Gimmicks
I’ve been known to use lots of gimmicky things to get kids to write in their notebooks. For instance, I’ll create mini-charts (aka: cheat sheets) of the large strategy charts … Continue Reading Gimmicks
Gearing up for tomorrow’s Workshop
Here’s my chart for tomorrow’s LOOKING AT YOUR PLACE Activity. I’ve been contemplating modeling for them, but I’m leaning more towards a guided practice where I take them through the … Continue Reading Gearing up for tomorrow’s Workshop
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Writing Center
My Classroom’s Writing Center Originally uploaded by teachergal In the six-plus hours that I spent in my classroom today, I spent at least an hour tweaking the way the Writing … Continue Reading Writing Center
the balance of teaching writing.
Do you ever feel like you’re being pulled in different teaching directions — conventions and craft and process? Do you sometimes feel guilty when you’re teaching about craft that you … Continue Reading the balance of teaching writing.
Keeping Track of Writing Conferences
I often feel like I’m conferring with the same kids over and over again in Writing Workshop. Hence, I’ve created a new tool, a KID TRACKER, to help me keep … Continue Reading Keeping Track of Writing Conferences
A very different unit of study
What if…? That’s a question I ask myself very often when I try to get my imagination running when I’m writing fiction, which is not the easiest genre for me … Continue Reading A very different unit of study
My Writing Teacher Goals
Angela Redden got me thinking about all of my goals for the upcoming school year. I thought this would be a brilliant place for me to articulate my writerly goals, … Continue Reading My Writing Teacher Goals
Recipe for Conferring Success
I baked a delicious chocolate peanut butter chip quick bread this past weekend. It came from a mix. (See how honest I am!) However, it required a few ingredients, such … Continue Reading Recipe for Conferring Success
The first month of school
I met with the other teacher on my grade level today to plan our Reading and Writing Workshops for the first month of school. Our writing teaching points were inspired … Continue Reading The first month of school
What really matters when providing quality writing instruction…
One of Ruth’s Colleagues from Indiana, Jen Barney, wrote a post about the top ten things she’s learned as a teacher of writing in the past year. I think she … Continue Reading What really matters when providing quality writing instruction…
Getting Started: Creating CWPs
Heinemann just published a lovely series of three booklets by Jim Vopat entitled Micro Lessons in Writing. I am so excited about infusing these micro lessons into my classroom, starting … Continue Reading Getting Started: Creating CWPs
My Writing Workshop Bookshelf
I’ve unpacked nearly all of my boxes. While I know a few of my titles are missing, I just wanted to share my Writing Workshop Professional Bookshelf. Some of my … Continue Reading My Writing Workshop Bookshelf
Ch-ch-ch-changes
I asked my students how they’ve changed as writers from the beginning of the year until now. Here’s what a few of them said: In the beginning of the year … Continue Reading Ch-ch-ch-changes
Independent Writing Projects
I’m debating as to whether or not I should assign independent writing projects to my students before the end of the school year (which ends on 6/27). Part of me … Continue Reading Independent Writing Projects
