Awhile ago I was a 7th grade language arts teacher. My last year in the classroom I had one of the coolest classes that may have ever been compiled. It was the last block of the day. There were 22 of them, and they all came from very different walks of life. Outside of the… Continue reading Wow. Just Wow.
Category: mentor texts
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 traditional minilesson structure I've used in the past based on Lucy Calkins's session, "In the Complicated World of Today, What's Changed and What's Stayed the… Continue reading What do you think of this minilesson?
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An Interview with Maribeth Boelts + a Giveaway of Happy Like Soccer
Maribeth Boelts will be the visiting author for the graduate course I'm teaching about children's literature and the teaching of writing this summer. I'm SO EXCITED to meet her in person since I've been corresponding with her through e-mail and Facebook for the past four years. Her writing has served as a mentor for many… Continue reading An Interview with Maribeth Boelts + a Giveaway of Happy Like Soccer
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A Book About a New Sibling + a Giveaway
I fell in love with Chloe, instead instantly! I loved it for many of the same reasons Ruth did. In addition, as an only child, I love stories of siblings since it allows me to gain a greater understanding of what life with a brother or sister is like. That being said, it’s a look… Continue reading A Book About a New Sibling + a Giveaway
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Who are your mentors?
I've been preparing for the graduate course, "Children's Literature in Teaching Writing," I'm teaching in June every time my daughter goes down for a nap, heads to sleep, etc. I read through a sleuth of journal articles last month in order to pick the right ones for the course. One of the articles I read,… Continue reading Who are your mentors?
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The Book Stack
I have three gems for you. I. LOVE. These. Books. Love them. Micah Player previously worked for Paul Frank Industries. His illustrations and story are whimsical made me fall in love on the spot. Check out Chronicle Books website for more information on CHLOE INSTEAD. I'm looking forward to using this text in writing workshop for these… Continue reading The Book Stack
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Vote for Me + a Giveaway
If you're a political junkie like me, then you love presidential election years. Seriously, I live for election night coverage... it's my Super Bowl! (I'm not kidding. I have laid in bed late at night and checked my iPhone just to find out if returns came back from close-to-call caucuses and primaries earlier this year.) … Continue reading Vote for Me + a Giveaway
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Great Mentor Texts for Teachers
Ever feel like you're forgetting something? Well, that's exactly how I have felt this week! You see, I've been hard at work compiling a list of books to have on book carts when I teach my graduate class this summer. (My students will have to complete two projects that will require them to use two… Continue reading Great Mentor Texts for Teachers
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Opinion Writing in Kindergarten
In one of the kindergarten classrooms I've been working in, we've been learning: Writers share their opinions. This has been a unit of study inspired by the Common Core State Standards, which place a heavy emphasis on opinion writing. What does that look like in kindergarten, I wondered. So I've been trying out a few… Continue reading Opinion Writing in Kindergarten
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Experimenting with Leads
I spent last week doing some prep work for the graduate course I'll be teaching this summer. By prepping I mean reading journal articles and rereading Mentor Texts (Stenhouse, 2007) by Lynne Dorfman and Rose Cappelli. Chapter five of Mentor Texts focuses on "creating powerful beginnings and satisfying endings." Sound like something you've taught your… Continue reading Experimenting with Leads
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Let Their Writing Take Your Breath Away
Last week I was selecting some student writing to share with participants of the Conferring in Writing Seminar I'm leading at Penn State Harrisburg tomorrow. I didn't want to go down to my basement, which is where I store most of my former students' writing samples. Therefore, I decided to go through my electronic files… Continue reading Let Their Writing Take Your Breath Away
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Onomatopoeia + a Giveaway
Trains Go is a new 16 page board book by Steve Light. It's a book that helps a child differentiate between the sounds different trains make. The board book helps readers hear the distinct sounds of a mountain train, a speed train, a steam train, a diesel train, etc. It reminds readers that not all… Continue reading Onomatopoeia + a Giveaway
