We say to kids, "Here's your notebook! Now you are writer!" We want kids to write in school and beyond. Maybe there are things we can do in school to keep their writerly lives going--even when our units of study and minilessons have moved on to other aspects of the work.
Category: writing workshop
Intentional Practice In Our Writing Classrooms
Intentional practice leads to better performance. Writing instruction follows a similar pattern, and by about six weeks into the year, teachers know their students. Just like soccer coaches, teachers can start to develop some responsive instruction, both from the figurative sidelines, as well as through direct instruction.
Questions to Reflect, Expand, and Select
If we are not intentional, we can easily rush into many teaching points, instead of only one. We can overwhelm ourselves and our students. If we are not careful, we can miss the most important reason we sit with a student―the opportunity to listen and learn.
A Writer’s Mindset–Part Two
The mindset of our writers has a direct impact on the progress and success of our writers.
How to Name a Transferable Teaching Point in a Writing Conference
Conferring with young writers is far too complex to boiled down to just one important aspect. But... if you had to name the most important part of a writing conference, what would it be?
Three Ways To Increase Instructional Clarity
Teaching is an art, and sometimes tweaks don't work as we hope or envision. However, I hope that these three ideas do increase the clarity of instruction in ways that help all students learn to be independent confident writers.
Every Child Can Write Blog Tour: Focus on Spelling and Conventions (Giveaway)
Welcome to the next stop on Melanie Meehan's Every Child Can Write blog tour! Today's focus is on Chapter 8, which has excellent ideas for educators when it comes to teaching striving writers about spelling and conventions. Be sure to comment on this post for a chance to win your own copy of Every Child Can Write! (You are going to want a copy of this book ASAP! It is THAT good!)
Back to School Themes and Reflections
What are the themes that you come back to each school year? Today I explore the topics that I come back to each new year and share links from previous posts. Please share your ideas in the comments!
Dear Kids… A Post You Can Share With Your Students on How To Use Writing Notebooks Home
Inspired by a recent conversation I had with some fourth graders, today I want to share a post with you that is also something you can share with your students. Feel free to read, display, or otherwise share with your third fourth, fifth graders, and middle schoolers.
The Good-Enough Writing Workshop
When we're new at doing something, we try to achieve perfection too soon. Greatness isn't something that can be achieved when we begin teaching writing using a workshop approach. It helps to extend ourselves some grace and accept being "good enough" when we start.
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.
The Importance of Repertoire for Teachers
We can change up how we are teaching depending on the situation and circumstances, but in order to do that, we have to know some choices and moves we can make. Knowing this, there are a few quick ways we can think about repertoire within our whole group instruction.

