A meeting place for a world of reflective writers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Picture books are short, visual, and engaging, which makes them perfect for using as mentor texts with elementary AND secondary students.
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.
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.
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.
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…
Kids often feel as though that they are the only ones who have ever been stuck for ideas, or been laughed at, or had a story rejected (by a teacher, or friend). No matter where you live, no matter what you write, there is no need to discover every writing problem all on your own. That’s where characters in books come in. Why not learn from them?
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 … Continue Reading Black History Month & Beyond – My #NF10for10 + 10 Book Giveaways
I miss many things about being a classroom teacher. I miss the camaraderie with the students, the collegiality with the staff, and the sense that what I’m doing really matters. … Continue Reading Tuck Everlasting: 40th Anniversary Blog Tour #Tuck40th
Find out which five, NEW picture books I’m fawning over this Friday.
It is important to say the name of the author and the illustrator when you read a picture book.
A couple months back I promised to be more intentional about finding nonfiction picture books to recommend as mentor texts for writing workshop. I’ve been looking at a lot of … Continue Reading Informational Writing that Dazzles + a Giveaway
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 … Continue Reading Raising a Literate Human
I’m consulting in a local school today where I’ve been working with the staff since August rolling-out interactive read aloud. Every two months the interactive read aloud text set reflects … Continue Reading Reading Aloud Builds Better Writers
One of the little words I’ve been thinking about adopting as my One Little Word for 2012 is wonder. Wonder, as defined by the Merriam Webster Dictionary, means: 1won·der noun … Continue Reading A Wintertime Read Aloud + A Giveaway
There are no shortage of books on Chanukah. Despite the fact that Chanukah is not one of the major Jewish holidays, there are lots of books, some of which aren’t … Continue Reading Happy Chanukah + a Book Giveaway
Last year I wrote a blog post entitled “Rethinking and Rewriting Princess Stories” which included some of my thoughts about princess culture. I was pregnant with my daughter when I … Continue Reading Every-Day Dress-Up + A Giveaway
