Do you ever feel like you're being pulled in different teaching directions -- conventions and craft and process? Do you sometimes feel guilty when you're teaching about craft that you should be teaching conventions? Or in a conference when you compliment on the great focus of the writing, that you should be correcting the spelling? … Continue reading the balance of teaching writing.
Category: reflections
our talk.
This week I have been working with some stellar teachers. My role in their rooms has been that of a team teacher and so it's been easy for me to absorb things from them. One of the things I've been struck by is the way they talk with their students. They are so kind, so… Continue reading our talk.
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clay fragments.
When I was learning the ropes of teaching, Tammy Hess helped me along. We stumbled into a study group for teachers of writing through the All-Write Consortium. We weren't sure what it was all about, but they offered great food, soothed us with read alouds, and encouraged us to reflect on our lives and our teaching. … Continue reading clay fragments.
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before GO.
Pretty soon we're going to be going at full speed as a new school year begins. Before GO, though, there's GET READY and GET SET. Have you gotten ready, gotten set? I know there are classrooms to organize and school clothes to buy and writer's notebooks solutions to figure out, but there's more too. We need to… Continue reading before GO.
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ruth’s wn entry: stories matter
One of the ways I've used this summer to grow is by noticing the small stories that are creating my life. These stories matter. Little did I know what an impact these little everyday stories would make on me not only as a person, but as an educator too. Today in my writer's notebook I… Continue reading ruth’s wn entry: stories matter
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m.i.a.
Thank goodness for Stacey these past few weeks or this blog would have shriveled up and died! Strangely (and unexpectedly), life has hit hard. In the past two weeks, we've had: three different overnight visitors; meetings; family stuff; and just plain fun summer living. In one sense it doesn't feel like I've been mia for… Continue reading m.i.a.
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My Last Day in New York City
It rained today. Hard. Really, really hard. I had to run the windshield wipers on the highest setting just so I could see out. Hence, I didn't do everything I had hoped to do today. I actually went to H&H on the Upper East Side this afternoon for lunch. However, it was raining so hard… Continue reading My Last Day in New York City
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capturing life.
My husband had left for 14 days for Peru, South America. During the time he was gone, I tenaciously captured our life through photos and blog posts. My son and I didn't do anything out of the ordinary -- simply lived life. I've been reminded that all of this simple living adds up to big meaning.… Continue reading capturing life.
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Writing About Reading
I wrote the following in a reflection after hearing Ellin Oliver Keene speak at Teachers College on April 3rd, 2006. I think what I wrote then is worthy of mentioning on this blog right now as we, as literacy educators, think about the ways in which we'll assess our students after they read. "Ever since… Continue reading Writing About Reading
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ruth’s wn entry: noticings
So far this morning I've noticed: My son is becoming a little boy. He smiles for the camera now. He sits on a stool up at the counter alone now. He doesn't need his banana smashed -- or even cut into pieces -- now. Today is my anniversary. I've noticed that I remember my wedding… Continue reading ruth’s wn entry: noticings
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change.
Funny, I logged on to make this post & Stacey used a similar title for her last post. Change must be on our brains! I'm realizing that one of the facts of life is simply: People Change. What we stand for at one point in our lives will evolve over time. Our defining personality traits… Continue reading change.
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Ch-ch-ch-changes
I asked my students how they've changed as writers from the beginning of the year until now. Here's what a few of them said: In the beginning of the year I was terrible; all I did was rush. Now I'm an amazing writer. My writing flows and creates a sense of understanding. I was a… Continue reading Ch-ch-ch-changes
