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
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
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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.
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Written Conversations
Another strategy for writing about reading: Written Conversations
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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.
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Conversations About Standards-Based Report Cards: Do Your Students Know How They’re Doing?
And with November, comes report cards.
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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.
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Student Self-Assessment: Introducing the Writing Checklist
Ever since I first received my copy of the middle school Units of Study in Argument, Information, and Narrative Writing , this book has been in my book bag and on my desk, read and re-read, marked up and festooned with post it notes for quick reference : Why? Because once our writing year begins… Continue reading Student Self-Assessment: Introducing the Writing Checklist
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Write, Share, Give: It’s SOL Time
“There is, of course, always the personal satisfaction of writing down one's experiences so they may be saved, caught and pinned under glass, hoarded against the winter of forgetfulness. Time has been cheated a little, at least in one's own life, and a personal, trivial immortality of an old self assured. And there is another… Continue reading Write, Share, Give: It’s SOL Time
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A Sneak Peek
Here is a Sneak Peek at our NCTE Presentation.
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Writing about Reading: Considering Perspective Paves the Way for Critical Thinking
Rubin's vase is a famous optical illusion that can be interpreted in multiple ways. When looked at one way, it appears to be a vase. When looked at another way, it appears to be two faces peering at each other. This image was developed by a Danish Psychologist, Edgar Rubin. About this image, Rubin remarked: "When… Continue reading Writing about Reading: Considering Perspective Paves the Way for Critical Thinking
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Creative Scheduling in Middle School
The one question that comes up again and again, no matter what part of the country I happen to visiting, is TIME.
