Last week, someone asked me:  How do you balance it all? This question always makes me smile sheepishly and give my standard response:  I don't. Yet her question has tumbled around in my mind for a week now.  So here I am, Sunday evening, nearing 10 pm, with a zillion items to do on my lengthy… Continue reading Breathe.

This week my coaching has taken me into middle school classrooms.  In one class, the teacher has asked me to launch notebooks and move into a personal narrative study.  As we've gotten into notebooks this week and have shared bits of our lives, I'm struck by the way building a community, establishing procedures, creating opportunities… Continue reading Building a Community of Writers

This weekend I was rereading some past posts on Two Writing Teachers and came across a few "Monday Musings."  I was inspired to write a post like this for today.  My OLW (One Little Word) for 2009 is delight.  As I reflected on my learning with this word, I realized that it is a constant… Continue reading Monday Musings

All-Write is hosting Cris Tovani in northern Indiana on October 15.  If you're in the area and teach grades 4 - 12, you will not be sorry if you attend this conference.    Click here for the registration and more information.  BTW:  If you do decide to attend, I'd love to know so we can meet. … Continue reading Cris Tovani

Scholastic Instructor Magazine named the "Top Twenty Teacher Blogs."  According to Instructor, they identified: 20 blogs that have taught us a few things, made us laugh, made us cry, and reminded us that we are not alone in this sometimes stress-inducing, always awe-inspiring profession. There are categories from "Best For Hands-On Teaching Activities" to "Best Blog From Outside… Continue reading Weekend Reading.

I was back in Mr. Miller's third grade classroom today.  It is such an enjoyable place to be; his students have become writers.  Today K. asked me, "Will you have a conference with me?" I tipped the conferring record toward him and said, "We've talked twice and look at all of these blank spaces.  There are a… Continue reading A Sweet Conference

I've been working in a third grade classroom.  The class began the year with a focus on oral storytelling.  Recently they started their writers' notebooks.  We're now moving into their first writing project of the year.  Like most Writing Workshops, this unit focuses on the process writers use when working toward publication. In order to… Continue reading Teaching the Writing Process

A few changes that you will see around Two Writing Teachers since summer is over, school has started, and we are in the thick of writing our book. There will be at least one post each day, Monday through Friday.  Weekends are optional.  🙂 We will no longer host Memoir Monday.  Please plan on joining… Continue reading FYI

Last week Mrs. V asked about how best to use instructional assistants.  Then Stacey asked her for clarification and Mrs. V wrote: With instructional assistants I mean classified staff adults in the classroom. I have heard some people also call them aides or paraprofessionals. Is that enough clarification? I have an instructional assistant two days… Continue reading Back to School Week: Instructional Assistants

Inspired by Friday's "Living Like a Writer" post, I took a few moments to slow down and make a list of gratitudes when it comes to my teaching life.  To kick off Back to School Week, won't you do the same thing?  Then take a few minutes and leave a comment with your three favorite… Continue reading Back to School: I’m Thankful . . .