art · picture book · visual thinking strategies · whole book approach

Picture books are art forms.

I spent a weekend in the woods learning about picture book art and design at a workshop led by educators from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art and the Highlights Foundation.

primary grades · writing workshop

What Do You Know About Being a Writer?

Listen to these kindergarten students respond to the question, "What do you know about being a writer?"

NCTE

Happy National Day on Writing 2014

Happy National Day on Writing!

community

Positive Post-It Day

Inspired by a story about a brave high school student, I left a positive post-it note for each teacher I worked with earlier this week.

independent writing · writing workshop

From Shared to Independent Practice: Drawing Lessons Continued

Last week we looked at a couple of students who were working on the visual plan and the use of drawing lessons. Let's peek in and see how that work is coming along in the shared and independent practice of writing workshop.

writer's notebook · writing workshop

Writing through the visual arts: an “in between” unit of study

We are in that in-between stage right now in writing workshop, having  just completed our Personal Narrative unit, and pausing briefly before we begin our unit on memoir.  These in-between stages are often perfect for experimenting with something new. My kids have been working hard for the past month, and I wanted a “cool factor”… Continue reading Writing through the visual arts: an “in between” unit of study

Slice of Life Story Challenge

WRITE, SHARE, GIVE: IT’S SOL TIME

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 SOLSC bloggers. "It's misleading to think of writers as special creatures, word sorcerers who possess some sort of magical knowledge hidden from everyone else. Writers are ordinary people… Continue reading WRITE, SHARE, GIVE: IT’S SOL TIME

giveaway · mentor texts · picture book · topics · wordless books · writer's notebook

10 Topic Choice Mentor Texts

Do you have students who claim they don't know what to write about in their writer's notebooks? Here are 10 new picture books to inspire them to write.

vocabulary · writing about reading

Written Conversations

Another strategy for writing about reading: Written Conversations

professional development · social media · social networking

Free Professional Development! Tweet All About It.

I admit, when I first heard about Twitter, I thought the concept was ridiculous. Shooting a message of 140 characters or less into the world? Why? Who would care? Since my initial incredulity, Twitter was to become one of the predominant social media platforms, one with a markedly professional bent. Many authors, businesses, marketing consultants, tech… Continue reading Free Professional Development! Tweet All About It.

assessment · writing workshop

Conversations About Standards-Based Report Cards: Do Your Students Know How They’re Doing?

And with November, comes report cards.

writing workshop

Visualizing the Plan Part Two: Drawing Lessons

Sometimes when students visualize an elaborate plan it is frustrating when that doesn’t just happen on the page. Here are some tips to get students closer to their vision.