Launching our yearlong Slice of Life writing challenge is an exhilarating experience for my sixth graders. None of them have done any type of digital writing, and the very idea of posting a slice, seeing it “go public,” and then watching as classmates comment and compliment their writing is, as one of my kiddos put… Continue reading Slice of Life in the classroom: How to rubric and grade our project
Category: writing workshop
Setting Up Writing Partners for Success
We've all been there. Reading your own writing to somebody else can be scary. Even when I am teaching adults in writing institutes and graduate courses I often have to say, "Please don't cover up your writing and just summarize it; actually read your writing to your partner." Even then, there are always a few participants… Continue reading Setting Up Writing Partners for Success
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Introduction: Beth Moore
Hello Readers! Please allow me to introduce myself. I am thrilled to become a part of this fabulous team of teachers and writers. It is such an honor to be a part of this fantastic project. I have always wanted to be a writer. At seven or eight years old, I used to spend whole days… Continue reading Introduction: Beth Moore
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Launching a Year of Writing With Poetry
Jenny Maehara believes poems are wonderful as a launching point for writing because students can write many poems in a unit and feel like prolific writers from the start. Find out how students can learn the habits of writers and the routines of writing workshop while crafting meaningful pieces using a balance of different details and thoughtful structure in Jenny's guest blog post.
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What Would They Say?
What would your students say if they were asked what writing workshop means to them? Find out what a group of first graders value about writing workshop in Betsy Hubbard's guest blog post.
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Teaching Toolkits: Making Instruction Visible
Anna Gratz Cockerille provides tips for organizing and developing teaching toolkits you can use across the school year.
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Happy Labor Day
I hope today brings whatever you need to... expand your creativity... love yourself... renew your energy... and know you matter.
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It’s Coming!
I'm excited that this little book will be out next month. It is less than 100 pages, but is full of ideas to weave authentic celebration into your work with young writers. It address celebration throughout the writing process, as well as pushes us to consider ways to celebrate outside of the walls of our… Continue reading It’s Coming!
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Writer’s Notebooks
Last week I had a conversation with a middle school teacher who has spent her summer studying writing workshop and is excited to make writer's notebooks the backbone of her writing instruction. This is my tenth year as an instructional writing coach and I've had the opportunity to see teachers put notebooks in action hundreds… Continue reading Writer’s Notebooks
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A Dozen Book Recommendations for New Writing Teachers
With so many fantastic books about the teaching of writing out there, how do teachers who are new to writing workshop know what to read first? Here are 12 books I think all teachers of writing should read.
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Friday Favorites
It seems like so long since I've sat beside Andy, a baseball game on the tv and my computer open on my lap. I came home from All-Write 2013 and after hello said, I have to write a blog post. He laughed. Nevertheless, this is going to be a Fast Friday Favorites. You'll find some… Continue reading Friday Favorites
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I Be Myself (Vintage Ayres)
I spent most of the day thinking of something inspirational to share today. I really love blogging and I look forward to thinking of ways to encourage and inspire. Unfortunately I'm out of ideas (but have several for my next Friday Favorites!). I'm not worried, though, because I know ideas will come. The worse thing… Continue reading I Be Myself (Vintage Ayres)
