Workshop is messy on any given day, but workshops between procedural lessons and lessons to lift and support writers are the messiest. The only constant I can count on is uncertainty. I watch my young writers at work. I step back to take this all in and think who needs me the most right now, where can I make the biggest impact?
Category: writing workshop
Behind the Scenes at Two Writing Teachers
In a darkened concert hall, the members of an orchestra sit ready and waiting. The conductor, in black and white coat-tails walks across the stage, gives an appreciative nod to the audience, then steps up to the podium and lifts her arms, signaling the beginning. As her hand marks the first few measures, the music cascades in big,… Continue reading Behind the Scenes at Two Writing Teachers
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What Are You Doing to Encourage Ownership?
A writing exercise and some wise words.
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Let’s invite every writer in our classroom to create mentor texts!
As a writing teacher, I am always on the lookout for rich and varied mentor texts to share with my students as we work our way through genres and, more importantly, try to live writerly lives...
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Make Your Mark by Blogging!
I have plans, big plans, for my third grader writers this year. Topping the list is helping them to become bloggers.
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From Telling Stories to Writing Stories- It’s all in respecting the process
I pause to listen to these stories (as best as I can in classroom of 27 six-year-olds, each with a story to share). After they’ve shared their story I comment, “I can’t wait to read that story!” or “Wow, you already have an idea for writing workshop!” Some walk away shaking their heads, eager to write their story, others look at me puzzled as if they aren’t sure why I would say this when they just told me the story. (I often wonder if they’re thinking, “Weren’t you listening?”).
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Phonemic Awareness! Yeah!
Sometimes colleagues tell me that the feel intimidated or uneasy about setting out to teach phonemic awareness, because it all feels so technical. Even the terminology is tricky: phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonics... I like to think of teaching phonemic awareness as being just like kindergarteners themselves--complicated indeed, but also a lot of fun.
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Slipping Backward
What do you do when you see the slip?
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A Peek Inside Modeled Writing
Are you always telling your students to add detail? To write more? Here is a sample minilesson to show them how.
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Building a conferring binder
Someday, perhaps I will finally make the break from old-fashioned binder to new fangled conferring app. But, for now, I have two just assembled conferring binders with which to begin a year of exciting work...
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Teaching Writers about Writing Workshop
Teaching students about the structures and rationales for writing workshop can lead to greater productivity and independence. This post outlines a minilesson that teaches students what to expect and why during each day's writing time.
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Where Do We Go Next? Use a Checklist!
Do your on-demand writing samples go into a folder or do they help you plan your next steps?
