Here in the States we are coming out of a holiday weekend, so I thought it could inspire today's post.  As we've celebrated Independence Day, I've been thinking about how with freedom comes responsibility. This transfers to writing workshop. If you follow along regularly, then you know choice has been on my mind a lot lately.… Continue reading Let Freedom Ring

Some were asking me to "say more" about giving students choice regarding deadlines. Here are a couple ideas in order to empower students to have more choice in finding what works best for them as writers. First and foremost, I have to say I believe in deadlines. Writers have deadlines. If Stacey and I didn't… Continue reading Choice in Deadlines

I just got back from a dinner with J. Patrick Lewis. After dinner Pat spoke and inspired me to teach and write and live more intentionally, more light-hearted. This comes on the heels of a day with Katie Wood Ray, Sharon Taberski, Franki Sibberson, and Sarah Weeks. Am I a lucky girl or what? Although… Continue reading Reflections

This post is as much for me as anyone. I believe in finishing the school year strong. However, this belief tends to conflict with a natural urge to shut down as the end of the year approaches. I'm vigilant in fighting this urge and ask that you will join me. Here are some ways I… Continue reading Keep Going ‘Til the End!

One of the things which took me a few years to really understand is what goes in a writer's notebook. It was one of those thinking journeys which twisted and turned through many ideas, brainstorms, trials, and errors and eventually emerged on the other side with a basic understanding that seems simplistic. Everything I put… Continue reading What Goes in a Writer’s Notebook?

As the year winds down, now is a perfect time to reflect on your Writing Workshop. Here are a few questions I'm mulling over this week. What did I do well this year as a writing teacher? What did I do differently this year in Writing Workshop? Why did I try this new idea? Will I… Continue reading How’s Your Writing Workshop Going?

Tuesday @ 5:58 am: Putting the tea cup in the dishwasher, Sam says, "There's nothing like a cup of hot fresh tea to start the day off right."

I've been thinking all weekend about today's post. I keep a list of topics to blog for days like today. Days when I'm not sure what it is I should write. However, none of them seemed right. How is it that I can have a list of 23 ideas and yet none of them are… Continue reading Joy in the Journey

Today I had the pleasure of celebrating student writing. Mitch Willaman's fifth grade class presented their Wax Museum. Have you ever been to a Wax Museum? It is filled with look-a-likes. The difference between Madame Tussaud's and Mr. Willaman's class is the students today came alive. Each student created a button and when it was… Continue reading Celebrate Student Writing

Stamina has been on my mind lately. Maybe it is because it is May and the year is coming to an end. Maybe it is because I've been thinking about standardized testing and the stamina it takes for kids to complete the English Language Arts sections. Maybe it's because I've been increasing my stamina during… Continue reading Stamina.