writing workshop

Have You Used Prezi?

I had heard of Prezi. I thought about Prezi. I used Powerpoint anyway. I am preparing a presentation for July and had it practically done in Powerpoint. I was happy with the muted colors and pretty watermark flower that adorned each slide. The slides were full of words and photos…a lot of words though. I… Continue reading Have You Used Prezi?

writing workshop

Curating a year of writing: assembling writing portfolios and time for reflection

With two weeks left in our school year, it is at last time to begin putting together our writing portfolios, setting aside some time to time travel through our year of writing workshop, and reflect upon both the progress we've made as writers as well as the goals we'd like to set for the new school… Continue reading Curating a year of writing: assembling writing portfolios and time for reflection

management · summer vacation · writing workshop

How Are You Going to Read All That?

It's almost summer! Time for sunshine, flip-flops, barbecue grills, and reading student writing.

writing workshop

Developing Endings with Primary Writers

NO! Don't let it end! How do you develop a good ending to a story? Use text and student examples.

technology · writing workshop

Technology in Writing Workshop: When Students Take The Lead

We are neck deep in drafting various pieces for our multi genre writing project these days, and I am noticing (and celebrating) two ways in which our workshop has changed, both of which make this project do-able and enjoyable. First, a year of rigorous writing workshop, with carefully adhered to routines and practices,  has created… Continue reading Technology in Writing Workshop: When Students Take The Lead

fiction · writing workshop

Ending Where We Began: Writing Realistic Fiction

Looking for a way to end the writing year with transference, engagement, and noticeable growth? Choosing a familiar writing unit may be just the way.

quote · Slice of Life Story Challenge · writing workshop

Join Us for the Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge

It's Tuesday! Time to share a story from your life with our amazing community of writers. Here are some words of wisdom about writing from author John Green, who, if you didn't already know, is taking the world by storm lately: “I really think that reading is just as important as writing when you’re trying to… Continue reading Join Us for the Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge

choice · conferring · independent writing · writing workshop

A Quick Little Conference About Choices

I pulled a child-sized chair over to Zach and sat down next to him. "How's it going?" I asked. "Not good," was his reply. "What seems to be the trouble?" Zach explained that he was trying to add dialogue to his story, but his story was about falling asleep on the couch with his puppy,… Continue reading A Quick Little Conference About Choices

independent writing · Independent Writing Blog Series · independent writing projects · writing workshop

Independent Writing: Back-Up Work

Encouraging students to have back-up work honors who they are as writers.

writing workshop

Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge

Welcome to the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Here are few quotes for inspiration. Enjoy! When I write, my mind’s not filled with visual imagery.  It’s filled with language.  Words.  I seek words, I chase after them.  When I write I’m trying to put the most beautiful words in the world down on paper.  ~Cynthia… Continue reading Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge

independent writing · Independent Writing Blog Series · independent writing projects · summer vacation · writing workshop

Independent Writing Blog Series Starts Now!

Today launches our Independent Writing Blog Series! Join us all week long as we write about writing projects, summer writing, getting published in the real world, multi-genre projects, pulling back to let kids write on their own, and much, much more! Also join us for a Twitter chat on Monday, May 12 at 8:30pm EST with the hashtag #TWTBlog.

apps · digital writing · writing workshop

In my writing workshop: it’s finally time for photographs and digital stories.

At last August’s Summer Institute, Cornelius Minor, teacher extraordinaire and staff developer at TC’s Writing and Reading Project, gave an unforgettable presentation on technology in the classroom which I wrote about on my blog “A Teaching Life”.  I left TC full of good intentions about infusing my sixth grade Writing Workshop with technology,  and using… Continue reading In my writing workshop: it’s finally time for photographs and digital stories.