routines · writing workshop

Pick Your Head Up: Remembering Kathleen Tolan

A week ago, Kathleen Tolan, Senior Deputy Director of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, died peacefully in her sleep. Kathleen was the one who hired me, first as her own and Lucy Calkins's intern in 2003, then as a staff developer in 2004. Over the next decade she was my boss, my mentor, coach, teacher, leader,… Continue reading Pick Your Head Up: Remembering Kathleen Tolan

writing workshop

Active Authentic Audiences: PART OF #TWTBLOG’S THROWBACK WEEK

Deb shared fabulous ideas about developing authentic audiences in a post she wrote for the blog series on What Matters Most.

writing workshop

Watch and Notice–Part of #TWTBlog’s Throwback Week

Dana's post on the power of demonstration writing is one of my favorites. Writers love to see their teachers write, and teachers have a terrific platform for instructing using this technique.

Teachers who write · Throwback Week · writing workshop

Straight From Students: Why Teachers Should Write: Part Of #TWTBLOG’S Throwback Week

Melanie asked the students, "What makes you feel like a writer?" Read the voices from the classroom. YOUR writing matters to YOUR students.

writing workshop

We Are Writers Here: Part of #TWTBlog’s Throwback Week

This week on Two Writing Teachers, we are each chosing another co-author’s previously published post to feature as part of our Throwback Week.

spelling · word study · writing workshop

Three Favorite Word Wall Games

  A well-planned word wall allows students to quickly access familiar high frequency words from word study instruction. As they are writing, they can simply glance up, find the word, and continue to write. With the word wall, there's no need to interrupt their work to search through a dictionary or booklet. Glancing at the word word… Continue reading Three Favorite Word Wall Games

writing workshop

Using Mentor Texts With Students

Kelly Boswell reminded me of a three step process for using mentor texts with students.

writing workshop

‘Tis the Season… Where Did the Writing Go?

Maybe you teach in a school where all is calm during the weeks between the end of Thanksgiving weekend and the beginning of Winter break. I do not. (If you do, will you share your secret?) It is a busy time for most of us, both in and beyond school. All too often writing workshop… Continue reading ‘Tis the Season… Where Did the Writing Go?

apps · authors · blogging · communication · digital writing · kidblog · organization · parent involvement · preparing students for the 21st century · professional development · writing workshop

A Class Hub To The Rescue!

A class hub can make all the difference for digital writing and learning!

community · teacher of writing · teacher writing · Teachers who write · Write: It's good for you! · writer identity · writers · writing · writing process · writing workshop · young authors

Writing Takes Guts: My Writing Backstory

The realization of this moment gave me chills and led me to share my writing backstory with Dana. Dana listened and encouraged me to open my presentation with this story. I was hesitant, the experience had halted my inner writer for years. What if sharing it again had the same result?

NCTE · writing workshop

You Can Write

Three words that can change a student's life forever.

One Little Word (OLW) · writing workshop

One Little Word Check-In

Checking in on my 2016 One Little Word...