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.
Category: writing workshop
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.
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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.”
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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.
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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
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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.
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Sneak Attack!
A project inspired by radio but inspiring to the heart.
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Nourishing the writer in the writing teacher.
All week long, Heinemann Publishing has been celebrating Don Graves on their Facebook page, featuring his groundbreaking work, and asking educators this question: To honor Don Graves, help us keep his legacy alive. Tell us your story. What inspires your teaching? And, all week long, educators like Nancie Atwell and Mary Ellen Giacobbe have… Continue reading Nourishing the writer in the writing teacher.
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Close reading leads to close writing: “Falling in Love With Close Reading” in writing workshop
I have truly fallen in love with Falling in Love With Close Reading, the just-released book by Christopher Lehman and Kate Roberts. As with Kylene Beers and Robert Probst’s Notice and Note, this is a book that pushes my thinking about reading - my own, as well as that of my plot-crazy students… Continue reading Close reading leads to close writing: “Falling in Love With Close Reading” in writing workshop
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Tailoring Our Teaching: Stretching our gifted writers
Every year, I have one or two writers who arrive at my sixth grade writing workshop door fully formed: they love to write, they write beautifully, and they write well across many genres. While some of their classmates struggle with everything from generating ideas to the nitty gritties of punctuation and paragraphing, these… Continue reading Tailoring Our Teaching: Stretching our gifted writers
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Tailoring Our Teaching with Conferring: The Basics with the Youngest Writers
What chair are you sitting in when it comes to conferring? Is it too hard, too soft or just right? Read on to find common questions and tips when sitting beside the youngest writers.
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Tailoring Our Teaching: Using a Writing Engagement Tool
During a 40-minute block of independent writing time, we sat back and observed the students. We recorded their independent writing behaviors at eight separate time intervals.
