If you have ever felt that you were going through the motions of a minilesson, know that there are plenty of other ways you can choose to gather as a community and launch writing time. Here are ten alternatives for beginning a writing workshop session - - with joy, intention, and inspiration.
Category: Read Aloud
Small Groups, Big Engagement: Expanding the Possibilities and Potential
Here are some fresh approaches from Melanie Meehan and guest authors Julie Wright, Pam Koutrakos, and Maria Walther. In this post, we reimagine when and why small groups come together and expand your small group repertoire.
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Fostering Authorship, Identity, and Agency in the Early Childhood Classroom Through Storytelling
As the storytelling culture is developed in the classroom, children are likely to begin to see themselves as authors and to use their voices in braver ways to share their ideas and who they are with their peers.
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Layers of Learning: A Review and Giveaway
Our instructional minutes count more than ever this year. Read on to discover a new professional book that will help you maximize your teaching in reading and writing while helping your students grow in character and mindset. JoEllen McCarthy's new professional book, Layers of Learning, is a must read! Comment on the post for a chance to win your own copy.
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Exploring Character Traits with Reflective Journal Prompts
A back to school 2020 problem for those of us teaching in person- what do you do during masks breaks? A reflective journal that connects to character traits was my solution! Read on for resources I am sharing that match character traits with read alouds and reflective journal prompts.
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Writing on a Snow Day
Matthew Cordell's new picture book provides inspiration for kids to CHOOSE to write when they're snowed-in during the winter. Read through my Q&A with Cordell to start thinking about how you could encourage your students to decide to write when they're homebound this winter.
After you read the Q&A, leave a comment on this blog post for the chance to win a copy of King Alice.
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Books to Begin the School Year
Add six new picture books to your back-to-school read alouds and to your mentor text collection this fall.
After you read through this post, be sure to leave a comment about how you'd use these books in your classroom for a chance to win all six of them.
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Picture Books in Secondary Classrooms
Picture books are short, visual, and engaging, which makes them perfect for using as mentor texts with elementary AND secondary students.
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Remembrance Ideas for the September 11th Anniversary
Educators from around the country share the ways in which they teach about September 11th to their students. This post includes programming and writing ideas, as well as links to videos and picture books you can read aloud.
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Teaching the Four Types of Writing Through Texts
Janiel Wagstaff's books will help you teach primary writers about the four types of writing in an engaging way. Leave a comment on this post for a chance to win her series of Stella books.
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Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10
Today is the annual Nonfiction Picture Book 10 for 10, hosted by Cathy Mere from Reflect and Refine, Mandy Robek of Enjoy and Embrace Learning, and Julie Balen of Write at the Edge. This is my fourth year participating in this event, which provides me with a chance to share ten nonfiction picture books I have been using as mentor texts with elementary school writers.
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Waving the White Flag on Valentine’s Day!
There are some days in an elementary school teacher's life where the white flag must be waved. Halloween. The day before holiday break. Pajama Day. Crazy Hat Day. And, of course, Valentine's Day...
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 