My student teacher starts with my class tomorrow. Therefore, in order to facilitate a smooth transition (and the earliest possible start-date for her to begin teaching lots of lessons) with a gradual release, I prepared an observation form for her to use during the first 1-2 weeks that she's with me. (The form follows below.… Continue reading Getting Ready for My Student Teacher’s First Day
Category: observations
Collecting Ideas As An Essayist
Today's lesson is one of my favorites of the school year. It's the day when the kids really start to notice the world around them with a heightened sense of awareness. The teaching point for today is: Writers observe the world with extra care and alertness and then think hard about their observations, recording them… Continue reading Collecting Ideas As An Essayist
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Poetry Friday: An Original
The Climbing Tree Branches sturdy old A deep hole for your foot As you hoist yourself upwards you can see all the buds blossoming --Stacey, May 2008 This week Poetry Friday is being hosted at Wild Rose Reader. (Also, I have the 'narrative makings' of another poem over at Crafty Creations. I'll be writing this… Continue reading Poetry Friday: An Original
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Close Observation Yields Remarkable Object Poems
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confidence.
I had an interesting phone call yesterday afternoon. Upon answering the phone, the voice on the other end identified herself and went on to tell me, "I'm not sure why I feel the need to call you, but I think you can help me. I've lost all confidence in myself as a teacher. I was… Continue reading confidence.
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I’m Back.
In a recent email, I explained to Stacey that life has just consumed me recently and the blogging end of it has taken the hit. The past few weeks have been bittersweet. The joy of the holidays could not be beat. I absolutely loved celebrating with our extended family, our friends, and our little family of… Continue reading I’m Back.
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Take a look around you
When I taught in NYC, I was fortunate enough to work one block away from Central Park. Therefore, when the urge struck me, I'd take my students out to Central Park with their writer's notebooks to record their noticings. They wrote beautiful poems in the Park, but rarely stories. I've come to believe that we… Continue reading Take a look around you
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WN Entry: Fireflies
I stepped out of the car in New Jersey last night. Home sweet home, I thought. I was coming home to my parents' house for two nights. I slammed the passenger door to shut and was about to walk into the house when I saw a spot of yellow light flicker on and off. What… Continue reading WN Entry: Fireflies
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ruth’s wn entry: noticings
So far this morning I've noticed: My son is becoming a little boy. He smiles for the camera now. He sits on a stool up at the counter alone now. He doesn't need his banana smashed -- or even cut into pieces -- now. Today is my anniversary. I've noticed that I remember my wedding… Continue reading ruth’s wn entry: noticings
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WN ENTRY: Kids on Leashes
Ralph Fletcher gives young writers 11 tips for things to collect in their writer's notebooks. Fletcher encourages writers to notice the world around them and write about it. Here's what I observed/noticed this evening. I felt the droplets of rain touch my feverish skin as I left Duane Reade with my plastic bag chock-full of… Continue reading WN ENTRY: Kids on Leashes
