Building vocabulary empowers kids to communicate effectively and unlock their full writing potential.
Category: play
Can We Talk?: Teaching Dialogue in Narrative Writing
When it comes to narrative writing, there are few craft moves as powerful as adding dialogue. Through dialogue, a reader can see more clearly into our characters: who they are, how they respond, and what they want. In today’s post, I’ll outline how I’ve used activities and play to teach the elements and conventions of dialogue in narrative writing.
Share this:
Share this:
Writing: A Form of Deep Play
Many writing workshops have become more structured, so teachers need to help students seek opportunities to rediscover the raw and unconstrained power of writing.
Share this:
Share this:
Writing and Playing: A Natural Pairing in the Kindergarten Classroom
Writing and playing are not one and the same but there is deep value in forging connections between the two by finding regular opportunities to have children both write while they play, AND play while they write!
Share this:
Share this:
It’s Time for Play and Fun!: Storytelling in Writing Workshop
It’s March. If your schools are anything like mine, you are slogging through the remnants of a long winter, all while gearing up for a season of standardized testing. Kids of all ages still need play and fun. I don’t know about you, but my kids always seem to do a bit better when some of each is incorporated into my lessons. I’ll share some ways to bring joy into writing workshop.
Share this:
Share this:
Revving Up Opinion Writing– Or Any Unit!
Truth: Any unit at any point in the year has the potential to lose energy, and adding some play has the power to rev a unit right back up.
Share this:
Share this:
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.
Share this:
Share this:
A Few Reflections and Shares From NCTE 2019
For the last few days, I have had the privilege of attending the National Council of Teachers of English Convention in Baltimore, Maryland. While there were many colleagues and friends who shared the experience, I know many others couldn't attend. I'm sure there are others who will share in the upcoming weeks, but for now, in somewhat of a post-convention haze, I'm scrolling through my notes and pulling out some of my favorite quotes and ideas from my experiences.
Share this:
Share this:
Writing in Choice Time: Not Just a Center
Writing is not limited to a center choice during play. It is a part of all centers! Read this post to find out how to invite different kinds of writing at the most engaging time of day.
Share this:
Share this:
Warming up with grammar games
Before my daughter plays a soccer game or scrimmages, her team goes through several warm-up exercises. Watching the go through the motions, I’m impressed that they all seem to enjoy the warm-ups, and they also can explain the purpose of them.
It has helped me to think of these grammar games as the girls think of their soccer warm-ups. They’re quick, they’re fun, and they’re relevant to writing.
Share this:
Share this:
A Few Games to Inspire Writing Lives
Here are a few writing games that can add fun and play to learning!
Share this:
Share this:
Poetry Begins with Play
Learning to play with words is an important step for young writers who are learning to create poems.
