The Difference Between Storytelling and Band-Aids
Are you writing stories, or band-aids? Read on to find out.
Putting the Large Stones In First: A September Check-In
Nervously lowering myself into a chair, I scooted myself closer to the table. Around me sat three new colleagues. My new 7th grade teaching team. Having moved from my familiar … Continue Reading Putting the Large Stones In First: A September Check-In
The Words You Write First Are Anyone’s Words
Regardless of the genre, one of the most important things we can teach our students is how to write words that could come from them – and only them.
Connecting Through Story
“Story is the basic unit of human understanding.” – Drew Dudley, Day One Leadership. We have been learning through story for thousands of years. Our innate fascination for wanting to … Continue Reading Connecting Through Story
In Thanks: Books That Built a Writing Teacher
What are the books that have shaped you as a teacher of writing? Reflecting today, in thanks, for the authors and books that have influenced my life as a teacher.
A Compliment Conference
In my day-to-day teaching I often get swept up in trying to load students up with next step after next step… after next step. Sometimes, what might benefit some students most, … Continue Reading A Compliment Conference
Throwback Week: How To Read A Unit of Study
Learn some tricks for reading the Units of Study, whether you’re new to the units or have been using them for many years.
A Quick Guide to Workshop Lingo
Call it jargon, call it terminology, call it what you will. We have our own made-up words for things sometimes.
The “Share” Time
Long ago, most teachers I knew had a ritual that they held near and dear to their hearts. At the end of every writing workshop, a child sat in the … Continue Reading The “Share” Time
5 Ideas to Create a Classroom of Writers
How do you help your students establish their identity as writers?
There Are More Ways Than One To Teach A Minilesson
Last week I wrote a post titled How To Plan A Minilesson From Scratch, and I outlined a very simple way to plan minilessons, based on the work of my wonderful colleagues at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. Now, I am going to backtrack a bit and revisit just a teensy weensy bit of what I said. I wrote, “Every minilesson can pretty much go the same way.” And this is absolutely true, most of the time. Except for those times when it’s not true.
How To Read A Unit of Study
As the school year comes to a close, many of the schools I work with are launching into a week or so of in-service, summer institutes, and other professional development. … Continue Reading How To Read A Unit of Study
A Mini-Crash-Course on Oral Storytelling
It’s been several months since I’ve written for Two Writing Teachers. In December my son was born, and I was on maternity leave until a few weeks ago. Then, in March I pushed … Continue Reading A Mini-Crash-Course on Oral Storytelling
In Your Own Words
First drafts usually contain the words anybody can write. Revision is the key to crafting writing that sounds just like you.
New Units of Study
I purchased the original Units of Study for Teaching Writing, Grades 3 – 5 when they were published in 2006. In the early days, those books were like a Bible … Continue Reading New Units of Study
Your Dreams Matter. Your Teaching Matters.
A couple of weeks ago I was re-reading the chapter about genre studies in The Art of Teaching Writing, New Edition (Heinemann, 1994) by Lucy Calkins. Once I was finished, … Continue Reading Your Dreams Matter. Your Teaching Matters.
What do you think of this minilesson?
I’ve been working on a few sample minilessons to give my grad students next month when I start teaching “Children’s Literature in Teaching Writing.” I’ve been making tweaks to the … Continue Reading What do you think of this minilesson?
Pathways to the Common Core + a Giveaway
I’ve been working hard to prepare lectures for my graduate students that address the Common Core State Standards, or CCSS, with regard to the teaching of writing. While I have … Continue Reading Pathways to the Common Core + a Giveaway
First Attempt at Poetry
Yesterday Lori Hickman and I launched a poetry unit of study in her kindergarten classroom. Since we wanted to see what they already knew about writing poetry, we decided to … Continue Reading First Attempt at Poetry
Say What You Mean: Part One
One September, I was creating a chart with my students about the things good writers do. They said things like “good writers write long and strong” and “they add details.” … Continue Reading Say What You Mean: Part One
