Some of you may know that before Stacey &  I began blogging together I wrote a blog called Inspiring Readers and Writers. As Two Writing Teachers grew, I poured more of my time and energy here instead. Eventually Inspiring Readers and Writers became dormant and Two Writing Teachers became the only place I blogged professionally.… Continue reading From the Past: What Really Matters

Remember to leave a comment to be in the SPORK giveaway. I'll draw two names tonight! Here is the link: https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2011/01/21/mentor-text-spork/. Remember you can enter as many times as you want!

Did you know TK is shorthand meaning, to come? Stacey taught me that while we were working on Day by Day. So this post is a post about what's to come later (after work, after playing with the kids, after making dinner, after . . . you get the idea). So later you will find:… Continue reading TK Today

Don’t Forget: Any comment you leave on posts dated Friday (1/14) through Wednesday (1/19) enters you for a chance to win two copies of Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea. If you want a chance to win Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares click here. If you want to read more about these books,click here.)

This week -- I was reminded of the lives our students endure outside of our classrooms. They are often very different than the life I lead outside of the classroom. I connected with friends. I believe even more in the power of story. Our experiences matter. When we teach students how to find their stories,… Continue reading Friday Reflections

A few months ago I set my DVR to record "Mr. Holland's Opus," the 1995 film with Richard Dreyfuss.  The movie remained in the DVR for months.  Finally, when my husband and I were coming up empty-handed for movies to watch on cable we decided to watch "Mr. Holland's Opus." The movie begins in 1965… Continue reading A Good Movie for the Vacation

We have three weeks until winter break in my school district. This is the perfect time for a unit about using writing as gifts. To begin this unit, we are asking students to envision possibilities for using their writing for a gift. For the first week of the study, we will be busy imagining the… Continue reading Writing as Gifts

If the story is in you, it has got to come out. --- William Faulkner