independent writing · Independent Writing Blog Series · independent writing projects · summer vacation · writing workshop

Independent Writing Blog Series Starts Now!

Today launches our Independent Writing Blog Series! Join us all week long as we write about writing projects, summer writing, getting published in the real world, multi-genre projects, pulling back to let kids write on their own, and much, much more! Also join us for a Twitter chat on Monday, May 12 at 8:30pm EST with the hashtag #TWTBlog.

blogging · summer vacation

July Vacation

In an effort to make sure summer doesn't pass us by, we've decided to take a month off from blogging here at Two Writing Teachers again this summer. Today is the last non-Slice of Life Story Challenge post you'll see until Monday, August 5th. (NOTE: We'll still be hosting the Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge during the entire month of July.)

blogging · summer vacation

Taking Some Time Off

Summer means a slower pace. Summer means longer days to spend with family and friends. Summer means more extra time to fall into a good book and write about the world around us. As educators, summer rarely means time off.  Ruth and I spent the first couple weeks of summer busy.  She was speaking at… Continue reading Taking Some Time Off

guest blogger · reading · summer vacation

Good Teacher: A Guest Blog Post by Elizabeth Eastmond

Elizabeth Eastmond teaches English at a local community college near her home in Southern California.  You can find her writings at peninkpaper.blogspot.com or occasionalpiece.blogspot.com. I remember that day pretty clearly. The brilliant and dazzling lesson plan fell on its face. The students were more bored than I was. The silence that met a non-starter discussion… Continue reading Good Teacher: A Guest Blog Post by Elizabeth Eastmond

books · reading · summer vacation

Stave-off summer reading loss

The folks at Penguin Books recently alerted me to a fantastic new program you should tell your students about if school is still in session.  We Give Books is a website that provides access to books for anyone who has a computer.  If the library is inconvenient to get to and money isn't there for… Continue reading Stave-off summer reading loss

birthday poems · summer vacation

Poetry for the Summer Birthday Kiddos

Yesterday afternoon, I was fishing around for permanent markers in my classroom supply closet when I noticed the birthday pencils.  I ordered a gross of pencils from a teacher supply company five years ago and there are still quite a few left?  Why? Well, until 2007, I only gave birthday poem cards to kids whose… Continue reading Poetry for the Summer Birthday Kiddos

summer vacation

Summer is Here — Kind of!

For me, summer started a week ago.  For Stacey, summer starts in nine more school days.  Here's what you can expect on Two Writing Teachers throughout the summer months (beginning June 29). Mondays -- Memoir Monday (Won't you join us?) Tuesdays -- Slice of Life Story Challenge (Share your summer mishaps, laughs, and eccentric moments!)… Continue reading Summer is Here — Kind of!

summer vacation · Write: It's good for you! · writers · writing

What Should A Child Write About Over the Summer?

Annie tackled a question many parents ask teachers at the end of the school year yesterday on her blog.  Here's an excerpt of her post, which she has authorized me to reprint in this forum: Parents often ask me what they can do to make sure their children continue writing over the summer. Some children… Continue reading What Should A Child Write About Over the Summer?

professional development · summer vacation

Where Do You Want to Go This Summer?

Professional Development can go hand-in-hand with a summer getaway! Think about seeing a new place and learning something too. Here's what other readers mentioned as great summertime p.d. opportunities to help you enhance your teaching of writing. Just click on the hyperlink to go straight to the website. ARIZONA NWP Professional Writing Retreat in mid-July.… Continue reading Where Do You Want to Go This Summer?

professional development · summer vacation

Summer P.D.

I'm trying to compile a list of professional development opportunities for teachers. I posted about it last month and got a few responses (Thanks!).  However, the list is short and certainly not comprehensive as it stands.  Therefore, if you know of summer p.d. for teachers of writing, please post a comment on this post.

photograph · summer vacation · writing workshop

Photo Fridays: An Opportunity to Write About Photographs

Late Sunset over Lake Winona Originally uploaded by teachergal I marveled, twice, about the fact that the sun sets later in Indiana than it does in Rhode Island (i.e. because it's on the western part of the Eastern Time Zone). Therefore, after Ruth, Christi, and I parted from Jen, Cathy, and Sarah, I detoured to… Continue reading Photo Fridays: An Opportunity to Write About Photographs

letter writing · summer vacation

Getting ready to send…

...handmade welcome cards to all of my students. This is what the backs of them look like: I kept it simple this year... a short note about me being their teacher and how I've been spending my summer. I also included a link to my class blog, which is a work in progress, to get… Continue reading Getting ready to send…