authentic writing · listening · mentor texts · writing workshop

Getting to Know Your Writers

The decisions I make from the classroom library to family connections are intentional and responsive to building a community of writers and learning about the students who make up this community.

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

WRITE a slice of life story on your own blog. SHARE a link to your post in the comments section. GIVE comments to at least three other SOL bloggers.

collaboration · drafting · plan · Talking · writing workshop

Listening Bit by Bit

Using video and visuals helped this young third-grader lead his class in a lesson on rehearsal and planning.

LIWP · NWP · ralph fletcher · speech · writing workshop

Finding Your Voice, Telling Your Story

In what ways have you pushed yourself to try a new type of writing or to share your ideas in a public way? In July, I pushed myself to write a keynote speech and learned lessons along the way.

celebration · publishing

Overcoming Anxiety About Displaying Student Writing

You see the beauty in your kids' work: every misspelled word, every cross-out, every taped-on flap. You know that all that "messiness" is evidence of good work that kids are doing. Hard work.  But outside your classroom, the rest of the world might not see it that way.

authentic writing · independent writing projects · lessons learned from students · Student ownership

From the Classroom to the World: How a Young Writer is Making Her Voice Heard

Find out how Amelia Poor, age 12, learned "at a really young age how powerful writing can be." Amelia's journey will surely inspire you and your young writers!

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

  WRITE a slice of life story on your own blog. SHARE a link to your post in the comments section. GIVE comments to at least three other SOLS bloggers.        

Flash Fiction

Unexpected Benefits of Flash Fiction

Story compression did not require many instructional minutes, but the ratio of instructional value to the time it took was so worthwhile!

back to school · community · letter writing · writing workshop

Write Them Back!

Do you receive letters from your students at the start of the year? Do you write them back? In what ways do you get to know new students? How do you keep track of the information and use it as a guide for helping your writers grow?

partnerships · peter h. johnson · writing workshop routines

Partnerships Can Provide Purpose and Power

All writers seek feedback.  All writers write for an audience.  All writers question themselves. And for these reasons, writers long to bring their work to another person-- another set of eyes, another pair of ears.  Hence, the writing partner in writing workshop.  When working well, partnerships can help grow the confidence of each writer in our classes by providing support, authentic peer feedback, and a sounding board for ideas.  Here are a few ingredients to consider when creating a community of writers...

authentic writing · independent writing · Inventive spelling · word study · writing workshop

Building Word Superheroes: With Permission and Invented Spelling

Teaching students to take the risks necessary to be inventive spellers means I have to respect the stage of development of the student. I can't expect the students to know (or use) something I haven't taught.  It also means communicating to parents about what it means to use inventive spelling and its role in developing writers and readers.

slice of life

SOL Tuesday

For the last two weeks, I have had the privilege of visiting classrooms and talking about kindness. After watching the Kid President video, 20 Things We Should Say More Often the teacher and I asked the students what words they think we should more often. Today,  as an inspiration for your writing, I am sharing… Continue reading SOL Tuesday