Jen, Sarah, and Ruth gave me some fantastic ideas about ways to make the launch of writer's notebooks and using the classroom library more exciting for children in September. I thought their ideas were brilliant and will be doing both this-coming school year. Classroom Library Semi-organize the books in the classroom library before the start… Continue reading Literacy Gifts
Category: writing workshop
For Art’s Sake!!!
Whenever I think of an art-related activity to do with my students that isn't an actual craft project, I always ask myself, "Will they get something out of this or am I doing art work art's sake?" In case you're wondering what I mean by art for art's sake, that means doing an art activity… Continue reading For Art’s Sake!!!
Share this:
Share this:
Photo Fridays: An Opportunity to Write About Photographs
Late Sunset over Lake Winona Originally uploaded by teachergal I marveled, twice, about the fact that the sun sets later in Indiana than it does in Rhode Island (i.e. because it's on the western part of the Eastern Time Zone). Therefore, after Ruth, Christi, and I parted from Jen, Cathy, and Sarah, I detoured to… Continue reading Photo Fridays: An Opportunity to Write About Photographs
Share this:
Share this:
Dinner with the Indiana Blogging Teachers
L-R: Christi, Ruth, Me, Jen, Sarah, & Cathy Originally uploaded by teachergal I just returned home after spending the past thee days in Indiana, with Ruth, preparing for our presentation at NCTE this-coming November. [The presentation's title has changed to “'I HATE WRITING!!!': A Discussion About Inspiring Reluctant Writers By Writing Alongside Them," since we… Continue reading Dinner with the Indiana Blogging Teachers
Share this:
Share this:
Remember to Celebrate!
Publishing Party - October 2004, originally uploaded by teachergal. Katherine Bomer spoke about the celebrating the work our young writers do when she delivered the Keynote Address at the TCRWP July Writing Institute. She made me reflect on the way I celebrate my students' work, which I do at the end of each unit of… Continue reading Remember to Celebrate!
Share this:
Share this:
Sharing in Writing Workshop
I just received a mailing from my school over the weekend with our summer professional reading. There's an excerpt from The Art of Teaching Reading, as well as a copy of Leah Mermelstein's book Don't Forget to Share: The Crucial Last Step in the Writing Workshop. I'll probably start the book later this week, but,… Continue reading Sharing in Writing Workshop
Share this:
Share this:
How to Make Conferring Better in Our Classrooms
Conferring Tips from C.A. Originally uploaded by teachergal Carl Anderson delivered an excellent keynote address at the TCRWP's Writing Institute, which I attended a couple of weeks ago. It was called, "So You Want to Be the Next American Conferring Idol." (Great title, right!??!!!) In under 50 minutes, Anderson provided us all with ways to… Continue reading How to Make Conferring Better in Our Classrooms
Share this:
Share this:
Heart Mapping & Writing Territories
I've been having my students map their hearts, to help them generate ideas for writing, when they're stuck, for as long as I've been teaching. However, last week when I was at the TCRWP's Summer Institute for the Teaching of Writing, the words "writing territories" seemed to be mentioned everywhere. I was familiar with this… Continue reading Heart Mapping & Writing Territories
Share this:
Share this:
We hope you’ll join us for…
Just link your post here by using Mr. Linky AND by posting a comment. Need help getting started with your writing? If so, click here.
Share this:
Share this:
READING/WRITING CONNECTIONS: If you want to teach writing really well, know a few picture books really well and use them when you confer.
On the final day of the Writing Institute, both Carl and Lucy spent some time reiterating the importance of knowing a few texts REALLY WELL so you can use the same book with many students (rather than needing several books for each unit of study). That is, figuring out how a text, such as a… Continue reading READING/WRITING CONNECTIONS: If you want to teach writing really well, know a few picture books really well and use them when you confer.
Share this:
Share this:
Ad Copywriting: A (New) Unit of Study Possibility
Kids watch commercials on television all of the time. Most of the children I know can recite the jingles they hear on both television and on the radio. However, I've never thought of giving kids the chance to write advertisement copy until I was staring over a friend's shoulder today. My friend was showing me… Continue reading Ad Copywriting: A (New) Unit of Study Possibility
Share this:
Share this:
The Truth is what matters when we write. (The “T” is capitalized for a reason.)
Ruth and I have were recently talking about the truth in our writing. We both recognized that honesty matters when we write. Writing is empty and vacant without the expression of honest emotions, isn't it? Yesterday, when I met up with my former student, Elaine, and her family we talked about having writing territories and… Continue reading The Truth is what matters when we write. (The “T” is capitalized for a reason.)
