I've been intentional about writing a teaching point for each of my lessons in Reading and Writing Workshop.  Last night I typed them all to share with my students.  Starting Monday, they will be responsible for recording the teaching point each day along with any needed notes. The teacing points are based on student need, as… Continue reading Writing Teaching Points

About a month ago, All-Write hosted Cris Tovani.  I probably should have blogged about the workshop the next day, but I didn't.  Instead, I'm blogging about it today after I've had some time to digest the information. First, if you ever have the chance to hear Cris speak, you should jump at the opportunity.  She… Continue reading Cris Tovani Thoughts

I rolled into my driveway around 8:30 last night.  Andy had given our kids late naps so they could stay up and see me.  This may not have been our best parenting move.  They were excited, but also tired.  Emotions swirled.  By 9:45 Andy and I were snuggled on the couch and there were no… Continue reading Chasing Big Dreams: Part I

Right now I'm sitting in Stacey's kitchen, thinking how good it is to be in the same house as my friend. I already know I have a great class.  (We'll see if I still feel this way after I get the sub notes for the three days I'm absent.) Yesterday we spent a good portion of the… Continue reading A Few Random Bits of Life

Today is the first day of the new trimester.  This means two things: I get to teach my own class starting today -- English 9A with 26 students. I barely slept last night and woke up early today.  This is typical behavior prior to the "first day of school."  Starting a new trimester is like… Continue reading Today.

I'm intrigued by peer conferring.  There's just something about two writers coming together to talk about their work that's interesting to me.  I love the nuances of peer conferring -- learning what works well and what doesn't.  I like to study really strong collaborations to find the little-known-secrets to a specific grade level of writers. … Continue reading Peer Conferring: Questions

These words are speaking to my soul tonight.  I'm planning to use them in a workshop I'm leading tomorrow. Students such as these walk into your classrooms in every size, shape, and color.  You can't know their histories because their only control is control of their secrets.  You are asked to create a safe enough… Continue reading Speaking to Me.

At the Basic Workshop Training there is always time for Adult Writing.  Yesterday, I shared one way to help get students writing is to read aloud a well-written text (a poem, picture book, or novel excerpt) and then allow the words "to hang in the air" while everyone silently picks up their pens and begins to… Continue reading Allowing Words to Hang in the Air

This finally led me to thinking about my high school art classes.  I was in the Honors Art Course and for me it was tough to get into.  I worked even harder to stay in it.  I didn't have the talent that everyone else had and I lived with the pressure that someone else could… Continue reading Motivation (Part II).

Last week I was in a history class.  It was the teacher's prep, but there were students working to put final touches on their presentations which were due later in the day.  Out of the blue, this conversation ensued: "I've got to start all over!" a student shouted. The teacher smiled and said, "What do you mean?" "Look… Continue reading Motivation (Part I)