EAL · Inventive spelling · multilingual · spelling · writing workshop

Spelling in a Writing Workshop

The truth… I’d rather not talk about spelling. There are more important things in a writing workshop, than to talk about spelling. Spelling well is a good thing. When we edit what we write, it is profusely important, but it has nothing to do with growing a writer. When we focus on spelling or grammar correctness, the growing writer becomes stifled.

September 11th · writing workshop

Pausing to Remember 9/11

While every day is an opportunity to practice kindness, put our arms around the people we love, and cherish all that is good in our lives, perhaps today is an especially good day to remember the importance of doing those things.

slice of life · Toni Morrison · writing workshop

It’s Tuesday! Welcome to the Slice of Life Story Challenge!

Write your post. Share it with the community. Comment on at least three other posts.

goals · strategic conferring · strategies · writing workshop

What’s in a Strategy?

Do your writers know how strategies can help them reach their destination? Better yet, do they know where they are going?

slice of life · Toni Morrison · writing workshop

It’s Tuesday! Join us for the Slice of Life Story Challenge!

Welcome to the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Write your post. Share it with the community. Comment on at least three other posts. This month, I have collected some quotes from Toni Morrison to inspire us. Some of them come from a 1993 interview in The Paris Review. If you have time, the entire interview… Continue reading It’s Tuesday! Join us for the Slice of Life Story Challenge!

writing workshop

Read Alouds for Writers

For students, a read aloud is a serious tool. It is a source of building community, language, literacy, and much more. Read alouds offer a lot for the growth of a reader, but they offer much more than we think for writers, especially writers who are also EALs (learners of English as an Additional Language).… Continue reading Read Alouds for Writers

writing workshop

How do your students learn?

The more that we understand the distinctive characteristics of the intelligences, the better we can recognize ways to differentiate for learners, honoring the spectrum of learning styles that exist in not only our classrooms, but also our world.

materials · toolkits · writing workshop

Writers Need Tools!

As teachers, we have tools we use across the day and toolkits we use within our writing workshop. As I get ready for my second week of school here is a glimpse at the tools my writers will be gathering this week as we get further into the routines of our writing workshop!

EAL · ELL · writing workshop

English Language Development Frames

When my sister and I were kids, we played Super Mario Brothers on Nintendo. I witnessed her saving the princess at least three times during our summer video game marathons. I watched as she passed through all the levels seamlessly. She knew what was expected of her at each level that would prepare her for… Continue reading English Language Development Frames

charts · Nurturing Independence From the Start Blog Series · repertoire · strategy charts · writing workshop

The Importance of Repertoire: Nurturing Independence From the Start

The truth in writing -- and in many aspects of life -- is that there isn’t really one way to do anything. The strongest writers understand their options and are flexible and intentional with their choices. That’s repertoire!

Nurturing Independence From the Start Blog Series · writing workshop

Writing Because You Want To: Nurturing Independence From the Start

How do you encourage students to write at home without mandating they do so? Read on for some ideas! Please share your ideas in the comments and keep our conversation going.

growth mindset · independence · independent writing · Nurturing Independence From the Start Blog Series · writing workshop

A Writer’s Mindset: Nurturing Independence from the Start

Does the mindset of our student writers impact their independence? How does OUR mindset impact their independence as writers?
After a lot of researching, reading, writing, and reflecting I'm sharing some insights and steps toward building a growth mindset in our classroom communities of writers. Join in the conversation!