agency · Amping up Agency Blog Series · conferring · reflections · reflective practice · sharing · small group

The Language to Develop Agency: Amping Up Agency Blog Series

Teachers can build and increase students’ agency by using specific phrases at when conferring, leading small groups, or holding reflection/share sessions at the end of a workshop.

assessment · equity · feedback · formative assessment · inquiry · reflective practice

Let’s Get Curious! Using Appreciative Inquiry in the Writing Classroom

Students are our north stars. When we get to know students (academically and beyond), we can more clearly see and honor who they are and what they know. Appreciative inquiry enables us to capitalize on the abundant assets already present.

agency · management · procedures · reflective practice · writing workshop routines

When Management Issues in the Workshop are the Result of Mixed Messaging

The beginning of the school year is perfect timing for the classic cautionary tale, an anecdote shared with the intention of saving others a difficulty I created for myself. My purpose is to both teach and entertain, as I humbly recount the thing I should not have done (and will be mindful not to do again).

agency · reflective practice · writing workshop

Tumbling Toward Open Space in a Workshop

These tumbleweeds feel like a metaphor for the writers in our workshops: the times they dance freely across the landscape and the times they get stuck. As a teacher of writers, it’s prompting me to step back and reflect on those stuck places. I hope to offer you a similar moment of reflection on the tumbleweed-jams that might be forming in your own workshop(s).

reflective practice · writing workshop

Time for a Shift

Writing workshop is powerful because it is a consistent investment of time for writers to work with intention at their craft. It is sacred space. As teachers of workshop, we are intentional about teaching writers something every day. This is how growth happens—day by day over weeks and months and years.

assessment · authentic assessment · data · feedback · formative assessment · giveaway · goals · growth mindset · high school · middle school · monitoring student learning · peer conferring · personalization · reading-writing connections · record keeping · reflective practice · Sarah M. Zerwin · self-assessment · standards · student engagement · Student ownership · writing workshop

Point-Less by Sarah M. Zerwin: A Review and Giveaway

Sarah Zerwin is workshop to her core, and she has found ways to ensure that her assessment practices are not sending conflicting messages to kids. Point-Less will challenge readers to reflect and inspire them to advocate for change.

reflections · reflective practice · writing workshop

Teaching Writers to Reflect + Giveaway

For the past two weeks, I've been immersing myself in some reflection. This book, TEACHING WRITERS TO REFLECT, has been an excellent tool as I pass along reflective practices to my students.

independent writing · reflective practice · revision · self-assessment · visual thinking strategies · writer identity · writing process

Five Tips to Building a Rereading Habit

Do you make time for your writers to reread? Rereading is one of those pieces of the workshop we might be assuming our writers are doing but direction is needed to really make it a habit. Here are five tips to give rereading a place in your writing workshop this year.

classroom environment · conferring · DIY Literacy · environment · formative assessment · Kate Roberts · mentor texts · middle school · plan · reflective practice

End of Year Reflections and June Planning

As we approach the end of another school year, many of us begin making plans for outgrowing ourselves. But what might be some lenses to think through when taking on such a task? I have a few ideas . . .

end of year reflection · letter writing · Looking Back and Moving Forward Blog Series · reflections · reflective practice

End-of-Year Letters: Looking Back and Moving Forward

Sometimes it's the feedback our students -- rather than our administrators -- give us that help us become better teachers.

end of year reflection · Looking Back and Moving Forward Blog Series · reflective practice

Preview: Looking Back and Moving Forward Blog Series

Here's a preview about our upcoming blog series that will help you close-out your writing workshop in meaningful ways.