new stage in my life as she prepare to send her child off… Continue reading GUEST BLOG POST: The Journey

early childhood · guest blogger · writing workshop

GUEST BLOG POST: Fostering a Love of Writing

Maureen Ingram has taught in cooperative preschools in the Washington, D.C. suburbs since September 2000, working primarily with three year olds, and mentoring adults – both parents and teachers – in their work with young children. She has a keen interest in open-ended, exploratory learning, conflict resolution and problem-solving with young children, and understanding different… Continue reading GUEST BLOG POST: Fostering a Love of Writing

early childhood · education articles

C’mon… Kumon?

This past weekend I needed to pick up a few feeding-related items for my daughter at Buy Buy Baby.  Since Isabelle was sleeping, I found myself weaving through the brightly-lit aisles of the store a little longer than I had planned.  I found my way to the toy section, which was incredible.  I found myself… Continue reading C’mon… Kumon?

early childhood · first day · reading

Book Suggestions for Kids Who Are New to School

My neighbor's son is starting Kindergarten this month.  Even though I've only known him for a little over a year, I'm delighted for him since this is an exciting time in a young child's life.  Two books recently crossed my desk that I've thought worthy of sharing with him before he starts Kindergarten.  If you… Continue reading Book Suggestions for Kids Who Are New to School

early childhood · family · memories · wn entry

Stacey’s M.M. Post: Baseball

"Peanuts for sale! Get your fresh hot-roasted peanuts for sale!" I hollered. "How much?" asked my Grandfather, indulging my childhood play. "Fifty cents," I replied. "Oh, that's a good deal Morris. Buy two!" My grandmother replied. "Here's one dollar Staceleh," my grandfather said. "Thank you sir," I said as I handed him the imaginary bags… Continue reading Stacey’s M.M. Post: Baseball