A meeting place for a world of reflective writers.
About four years ago, I heard of a wonderful tool, Kidblog, that could be used as an ad-free environment when blogging with students and the key word that caused me to … Continue Reading Sharing Voices by Blogging: A Guest Blog Post by Amy Rudd
How much time do you think K-2 students need to complete an on-demand narrative writing assessment?
I love, LOVE, L-O-V-E Ralph Tells A Story (Amazon Children’s Publishing, 2012), which is a story about a boy, Ralph, who has trepidation about writing. (It’s already become a book … Continue Reading An Inspiring Mentor Text, an Interview, and a Giveaway
Tad Hills’s new book, Rocket Writes a Story, is as touching and well-written as the first Rocket book, Rocket Learned to Read. This book is sure to become a mentor text … Continue Reading An Interview with Tad Hills + a Book Giveaway
I recently read Cinderella Ate My Daughter: Dispatches from the Front Lines of the New Girlie-Girl Culture (2011) by Peggy Orenstein. While hospitals don’t hand out manuals to parents who … Continue Reading Boys and Girls Playing Together + Book Giveaways
Sometimes I think about the amazing work happening in writing workshops, and then wonder if anyone else notices. Sometimes the things that are most amazing are small bits that pack … Continue Reading Documenting Our Learning
Words + pictures have always intrigued me. As a scrapbooker I use words + pictures to document life. As a blogger, I know when an image is included it always … Continue Reading Infographics
One of the ways Martha Horn suggests launching workshop is to spend a significant amount of time steeping the workshop in storytelling. In fact, she suggests every child tell a … Continue Reading Storytelling
I’m super fortunate to be working with a couple of third grade teachers (Hi Sandy & Dan!) who are interested in helping their writers to naturally develop more sophisticated writing … Continue Reading Planning Idea
Martha Horn is coming to NE Indiana on October 14, hosted by the All-Write Consortium. I’m super excited to hear her thoughts about teaching our youngest writers. If you are … Continue Reading Martha Horn!
One of the many charts I made, with the help of some wonderful Kindergarten teachers, while I was taking Kristi Mraz’s chart-making class at the July Writing Institute was a … Continue Reading Say, Sketch, and Write
I have a confession to make: I’m a wanna-be artist. I have a deep appreciation for art and for people who can draw the human form. Until last month, I … Continue Reading Simple Shapes Convey Meaning
The Summer Institute for the Teaching of Writing at Teachers College begins in just a few short weeks. This year, I’ve decided to take advanced sessions that focus on the … Continue Reading Writing Institute
Today Maggie Gayton asked her first graders to write a reflection about what they have learned recently as a writer. Her students, using pictures and words, reminded us of the … Continue Reading First Grade Reflections
I have been in a lot of different writing workshops lately. Just this week I’ve been in 13 writing workshops and have met with 13 different teachers in either reflective … Continue Reading Highlights from the Week
Whenever I have the privilege of being in a kindergarten classroom, I’m fairly certain I missed my calling in life. Today was no exception. I am a believer in making stuff in … Continue Reading We’re Making Books!
I’m a believer in routine. When writing workshop is predictable everyone is able to work more efficiently. It takes several weeks to build the procedures necessary to create the culture … Continue Reading Beginning Procedures
No More “I’m Done!” Fostering Independent Writers in the Primary Grades is a new book out this month from Jennifer Jacobson. Since I consult with primary grade teachers, as well … Continue Reading Nurturing Primary Writers: A Q&A with Jennifer Jacobson
Ruth was shocked when she learned that I had never heard of Scaredy Squirrel Books when we passed the Kids Can Press Booth at the NCTE Conference. Quite frankly, once … Continue Reading Scaredy Squirrel Books in the Primary Writing Classroom
Katie Wood Ray, Matt Glover, and Isoke Titilayo Nia hosted a session entitled “Independence in the Primary Writing Workshop,” which Ruth and I attended yesterday morning. Ray, Glover, and Nia … Continue Reading Independence in the Primary Classroom Through Talk, Text, and Motivation
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 