A Few of My Favorite Things For Distance Learning
It’s the end of a memorable Teacher Appreciation Week. In the spirit of appreciation, I’m sharing a few of my favorite things so far during distance learning.
Category Archive: parent involvement
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Communicating Clear Expectations for Writing Workshop
Words, time, language. All of these factors can be challenges when communicating efficiently and effectively with families. When in doubt, turn to creating a short video to communicate clear and concise expectations.
Back to School Themes and Reflections
What are the themes that you come back to each school year? Today I explore the topics that I come back to each new year and share links from previous posts. Please share your ideas in the comments!
How To Send Student Writing Home With Intent
The way we send student writing home sends big messages to families and writers.
Enlisting Writing Support from Parents
Parents can be a tremendous educational resource. Yet, in middle school it can be challenging, as developmentally our students are beginning to morph from children into young adults. Thinking about next year, I have drafted some ideas for partnering with parents on how to help their kids become stronger writers. How might parents provide support in the way writing workshop teachers believe is most helpful? Here are a few ideas…
Parental Intentions: Solving Predictable Problems
Children deserve a caring adult in their corner. Sometimes good intentions can backfire. As we continue the series on Predictable Problems, today we tackle parental figures and misunderstandings related to the writing workshop.
Year-End Sharing, Reflecting and Celebrating
We cannot underestimate the value of year-end sharing, celebrating and reflecting opportunities for young writers.
Helping Parents Understand Writing Workshop: Keep Learning Going Throughout the Summer
I love watching parents and children enjoying our town library during the summer months. There’s so much joy in reading together and selecting piles of books to bring home. My own daughters could… Continue reading
A Class Hub To The Rescue!
A class hub can make all the difference for digital writing and learning!
Writing Workshop is Hard Work
Last Thursday, I endeavored to explain writing workshop to parents in my district at Parent University. As I drove home after the presentation, I felt unsettled, like there had been a gap in what the parents were hoping to learn and what I delivered. What would you be sure to include in a presentation to parents on writing workshop?
Five on Friday: Travel Edition
A recent visit to San Francisco inspired me to think about oral story telling, publishing, an persuasive writing. Here are five things my trip left me thinking about. PLUS, leave a comment on this blog post for a chance to win a copy of a new picture book from Chronicle Books.
Family Literacy Night: Writing Together
The teachers noticed that several parents had written comments such as, “Great story, but you need commas” or “Nice job. Fix your capital letters.” We wondered how to help parents understand that this writing was not meant to be perfect or polished. As teachers, we talked about the kinds of comments that would help nudge these kids as writers.
Ten Suggestions for Encouraging Kids to Write at Home
Dear Parents and Caregivers, You might not realize it, but there are a zillion things you can do right at home to foster a love of writing. Even if you, yourself, are not… Continue reading
Family Writing Night
Cultivate home-school partnerships around writing by hosting a family writing night this fall.
Word Play (a writing night for families)
Tomorrow night I’ve been invited to talk with parents and host a mini-writing workshop for families. You must know, about a week ago, our youngest, Sam (a first grader), gave two slips of… Continue reading
Raising a Literate Human
I promised myself I would share the new blog I’ve been working on once I reached 20 posts. That promise was made in late February. Life got pretty busy between February and June. … Continue reading
Nonfiction Writing Celebration
I’ve just gotta tell you, I attended an incredible writing celebration today. Not only was the celebration itself cool, but the way it evolved rocked too. It was a true collaboration. It is… Continue reading
Parent Communication
As we venture into teaching writing in authentic ways, it is important to communicate with parents our teaching decisions. When using technology in writing and reading workshops, communication with parents becomes imperative. When… Continue reading
Back to School Week: Workshop + Parents
Yesterday, Jen asked: As you are blogging about back to school, I wondered if you have any hints/tips for a parent presentation or handout to be use on Back to School Night? We… Continue reading
Communicating Online with Families
I received an e-mail earlier this week asking: Can you steer me in the right direction for starting a blog for my students and parents? Where do I start? Hence, I decided to… Continue reading