As part of their writing unit launch and identity unit. I worked on poems with fourth-grade students that were inspired by Derrick Barnes’ I’m Every Good Thing. How much fun did I have!
Category: process
Reimagining Immersion
Give students a voice from day one. Starting a unit with shared writing helps students see the process, practice the craft, and approach their own writing with clarity and confidence.
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Trust the Process
One of the most important things I've learned as a teacher of writing in kindergarten is to trust the process no matter how messy it gets.
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Downdraft (v.)
Down draft. More than a name for our first attempt to put ideas onto the page. It is an action we can choose as part of our writing process.
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Editing Along the Way…Often in 5 Minutes or Less
The other day, I did it again. I drafted an email to my bosses. Read it. Reread it. Hit send. Got distracted. Then… saw it. The error. These moments of regret keep me humble! And so, when I notice students not applying taught spelling and grammar concepts, I remind myself that they are not defiantly… Continue reading Editing Along the Way…Often in 5 Minutes or Less
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Students Can Draw at Every Stage of the Writing Process (For All Ages)
Drawing can slow you down in a way that is useful for generating ideas and thinking more deeply.
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Designing Writing Units Where Students Choose the Product
Many of today’s students crave choice, freedom, and the excitement of exploring something new. This year, as you prepare to roll out your writing units, you may also want to reconsider the level of constraints within each unit. How and when might you invite students to choose the product that best fits their personal preference and intended audience?
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Starting with Publishing in Mind: About the Author
When we start the year off with publishing in mind, we think about the authors.
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Three Ways to Exalt Process for Young Writers
My litmus test for the work we do in the classroom pivots on an understanding that collecting one's own ideas and practicing ways to communicate them will serve students outside classroom walls. And it is with that framing in mind - with children reflecting on their journeys, in carefully selecting the language I use, and in sharing feedback on growth as opposed to the final alone- that I hope to continually communicate the importance of process over product.
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Mining the Moments Between Minilesson and Work Time
In those quick moments between minilesson and work time, as writers are settling in (or not), I pay attention to what is—the current reality. I seek leverage points to both know writers better and to support writers in continuing to grow. Over time, I notice as more and more writers find the processes and strategies that work for them.
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Personal Writing Calendars for Each Student
With a personal writing calendar, each kid can see what is going to happen in the unit of study, and has the power to adjust it.
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There Is No Finish Line
Using student work as feedback for our teaching informs us. It empowers us. In a way, it allows young writers to become our teachers...
