My son loves-loves-loves books. This steals my heart. It also allows me even more time to read children's books. What I've noticed is my desire to dive in and write fiction. I know many people are in the midst of fiction with their students. (It seems to be a good way to keep the grey… Continue reading Writing Fiction? Take the next step!
Category: writing
Why all the photos? Where’s WNW?
I've been hard at work on this piece of fiction writing for my classroom demonstrations during Writing Workshop. Hence, other than the writing I've been doing online (which is quite a bit), I haven't been able to wrap my head around a charge for Writer's Notebook Wednesday (aka: WNW). WNW WILL be back soon, but… Continue reading Why all the photos? Where’s WNW?
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WN Entry: In less than six months…
This week has been filled with wonderful blog-related things. First, we became b-listers. Next, one of my favorite authors, Jacqueline Woodson, happened upon our blog and posted a comment. And then this morning I woke up to find that in less than six months of being an open blog on the 'net, Two Writing Teachers… Continue reading WN Entry: In less than six months…
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Self-Assessing Their Notebooks
Inspired by Davis and Hill's Book The No-Nonsense Guide to Teaching Writing: Strategies, Structures, and Solutions, which is published by Heinemann, I began giving my students weekend writing assessments last year. One of the girls in my class suggested that I change-up the Weekend Writer's Notebook Assessment Form (which I had already modified from Davis… Continue reading Self-Assessing Their Notebooks
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News & Announcements Charts
I'm a big proponent of Responsive Classroom, which places as much value on the social curriculum as the academic curriculum. (I attending a Responsive Classroom Institute during the Summer of 2006. It was excellent, informative, and exceedingly helpful to me as a teacher!) Even if you're teaching in a school that doesn't do R.C., you… Continue reading News & Announcements Charts
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WN Entry: Snow Day
Lester L. Laminack wrote a book about it. I had 14 of them my junior year alone. The Governor went on TV last night asking all schools north of Kent County to close... and they did. Today, I have my first snow day in 13 years! (This is what happens when you grow up in… Continue reading WN Entry: Snow Day
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Writerly Matters
Kelly at Big A little a has some wonderful blogging about the topic of "writerly matters." Do check it out if you want to do some more thinking about the 'basics' I've sometimes neglected, in the past as a teacher of writing. I've grown to think more about it with each passing year by providing… Continue reading Writerly Matters
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keeping interest.
My colleague, Lori Dixon, directed me to this February 2008 Vanity Fairarticle, "Keys to the Kingdom" by Jim Windolf. It is a long article, but this quote especially highlights the importance of story elements in the development of a plot that holds interest. What a cool way to connect the world of entertainment to our… Continue reading keeping interest.
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Practice What You Preach
My husband (that feels cool to write) took this photo of me on our honeymoon. He captured me writing an entry, on the beach, in my writer's notebook. I think this picture is significant because it shows me living like a writer, which I ask my students to do (on a daily basis). It shows… Continue reading Practice What You Preach
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Last Post of the Year
This is going to be my last post for 2007. Tomorrow starts a new year, brimming with possibilities and promise. 2007 has been an amazing year for me professionally and personally. Though it was not without its challenges. (Are writing teachers allowed to use double-negatives or is that bad form?!!?) I´m so pleased that Ruth… Continue reading Last Post of the Year
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Family Trees Provide Us With A Way To Write About Our Family
Some kids have a really easy time writing about their families, but I've also seen many kids struggle with the idea of writing about their family. Hence, as I was playing around on Lettering Delights tonight, I came across a bundle of Family Tree graphics and fonts and put it to work soon thereafter. As… Continue reading Family Trees Provide Us With A Way To Write About Our Family
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TeachersCount
I receive the "TeachersCount" Newsletter each month. I just learned about their blog, which is looking for newer teachers to write one post/week. Since this is a blog about writing and teaching, I thought I'd give a shout-out to their call for new blog writers. Here's what TeachersCount put in their newsletter: TeachersCount is looking… Continue reading TeachersCount
