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.

Reflective Practice · writing workshop

Do You Ever Wonder?

How do you respond to the recursive "I'm done," and every other form of the phrase? Maybe it isn't about them.

compliment · growth mindset · key beliefs · language · middle school · Reflective Practice · writer identity

The Power of Language Revisited

When it comes to the teaching of writing in a writing workshop, language is everything.  It is through the words we teachers choose that writers are created, built up, encouraged, and inspired.

growth mindset · plan book · Q & A · reflections · Reflective Practice · writing workshop

The Intentional Educator Planner (Giveaway)

I've always wanted to keep a reflective journal about my teaching but in the hustle and bustle of a busy school day, that seemed to be the first thing to go from list of "to-do's." I'm hopeful that having  a place to reflect right in my plan book will encourage me to take time to write down my thoughts and ideas each week. The 2017-2018 Intentional Educator Planner will be just the place!

Reflective Practice · writing workshop

Learning From Student Reflections

I've been thinking a lot about my year teaching third grade and the writing my students did. I had thoughts, opinions and ideas about what went right and where I still needed to make changes, refine my practice, be more strategic. Then, it dawned on me: I really need to ask my students what they think.

reflections · Reflective Practice · writing workshop

Five Questions for Reflection

Thinking back over the year, what do you hope to continue or change before students return in the fall?

collaboration · community · reflections · Reflective Practice · writing workshop

How Do We Help Students Find Their Why?

At first, pride filled my heart, but as I continued to watch, I realized the work ethics I was watching at that moment hadn't been as clear nor intentional throughout the year. The day's show of teamwork could have been the culmination of a year's work, but I knew it was something more.