For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning. ~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding" How appropriate that the year ends on a Slice of Life Tuesday! Here's to ending a wonderful year of meeting on Tuesdays to share our… Continue reading WRITE, SHARE, GIVE: SOLS TIME
Category: writing workshop
Creating writing museums
Last July, Bonnie Kaplan invited me to join the Hudson Valley Writing Project's Summer Institute for a day. I had been hearing so much about the work these teachers had been doing, that I didn't hesitate even for a moment to say, "Yes!"...even though I knew it would mean getting up extra early in order… Continue reading Creating writing museums
Share this:
Share this:
Tips from Amanda Hartman, Conferring Guru
Amanda Hartman, author of One to One: The Art of Conferring with Young Writers, offers tips for teachers on how to strengthen their writing conferences.
Share this:
Share this:
Remembering Newtown
There are no words.
Share this:
Share this:
The Importance of Sharing
How does sharing fit into your writing workshop routine? Find tools and ideas to put sharing on your priority list of daily rituals.
Share this:
Share this:
In my writing workshop: a student takes ownership
Tucked away among the many books I bought at NCTE is this treasure: a collection of Donald Graves’ essays on writing workshop. An added bonus is a DVD that captures footage of Don and his team of teacher/researchers in action during the Atkinson study. I’m making slow but sure progress through the book, mostly because… Continue reading In my writing workshop: a student takes ownership
Share this:
Share this:
Our Inner Writing Critic
Now I know different. I know that all writers hear that voice. All of us. Here was my message to the 6th graders: All writers have an inner critic. Acknowledge yours. And KEEP WRITING.
Share this:
Share this:
A Writing Routine with Primary Writers
What is your writing routine? Find some advice and tools to assist you in developing a routine that works for you and your students.
Share this:
Share this:
Video Writing Prompts: Keeping kids engaged in those “between units and right before vacation days.”
Video Writing Prompts: Keeping kids engaged in those “between units and right before vacation days.”
It’s that time of year in many of our classrooms: that restless time between Thanksgiving break and winter recess. I mark my kids “present” every day, but I know that most of them are, in fact, many miles away - dreaming of festivities, skiing, vacations, and lazy days in pajamas. Every day seems to be… Continue reading Video Writing Prompts: Keeping kids engaged in those “between units and right before vacation days.”
Share this:
Share this:
Digital Tools Invite Writers to Compose – #NCTE13
Two of the sessions I attended at NCTE in Boston helped me think about ways two digital tools could be meaningfully integrated into early childhood and elementary school classrooms to engage young writers. The "Exploring Collaboration of Multimodal Literacies in Early Childhood: Digital Filmmaking, Designing, and Co-Authoring" panel discussed the way digital video cameras could enhance learning, while two of the presenters in "Writing Workshop Is for All Students: Using Visuals, Oral Language, and Digital Tools to Maximize Success and Independence for English Language Learners" suggested the incorporation of digital cameras.
Share this:
Share this:
Reflections on writing workshop: Sometimes when they say they’re “done” they’re really done
copyright: Bill Watterson - Calvin and Hobbes This is pretty much how Josh felt when I pulled my conferring stool up next to his desk yesterday and asked, "So, how's it going?" He had been working on his memoir for the past week, and making very slow progress. Most of our writing workshop class… Continue reading Reflections on writing workshop: Sometimes when they say they’re “done” they’re really done
Share this:
Share this:
Happy Charting: ‘Smarter Charts’ Authors Marjorie Martinelli and Kristi Mraz Share Some Tips for Your Classroom
It's always a joy to learn with Majorie Martinelli and Kristi Mraz. In this interview, they share some excellent advice on using charts to support independence in the classroom.
