giveaway · teaching tools · writing workshop

DIY Literacy: A Review & Giveaway

DIY Literacy will give you the tools you need to reach all your students

academic choice · challenges · classroom environment · teaching tools · technology · writing workshop

Daring To Lift Student Learning- Choice in Writing Tools

Teaching well demands we stay current and try new ideas. There isn't any insurance policy that the newest strategy, book, program, or app will work for all or anyone, but we trust our education and experience, and we do what we know to be best for kids. Brené Brown in Daring Greatly says, Risk aversion kills innovation~ Berné Brown Daring Greatly So embrace the mess, the awkwardness, and all the uncertainties rattling in your mind and do what you trust to be best for the students in your classroom.

classroom environment · Creating Classroom Environments Blog Series · teaching tools · technology · writing workshop

Creating Classroom Environments: Are You Ready for Technology?

One question I am often asked about using technology is, “How do you get started?” The answer is actually a simple one - humbly.

informational writing · strategy lesson · tcrwp · teaching tools

Goals & Techniques Cards

Reflecting on my first experience using TCRWP's goals & technique cards for informational writing with a small group of writers.

conferring · minilesson · strategic conferring · strategy lessons · teaching tools · writing workshop

Quick Tips for Writing Teaching Points

A guide to crafting your own teaching points for 1:1 conferences, strategy lessons, minilessons, mid-workshop interruptions, and share sessions.

demonstration · slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · Teachers who write · teaching tools · writers · writing · writing workshop

Using Your Own Writing as a Teaching Tool

It seems appropriate that today's post should be related to using your own writing in the classroom. We are, after all, in the midst of the March Slice of Life Story Challenge. And what an amazing month it has already been. This year has been our biggest, most successful year yet! We have over 300 participants… Continue reading Using Your Own Writing as a Teaching Tool

demonstration · mentor texts · minilesson · shared writing · student work · teaching tools · writing workshop

Demonstration Texts, Part Deux

Thinking about your demonstration texts this way can give you some inspiration for multiple ways to teach the same minilesson, to the whole class, or to small groups as follow-up.

handwriting · modifications · teaching tools · technology

The Physical Act of Writing

We spend lots of time talking about the writing process here at TWT. This post tackles something that has nothing to do with meaning, structure, focus, word choice, elaboration, voice, or conventions. It deals with the physical act of writing, which can be challenging for some children.

student work · summer vacation · teaching tools

A Writing Teacher’s Summer Project: Building a Teaching Toolkit 

Looking for a summer project? Spruce up your teaching toolkit.

teaching tools · technology

I Do. We Do. You Do.

The gradual release of responsibility works for teaching one's mom how to use a smart phone just as well as it works for teaching writers.

inspiration · professional development · teacher of writing · teaching tools · thankful · Write: It's good for you!

A Little Writing Love

As an instructional coach, a key part of my job is to encourage and inspire teachers. This is one of my favorite things about my job. It isn't easy to be the person who is always nudging people to grow, but it is fun to be the person who gets to offer doses of encouragement… Continue reading A Little Writing Love

academic choice · centers · poetry · teaching tools · writing · writing center

Haiku Writing Station

Earlier this month I shared an idea about a writing station (aka: center) for older students.  Another product from Chronicle Books has crossed my desk and has piqued my interest as something that can be used in the classroom.  This time, it's a poetry-related writing station using Haikubes, which are 63 word cubes that can… Continue reading Haiku Writing Station