Yesterday I worked with three students, from different classes, who were writing about the death of a parent. That's rough. My first thought is sometimes: Who's encouraging topic choice? No thank you! I didn't sign up for this. Anyone who knows me, knows that's not what I really believe. First, I'm the one encouraging topic choice. … Continue reading Writing That Matters
Category: writing workshop
Write for a Purpose
Most of us know the importance of writing with our students. However, there is a significant difference between being a genuine writer and writing simply for the sake of having an model to share with students. When we enter focus lessons with a piece of our writing in tow, and yet already have all of… Continue reading Write for a Purpose
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The Craft Table for A SWEET SMELL OF ROSES is complete!
I dissected Angela Johnson's Book, A Sweet Smell of Roses, to the best of my ability today. I created wordy teaching points so you can truly help your students to see what craft moves Johnson made (at least, the ones I think she made). This will help you show the writers in your classroom how… Continue reading The Craft Table for A SWEET SMELL OF ROSES is complete!
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Be a GENUINE Writer.
What is the one thing that will make the biggest, lasting impact in our writing workshops? Being a writer ourselves. Now I'm not talking about writing in order to be an example or a model to our students (although this is a positive side-effect). No, the kind I'm talking about is writing for a purpose greater than… Continue reading Be a GENUINE Writer.
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Start Photocopying Student Work Before Its Published!
Sometimes I think we forget to preserve our students' writing work as they're going through the writing process. Too often, I've forgotten to photocopy a great timeline or a first draft in which the child goes back, using revision strategies, adding more or taking huge chunks away with scissors or a thick marker. So this… Continue reading Start Photocopying Student Work Before Its Published!
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Storyboards.
This summer I heard Penny Kittle speak about using storyboards. This week I've tried them out in classrooms. They aren't all that different from one of the ways I talk to kids about planning. I encourage them to think in scenes & then sketch in their notebook a flow chart of sorts, using pictures and… Continue reading Storyboards.
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Let ‘Em Work It Out!
So today I was in a second grade classroom. After the focus lesson, I sent them back to do some important work on envisioning their story and making a plan. Students are all of the place as far as their personal writing processes and their work toward writing a personal narrative. Therefore, there were many,… Continue reading Let ‘Em Work It Out!
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Student Teachers & Writing Workshop
One of our readers, who has asked to remain anonymous, e-mailed me this morning with regard to the student teacher in their classroom. The person who is student teaching is great, but is 'slowing down' Writing Workshop. Therefore, I offered to blog a bit about this topic since I had a steady stream of student… Continue reading Student Teachers & Writing Workshop
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Peek In!
Peek into two a strategy lesson and a conference I had during today's Writing Workshop. 1. Strategy Lesson With Ruth's Blessing, I printed out her the Slice of Life Story (SOLS) she wrote about Sam's Nighttime Secret. I gathered four of my students together on the small rug of my classroom and handed them a… Continue reading Peek In!
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Develop a Vision.
I've been thinking lately about the importance of writers having a vision for the work they will do. This is one of those ideas that has become more and more important to me as I work with more and more students. The ones who write well are the ones who are able to envision their… Continue reading Develop a Vision.
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Inquiry Stance.
Many of the classrooms I'm working in are launching into a personal narrative study. I've encouraged all of them to approach their study from an inquiry stance. Meaning, get lots of personal narratives and have students read, read, read them. Then choose a couple and have students study them as writers. I've been reading Study… Continue reading Inquiry Stance.
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Write Beside Them.
Late last week, this book came in the mail. Write Beside Them, by Penny Kittle has me glued to the couch, with highlighter in hand. I'm beginning to think it may be easier to highlight the stuff that I don't want to remember than all of the words that are striking me at the… Continue reading Write Beside Them.
