wordless books · writing workshop

Fox’s Garden Book Review and Giveaway!

Give a wordless book a try during your next writing workshop and see the possibilities.

writing workshop

So, what does it take to be a great writing teacher? Students’ point of view.

For the past many years, writing workshop in our middle school ended in sixth grade.  They would, of course, continue to write in seventh grade, but that every other day of writing workshop ritual -  the writer’s notebook, the sketching and exploring of their writers’ identities through different genres of writing - would now be… Continue reading So, what does it take to be a great writing teacher? Students’ point of view.

back to school · independent writing · management · writing workshop

Okay, But What Would You Do?

This week has been full of writing workshop conundrums and dilemmas!

back to school · community · first day · writing workshop

Back to School

I've culled the TWT archives for posts you might want to read during the first month of the school year.

curriculum · curriculum planning · independent writing · minilesson · plan · preparation · procedures · writing workshop

Minilessons: It’s All About the Link

It's all about the link. Make sure your minilessons link to ongoing work. Link to making choices. Link to all the other minilessons. Link to the charts and resources in the room. Most of all link your minilesson always to problem solving and independence.

writing workshop

Kindergarten Writing Workshop: The First Weeks

What is the breakdown of your first two-three weeks of workshop? Here's a peek into my plans for my kindergarten students.

back to school · lucy calkins · minilesson · shared writing · writing workshop

There Are More Ways Than One To Teach A Minilesson

Last week I wrote a post titled How To Plan A Minilesson From Scratch, and I outlined a very simple way to plan minilessons, based on the work of my wonderful colleagues at the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. Now, I am going to backtrack a bit and revisit just a teensy weensy bit of what I said. I wrote, "Every minilesson can pretty much go the same way." And this is absolutely true, most of the time. Except for those times when it's not true.

writing workshop

Interactive Writing: Don’t Close the Door

Interactive Writing? Yeah, I wasn't a believer. I will admit this openly; I had kind of fought against it and did not see it working in my classroom until many years ago. What is Interactive writing is essentially when the teacher models reading and writing strategies while sharing the pen with students as they create… Continue reading Interactive Writing: Don’t Close the Door

article · technology · vacation · writing · writing workshop

Good for the Brain

Want to help your students focus better during independent writing time? A recent NY Times piece by Daniel J. Levitin may hold the key to making this happen in your classroom.

early childhood · peer conferring · writing workshop · young authors

My Re-Programming Process

Sometimes you just have to start over.

back to school · community · writers · writing workshop

Visual Writer Introductions

Fostering a nurturing writing community at the beginning of the school year means taking the time to build a community of writers. Here's an artistic way you can have students introduce themselves, and their quirks, to their peers.

writing workshop

Sharpen Your Workshop Routines: Don’t Skip Share Time

A menu of possibilities for share time