One thing I love so much about being an educator is the cyclical nature of the school year. The beginning of the year brings promise, renewed energy, and a certain mania. The middle of the year brings familiarity, routine, and structure. The end of the year brings a slower pace, stepping back, reflection. There is… Continue reading Ending a Year of Teaching Writing with a Group Reflection
Category: Reflective Practice
Teaching Reflective Writers
Dana Murphy shares some thoughts about the expectations we place on students when we ask them to reflect on their writing.
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I survived my first Twitter Chat!
Reflections on my first Twitter Chat: what worked well, what overwhelmed me, and some silly things I tweeted.
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Writing Matters
Today Deb Gaby and I finished leading the third day of a three-day Foundations of Writing Workshop training. At the end, we asked for reflections. Teacher after teacher commented on the impact of adult writing time. In each session, we gave time to write. If we want to learn how to teach writers, it's not… Continue reading Writing Matters
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Friday Favorites
Unfortunately I don't have a photo from Favorite #1. Christy Rush-Levine and I met for a walk + dinner on Tuesday. Christy is one of those people who help me feel grounded and real. Favorite #2: Earlier this week Brenda Power from Choice Literacy visited Deb Gaby and me at school. As always, Brenda fuels me.… Continue reading Friday Favorites
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This Quote
I love this quote. It is one of my favorites to share in a workshop. I read it today with an epic-cool group of teachers at Southbury School. (I learned epic-cool from a Southbury first grader.) Little did I know I needed to hear it today. I started the day thinking: I am such a… Continue reading This Quote
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Bad Word Club
This weekend I learned of a first grade club. "The teachers don't know about it," Sam (my first grade son) said, "So keep it quiet." "What is it?" "It's the Bad Word Club. I'm not in it, though." But you know a lot about it, I thought. "How do you know about it?" "Ohhhh, you… Continue reading Bad Word Club
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Trusting Myself
Expectations of common core, teacher evaluation, and what it means to be literate in the 21st century can sometimes pile up and overwhelm me. There is so much new information coming at me -- things to consider about text types, what opinion writing looks like with primary students, how to use technology as a tool… Continue reading Trusting Myself
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Choice Literacy: Coaching the Common Core {Part 3 of 3}
The third part of the conference was led by Tammy Mulligan and Clare Landrigan. They inspired me to stick to my beliefs. One of the ideas they talked about is a Framework for Change. In order for change to occur, they suggest systems need: Vision Skills Incentives Resources Action Plan If any of these items… Continue reading Choice Literacy: Coaching the Common Core {Part 3 of 3}
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Hitting the Reset Button
You can change your attitude, your priorities, or your thinking on any day. You just have to commit yourself to a new mindset or way of life.
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Big Realization from a Tiny Mouse
I have an irrational fear of mice. It is bad news. My husband has established a preemptive strike in our basement and garage. He engages in an impossible battle to keep our home, which is surrounded by fields, mouse free. He tries to tell me almost everyone has to deal with mice. He says it… Continue reading Big Realization from a Tiny Mouse
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Enough
I want you to know you are enough. Enough. As in you are good enough. Enough. As in I've had enough. Enough. As in I have enough time. You are enough. I think this is a state of mind. You choose to believe you are enough. Sometimes it's easy to get caught up wishing we… Continue reading Enough
