notebooks · summer vacation · writing workshop

Summer Writing: A Confession and a Goal

All of us at Two Writing Teachers are thinking about and planning for summer writing. Summer writing inspiration for our students and summer writing goals for ourselves. Kathleen wrote this fabulous post about using QR codes to support students' summer notebook writing. Beth shared inspiration in her recent Summer Writing Bucket List post. And Melanie reflected on… Continue reading Summer Writing: A Confession and a Goal

apps · authentic assessment · blogging · celebration · choice · digital writing · engagement · writing workshop

Go-To Digital Tools for Writing Workshop

Digital tools can transform your teaching by allowing students to have a writing community beyond the classroom walls, be innovative, make meaningful connections to other writers and students, have more resources readily available, and have true, authentic reasons for writing.

writing workshop

Reflections and Refinements: The Year Ahead

I packed the books, cleared the tables and turned in my keys. It's an official end to the school year. As I sit down in my car, my head, and my heart begins to reflect on the year, the successes, the trials and what could've been

giveaway · teaching tools · writing workshop

DIY Literacy: A Review & Giveaway

DIY Literacy will give you the tools you need to reach all your students

expository · nonfiction writing · writing workshop

Expository Leads + Giveaways!

Challenging students to push past their safe zones of writing has been a challenge all year. We all reaped some great rewards as the year came to a close.

summer vacation · Teachers who write · writing workshop

Summer Writing Bucket List

What's on your summer writing bucket list? You don't need to have a novel hiding in your desk drawer to call yourself a writer. All the small things add up. If you don't have a list going already, here's a little inspiration for Summer 2016.

writing workshop

Ideas and Inspirations for Summer Writing

Ideas and Inspirations for Summer Writing

celebration · family · writing workshop

Celebrating Writers and Teachers

It’s the end of the school year and our days are full of reflections, assessments, and all kinds of celebrations. During those final days before summer vacation begins, we find many ways celebrate student growth and recognize their accomplishments. And of course my favorite celebration is a simple and informal writing share with parents and… Continue reading Celebrating Writers and Teachers

writing workshop

A Year of Writing: A Week of Reflection

As I confer with each writer, I feel my eyes filling with tears. I show each student their writing from the first day of school and watch as their less cherubic and more mature faces brighten. "That's really my first writing in first grade?" "I didn't even use the whole page." "I can't read it." and "That doesn't look like my writing now." were typical comments.

summer vacation · writing workshop

QR Coding Our Way to Summer Writing!

QR Codes might just be the way to help summer writers keep writing!

giveaway · mentor texts · narrative · writing workshop

Nerdy Birdy: A Review & Giveaway

When I first opened Nerdy Birdy by Aaron Reynolds, I was not (yet) reading it with the eye of a writer.  I was way too smitten with the bird on the front cover.  I mean, look at this guy: Nerdy Birdy is cute, but he is most definitely not cool.  He is no good at sports or… Continue reading Nerdy Birdy: A Review & Giveaway

play · writing workshop

Purposeful Play: A Review and a Giveaway

In the new book Purposeful Play: A Teachers Guide to Igniting Deep & Joyful Learning Across the Day, Kristine Mraz, Alison Porcelli, and Cheryl Tyler have laid out the research and practical advice that many of us have been looking for.