COVID-19 · management · remote learning

Three Quick Tips for Maximizing Time at the Beginning of a Virtual Writing Workshop

Students in digitial writing workshops need to be focused and ready from the moment they enter the remote classroom space. Here are three tips you can use with your students to get writing workshop underway so you don't lose time waiting for students to arrive, find pencils, etc.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge

Welcome to the weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge. Write your story, share it, and then comment on other posts. For many of the community members, writing is the way to make meaning. Brené Brown reminds me of the importance of creating in order to cultivate meaning.

At-Home Learning · choice · writing workshop

At-Home Learning Resources Teachers Can Share With Families: Choices for Writing

Now's our time to shine workshop teachers! Hasn't independence and transfer always been the goal of workshop teaching? Haven't we always strived to teach in a way that allows students to carry on without us? Here are some resources to collaborate with families and caregivers to make this year successful.

middle school · partnerships · writing process

Building Stronger Writing Partners

As schools begin to restart, I have been thinking a lot about ways to begin building community within our new COVID reality. Specifically, I have been thinking about ways we as teachers might harness the structure of writing partnerships as a means by which to help create meaningful, supportive connections between writers. Here are a few ideas . . .

writing process

Thinking About and Honoring Individual Writing Processes

Some great and reflective conversations could happen if students consider both their current writing processes and how to change them in order to become more productive.

writing workshop

It’s Tuesday! Welcome to the Slice of Life Story Challenge.

How is it September? This morning's quote for inspiration is from Chadwick Boseman. Sometimes the ritual of slicing on Tuesday is pressure, but it also inspires me to live and cherish moments differently. “You have to cherish things in a different way when you know the clock is ticking, you are under pressure.”-Chadwick Boseman Write… Continue reading It’s Tuesday! Welcome to the Slice of Life Story Challenge.

EAL · English as an Additional Language · language · visual thinking strategies · writing workshop

10 Strategies to Help Keep All Students Learning and Growing, Especially EALs

There are many strategies we can use to help us be the best teachers we can be for all of our students, but keeping good strategies in the forefront can be especially helpful for EAL students. By adding some simple strategies, we can also help EALs enjoy rich and meaningful learning experiences in the classroom.

back to school · conferring · family · parent involvement · remote learning · routines · writer identity · writing workshop · writing workshop routines

A Letter to Families as we Launch Remote Writing Workshop

As I considered what to write this week, I decided to share a piece I was crafting for back to school, as an instructional coach/remote kindergarten teacher this year. The process helped me to focus on what families might need, as they experience writing workshop in new ways (i.e. at their kitchen tables).

back to school · conferring · COVID-19 · middle school · routines

Writing Together in Remote Spaces

One of the many changes brought about by the pandemic, whether we are returning to school in-person or remotely, is the ability to gather together in close proximity to learn and write together. I have been thinking a lot about this: How might we as teachers replicate or create the emotionally safe space normally held by a warm, close classroom in a digital space?

craft · Craft Moves · mentor texts · picture book

10 Books Celebrating Black Joy and Daily Life

While books about oppression, struggle, and suffering are of critical importance to read and discuss with children, so are books about Black joy and about the daily lives of Black children. I've curated a list of ten new (i.e., published in 2019 and 2020) texts that focus on Black people living life. Depending on who your students are, these books could serve as mirrors, windows, and/or sliding glass doors.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

Tuesday Slice of Life Story Challenge

It's Tuesday! Please join us for the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Write. Share. Give.

middle school · remote learning · teaching tools · technology · toolkits · writing about reading · writing prompts · writing workshop

Writing About Reading: Building a Resource Toolkit for Middle School

Calling all middle school teachers! Today I'm sharing a ready to use resource toolkit for adolescent readers and writers featuring the book, Look Both Ways, by Jason Reynolds.