gifts · holiday

The Best Gifts for the Writing Teacher in Your Life

Now is the time of year where I find endless gift lists online: what to get the foodie or the music guru or the athlete or the you-name-it in your life. In that same spirit, I’ve chosen to curate a gift list for teachers of writing, and the folks that support them. I know there are lots of lists for writers out there already. Many suggest pens, headphones, or comfy chairs, but my list is different. Being a poet at heart, I tend to live in metaphor. My list, then, is a collection of things writing teachers owe ourselves and one another - a collection we can’t find on Amazon or Etsy, no matter what search terms we use. So, without further ado, here are my recommendations...

blogging · holiday · writing workshop

Holiday Blogging Break

December is a month of celebrations and a chance for the co-authors to take a brief blogging break as we turn our focus to our families during the rest of December. The rest and reflection always helps us start the new year with a renewed sense of passion and purpose.

holiday · thankful

Happy Thanksgiving!

On behalf of the co-author team, I'd like to thank you for your dedication to the writers you teach. As the eight of us know, the work of a teacher of writers is never done. There are always minilessons to write, new strategies to try, and drafts to be read. For all that you do… Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving!

haiku · holiday · mentor texts · poetry

Valentine’s Day Writing + a Book Giveaway

Valentine's Day is on Friday! Consider doing a read aloud to inspire your students to write poems, comic books, or short stories they can give to a special friend or close family member in lieu of a box of chocolates. Here are five books that will inspire primary, upper elementary, and middle school writers to craft writing that expresses heartfelt emotions.

gifts · giveaway · holiday · writing

Gifts to Inspire Young Writers + Giveaways

Nurture a child's interest and talent for writing this holiday season with one of these items. Look for a chance to win one of these five items by reading the giveaway information at the bottom of this blog post.

holiday · Write: It's good for you!

Gratitude List

Oops...I was supposed to post this yesterday. Oh well, here we go... Gratitudes Dirty Dishes. I cook for my family. We eat together. Again and again. So I smile as I wash and remember not everyone has the abundance of food as we do. Muddy Floor. My kids play outside, and they run inside, not… Continue reading Gratitude List

holiday

Shana Tova

Rosh Hashanah, which literally means "head of the year," marks the beginning of a new Jewish year. The year 5773 begins tonight at sundown. Ten days after Rosh Hashanah is Yom Kippur. This day of atonement is a time for Jews to fast and atone for their sins. The days that come in-between the two… Continue reading Shana Tova