slice of life · writing workshop

It’s SOL Time!

What's going on in your world today? Share your story here today at TWT!

classroom · education · independent writing · literacy · lucy calkins · noticings · plan · precise language · procedures · prompts · routines · scaffolding charts · scheduling · shared writing · speech · stories · storytelling · Teachers College · vocabulary · writing workshop

A Mini-Crash-Course on Oral Storytelling

It's been several months since I've written for Two Writing Teachers. In December my son was born, and I was on maternity leave until a few weeks ago. Then, in March I pushed aside all excuses and did the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Every day in the month of March I recruited my four year old daughter to tell… Continue reading A Mini-Crash-Course on Oral Storytelling

historical fiction · writing workshop

Historical Fiction: Adding Detail

We know writers of historical fiction pay attention to period detail, but how do they weave that detail into the story? What scaffolds can we provide to support the kids' writing as they work to weave together history and story? What kind of work could they do in their writer's notebooks?

modeling · writing workshop

Our Real Power: Authentic Writing

"Stepping into our authenticity is stepping into our real power."

character development · writing workshop

Be Your Higher Self

Are you being your higher self? It's not always easy. Barry Lane and Colleen Mestdagh gave me a lesson in teaching this idea to my students through song, writing and conversation.

Slice of Life Story Challenge · writing workshop

Challenge for New Slicers

Calling all first-time Slicers!

slice of life · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · writing workshop

Notes from the SOLSC my classroom: how to leave “constructive comments”.

Writing a Slice of Life every day is  challenging for us, and challenging for our students.  And, just as we (may) struggle with getting to everyone and leaving a meaningful comment, so it is for our students, too. For my students, who slice every Friday, all year, as part of our writing workshop routine, commenting was something that had… Continue reading Notes from the SOLSC my classroom: how to leave “constructive comments”.

early childhood · Q & A · series · writing workshop

Writing in Preschool: Questions and Answers

Before this series of posts on preschool writers began, I asked you to tell me what burning questions you had. Get ready for a Q&A!

slice of life · writing workshop

WRITE, SHARE, GIVE: SOL TIME

“I write only because There is a voice within me That will not be still” ― Sylvia Plath, Letters Home Welcome, Tuesday slicers.   It is the last Tuesday in February...four days from the start of our  March Slice of Life Story Challenge.  I, for one, am hoping that the voice within me will not be still… Continue reading WRITE, SHARE, GIVE: SOL TIME

early childhood · goals · sequence · writing workshop

Writing in Preschool: Scope and Sequence

Writing is a big animal. A subjective animal as well when it comes to teaching our youngest writers.

digital writing · olw · slice of life · Slice of Life Story Challenge · SOLSC Classroom Challenge · writing workshop

Keeping a writing blog: taking our writing workshop online

With the  Classroom Slice of Life Story Challenge  just around the corner, perhaps some of you are thinking more than ever about starting a class blog just for writing.    Over the past few years, we have taken our writer's notebook  online in my classroom, not just for the month of March, but for the entire… Continue reading Keeping a writing blog: taking our writing workshop online

early childhood · katie wood ray · writing workshop

Writing in Preschool. Where Does it All Fit?

"People who are comfortable composing are much more likely to have strong identities as writers than people who don't." Katie Wood Ray & Matt Glover