There Is No Finish Line
Using student work as feedback for our teaching informs us. It empowers us. In a way, it allows young writers to become our teachers…
Category Archive: feedback
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Taking Stock: Moving Forward
As teachers, how might we reflect on our own practice in a way that could make a difference for our students next year? Here are a few lenses for setting some goals…
Rethinking Learning Targets
We all want to support and nurture inspired writers who work independently. So how might we carefully avoid creating uninspiring, teacher-dependent environments for learning? I present a few ideas here…
Reimagining Writing Assessment: A Reflection + Giveaway
In the opening pages of Maja Wilson’s book, REIMAGINING WRITING ASSESSMENT, Thomas Newkirk gets the ball rolling with this statement, “Rubrics regularly fail to offer help to a writer because they focus on what writing has (features) not what writing does (effect).” Today I’m sharing my reflections as well as offering a giveaway to one lucky reader.
Our Favorite “Back-to-School” Posts
Whether you’re already back in school or returning in the next two weeks, I’ve rounded up some of our team’s best blog posts that will help you launch & sustain writing workshop in 2018-19.
In Case You Missed It: Looking Back and Moving Forward
Thank you for joining us for our blog series Looking Back and Moving Forward. I think we all agree on the importance of reflection in the lives of writers. In case you missed any of our posts over the past week, here’s a quick summary.
Our Most Powerful Tool- Our Words: Looking Back And Moving Forward
In Visible Learning For Literacy, Fisher, Frey, and Hattie, explain “When feedback is delivered in such that it is timely, specific, understandable, and actionable students assimilate the language used by their teacher into their self-talk. (2016, 100)” These words stopped me. When our words become the self-talk of our students, they become the most influential tool we have as teachers.
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.
The Hard Parts
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of attending the TCRWP August Writing Institute. The week began with Lucy Calkins delivering an inspirational keynote, “Learning from the Hard Parts” inside the Nave at Riverside… Continue reading
TWT Voxer Book Club 2.0
At the start of the summer, I read and reviewed Patty McGee’s Feedback That Moves Writers Forward. It’s a book, I believe, that can change my teaching of writing for the better…and maybe yours too. It’s a book I want to dive into more deeply, rereading it and sharing my ideas with other educators in a book club. I know that the beginning of the school year is a challenging time to ask teachers to take on anything additional. But here I am anyway, inviting you to take part in a Voxer book club to discuss Feedback That Moves Writers Forward. So why should you?
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.
Literacy Coaches: How do you assess your impact?
A few months ago I received an email from a curriculum director in a district where I sometimes do a bit of consulting: Did I have any data regarding my impact in schools?… Continue reading
On the Pitfalls of Hiding Out
Sometimes in a busy and chaotic schedule, we inadvertently miss attending to some of our students who like to “fly under the radar.” Being systematic and intentionally positive can make a big difference for some of our writers.
Thoughtful Feedback
One way to become a community of writers is to leave thoughtful feedback.
We Are The Authors: Publishing Decisions
When it’s time to publish, the classroom teacher has many decisions to consider!
Guess Your Feedback
An activity to use with student writers to encourage self-reflection
Another little challenge, of sorts
During the first week of this year’s month-long SOLSC, I noticed someone posted around 10 or 11 p.m. and remarked that no one ever comments on late-night posters. My heart sunk. How frustrating… Continue reading
New Slicers Only: Who Is Motivating You as a Writer?
Last month, I ran a post announcing the prizes for this year’s Slice of Life Story Challenge. I promised four prizes would be given away during the month of March. I hinted that… Continue reading
Looking for Feedback
Day by Day: Refining Writing Workshop Through 180 Days of Reflective Practice recently came out as an eBook. Therefore, it’s now available in print and electronically. That being said, Stenhouse, our publisher, would… Continue reading
Compliments Versus Feedback
Something Stacey has made me think more deeply about is complimenting student writers. (Much of my learning & prodding to think about this topic has been through reading her drafts for the book.)… Continue reading