Documenting Our Learning
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 big meaning. Sometimes… Continue reading
Category Archive: reflections
Persuasion with Karen Caine
Last week I was fortunate to spend the day with Karen Caine. Are you familiar with her work? It is the book that I have had to buy the most — SIX times… Continue reading
Hugo Cabret
For Christmas we gave Sam The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. Sam and I have been reading it ever since. I like to move through books quickly, often staying up into the… Continue reading
Reflection
On Friday afternoon, I spent some time reading and commenting on other writers’ SOL stories. As I made my way through various blogs, I noticed a couple of people (e.g., Zsofi from Grown… Continue reading
Celebrating Versus Publishing
I’ve been percolating some ideas for the Celebrating Writers book Christi Overman and I are working on and expect to have out later this year with Stenhouse. We pretty much had it drafted,… Continue reading
Ruth’s OLW: Reflection 2011 + Word 2012.
First a little reflection on OLW ’11… I chose this word because I felt like it encompassed everything in my life. The list of words in the tape along the bottom of the… Continue reading
QR Codes
My kids are junkies when it comes to QR Codes. They love spotting them. They are addicted to the thrill of scanning. They like the possibility of where the QR Code might take… Continue reading
What are you writing?
Short post since my internet is slow at best, although nonexistent is more accurate. My school was canceled today. I spent a lot of my day writing. I’ve been revising my query letter and my… Continue reading
Teach the Writer
I wish we could change the world by creating powerful writers forever instead of indifferent writers for school. —Mem Fox I just want to take a deep breath and read those words again.… Continue reading
GUEST BLOG POST: Patrick Allen
Patrick A. Allen is a literacy consultant and a 4th grade teacher from Denver, Colorado. He is the author of two Stenhouse books: Conferring: The Keystone of Reader’s Workshop and Put Thinking to… Continue reading
More All-Write Reflections
I know I’ve spent several posts talking about the All-Write Summer Institute. This is because it was BIG! Here are more thoughts and reflections from the 2011 Summer Institute. Unfortunately I’m afraid I’ve… Continue reading
GUEST BLOG POST: Taking Time for Reflection.
Julie Johnson, the author of Raising Readers and Writers, has taught for 20 years in both special and general education. She currently teaches third grade in Hilliard City Schools where she finds great… Continue reading
Monday Possibilities.
People grumble, growl, and roll their eyes when it comes to Mondays. Monday mornings are good fodder for jokes. However, I like to look at Monday as a day of possibilities. It is… Continue reading
First Grade Reflections
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 power of writing… Continue reading
Sundays for the Soul: SOLSC Reflections
Here is a roundup of reflections from Slice of Life Story Challenge. Trust me, there’s not much better than this for your soul. (My apologies if I missed yours. If you wrote a… Continue reading
SOLS Challenge in the Classroom
I am thrilled to hear so many plans to extend Slice of Life Story Challenge to your classrooms. Thank you to those who have shared their thinking. My friend Ruth Metcalfe (she posts… Continue reading
OLW 2011
My One Little Word finally found me. I’m looking forward to seeing the way it wraps itself around my world and changes me bit by bit. Already I’ve found it weaving its way… Continue reading
The Eve of the Eve of the . . .
Hannah, my oldest daughter woke up this morning and said: Today is the eve of the eve of Christmas eve. I paused and counted the days back from Friday, smiled and said, “Yes,… Continue reading
Thinking About Others
Most schools in this area are on break. However, my daughters’ school is not one of them. They continue to go to school through Wednesday. Today I volunteered in my first grade daughter’s… Continue reading
Yesterday’s Post
Awww man, this was yesterday’s post and I completely forgot. Yesterday was a day filled with unexpected tasks. Have you ever had one of those days? You just never seem to get the… Continue reading