drafting · editing · growth mindset · independent writing · mistakes · notebooks · process · publishing · revision · risk-taking · routines · writers · writing · writing process · writing workshop

An Eraser-Free Workshop and the Language We Use for Talking About It

When I visit a classroom, one of the first things I often say to kids is, "Today, please don't erase. I want to see ALL the great work you are doing as a writer. When you erase, your work disappears!" Often, this is what kids are accustomed to and they continue working away. But sometimes, kids stare at me as if I've got two heads.

Author Spotlight Series · writers · writing process

Trudy Ludwig: True Confessions of a Professional Writer

Trudy Ludwig is an award-winning author who specializes in writing children's books that explore the colorful and sometimes confusing world of children's social interactions. Today, we are honored to share Trudy's thoughts about the writing process.

reflections · Reflective Practice · writers

Reflecting: What kind of writer am I?

Before you plan to ask your students to reflect on the kinds of writers they are (for their end-of-year self-assessments), be sure you ask yourself "What kind of writer am I?"

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

mentor author · writers

Writing Mentors

All writers need mentors. Who are yours?

classroom · independent reading projects · independent writing · independent writing projects · management · portfolio · preparation · publishing · writers · writing · writing folder · writing workshop · writing workshop routines

Work Smarter: How To Wrap Up A Unit of Study

This week my colleagues and I are writing posts that we hope will make your life a little easier. We’re sharing some ways to work smarter, not harder.

voice · writers

What’s Your Writing Tic?

Read about writers' tics, and share your own.

DonorsChoose.org · lucy calkins · mentor texts · writers

5 Ideas to Create a Classroom of Writers

How do you help your students establish their identity as writers?

back to school · community · writers · writing workshop

Visual Writer Introductions

Fostering a nurturing writing community at the beginning of the school year means taking the time to build a community of writers. Here's an artistic way you can have students introduce themselves, and their quirks, to their peers.

writers · writing workshop

Office Work

I love the idea of spending the first several days of school learning how to be a writer. By studying other writers’ processes, we can begin to demystify the act of writing.

blogging · microblogging · presentations · technology · writers

Connecting with Other Writers

I had the pleasure of speaking about "Curating and Cultivating a Virtual Community of Writers" with the members of the Chester County Reading Association this afternoon. I talked about the ways blogging, microblogging, other digital technologies allow teacher-writers to interact with each other worldwide.

genre · writers · writing

Creating mini-units of study in writing workshop: writing to bear witness.

In my sixth grade class, we cycle through a set of genres every Writing Workshop year: personal narrative, memoir, feature article, poetry, profiles, and persuasive letters and research based essays.  Taken together, these make for a jam-packed year of writing.  And yet, every once in a while, an idea for something new to add to… Continue reading Creating mini-units of study in writing workshop: writing to bear witness.