Here's what I've been thinking about lately: How do we provide both structure and choice in writing workshop? Both are essential to empowering young writers. Structure is necessary to lift the level of every writer in the classroom. Choice is crucial for writers to learn to write with energy and strength. Yet they sometimes seem… Continue reading Structure + Choice
Category: strategies
Supporting ELL Students in Writing Workshop
One of the best closing sessions I attended at the Writing Institute was given by Amanda Hartman. "Scaffolds and Supports We Can Put in Place to Support Our ELLs (K-2)" was a 45-minute session that provided teachers with practical ways to support English Language Learners, or ELLs. While the session was targeted to primary grade… Continue reading Supporting ELL Students in Writing Workshop
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Follow the Dialogue
Tomorrow morning in Reading Workshop, I'll be teaching a lesson with the following teaching point: Readers keep track of who is speaking in a text, regardless of whether or not there are dialogue tags. The reason they do this is so they always know who is speaking. I'm going to be using two passages from… Continue reading Follow the Dialogue
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Back to Basics: Strategy Charts (Part of TWT’s Big Picture Series)
Memoir: Early Strategy Chart Originally uploaded by teachergal I tend to have a lot of mini-charts for my students' notebooks rather than hanging large ones around the room (these days). However, I thought this one was worthy of some wall space. Essentially, these are the teaching points from the first four collecting minilessons of our… Continue reading Back to Basics: Strategy Charts (Part of TWT’s Big Picture Series)
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Getting Back to Basics: Structures & Routines (Part of TWT’s Big Pictures Series)
Structures and routines need to be clear in your head so they can be implemented when you start Writing Workshop. You can shift to a new routine or modify one that's not working mid-year, but explaining WHY you're doing it to your students is important. If you're unsure of whose model you wish to adapt,… Continue reading Getting Back to Basics: Structures & Routines (Part of TWT’s Big Pictures Series)
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Sundays are for chart-making.
Prompts for Writing About Reading Originally uploaded by teachergal I've been cranking-out charts for the past hour or so: News & Announcements Charts, as well as strategy charts. Just thought I'd post a few of the strategy charts, for reading and writing, in this forum. Make sure you click through to the Flickr Pages (just… Continue reading Sundays are for chart-making.
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Stacey’s Memoir Monday Post
Looking at Your Place - Grandpa's 80th Birthday0001 Originally uploaded by teachergal I'm teaching George Ella Lyon's "Looking at Your Place" Lesson later today. Therefore, I thought it would be nice for me to get in the mindset that the kids need to be in when they do this. I decided to try going through… Continue reading Stacey’s Memoir Monday Post
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Empty Bulletin Boards
I took all of my strategy charts off of the walls last week. I realized that they were more like posters than instructional aids if I kept them up since they weren't created alongside my students. I cannot believe how barren my classroom's walls are, but I know that creating charts with my kids, rather… Continue reading Empty Bulletin Boards
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Sharing a Notebook Lesson
Aimee Buckner's Book, Notebook Know-How, is an excellent resource for providing kids with strategies for generating notebook writing. Since many folks who took our poll asserted that they wanted more info on units of study, I figured I'd post a minilesson of mine that is based off of Buckner's Best and Worst Life Events Strategy.… Continue reading Sharing a Notebook Lesson
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Pin-Drop Quiet in W.W.
My room was pin-drop quiet during Writing Workshop today. Why? I did that great Katherine Bomer Activity I blogged about earlier this week entitled "Inside Me/Outside Me." The kids not only pushed themselves, but they were so introspective. Once many of them completed the "Inside Me/Outside Me" Graphic Organizer I created for them, most went… Continue reading Pin-Drop Quiet in W.W.
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I’m finally using it today!
I'm finally using that notebook. You know, the one with all of the recopied entries, today in my WW Demo. (Here's an image of the entry.) However, since 2005 I've added a few things to my firsts and lasts chart. Unfortunately, seeing my grandmother for the last time, in the hospital, could go on this… Continue reading I’m finally using it today!
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Look what I found
When I came back for a visit the other day, Christina had a bunch of things I had inadvertently left behind in the classroom waiting for me. One of those items was this poster: I think I made this poster in 2004 or 2005 and never used it. Seeing as it was raining I chose… Continue reading Look what I found
