Slice of Life Story Challenge

Would you share a slice of your life today?

WRITE your slice. SHARE your link. GIVE some comments to (at least three) other slicers.

celebration · reading

Dream Big…Read Big…Write Big

Each year Deb Gaby helps select a reading theme for the school year at Milford Elementary School. This year, to kick off the BIG reading year, we hosted a carnival. Kids made book marks, had their faces painted with favorite book characters, read favorite books, and posed in a photo booth. Then they made picture… Continue reading Dream Big…Read Big…Write Big

conferring · guest blogger · record keeping · technology

Using Evernote to Confer with Writers

Today's guest blog post by Cathy Mere will help you jump on the electronic record-keeping bandwagon. Learn how to use Evernote to keep conferring notes on all of your students.

professional development · tcrwp · technology · writing

Sharing Some Thinking from the Writing Institute

I've been wanting to try out Storify for awhile, but haven't head a reason to use it.  Until now.  I decided to put together Storify some of my tweets and pictures from last week's TCRWP Writing Institute.  I hope it gives you a glimpse into some of the things I learned from my section leaders,… Continue reading Sharing Some Thinking from the Writing Institute

nurturing · writers · writing

Gardens of Young Writers

Teaching writing is a lot like gardening. It requires constant attention.

blogging · books · picture book

A “Jog” You Have Energy For

I hope you didn't miss the BIG event on Saturday: Picture Books 10 for 10 hosted by Cathy Mere (Reflect and Refine) and Mandy Robek (Enjoy and Embrace Learning). Bloggers compiled their lists of 10 picture books and then shared the links with Cathy and Mandy. Cathy and Mandy then created a jog. With over 60 participants, it… Continue reading A “Jog” You Have Energy For

commenting · Slice of Life Story Challenge

Writing Connections

This week, consider commenting on at least one person's slice of life story who you haven't commented on in the past.

books · reading · reading workshop

Investing in Reading Lives {Nerdy Book Club Guest Post}

I'm so excited to be guest posting at The Nerdy Book Club today. Here's the start and then head over there to read the rest. "Mom, I've decided to start a reading club,” Sam, age 7, soon to be a second grader, declared. It’s 6:23 am and he’s standing beside me in Ninjago jammies, sticking… Continue reading Investing in Reading Lives {Nerdy Book Club Guest Post}

conferring · record keeping · technology

Conferring Notes Go High Tech

There are a variety of record-keeping apps, which make it possible to monitor your students' writing progress. Confer, DailyNotes, Evernote, and Notability are four popular apps that promise to make it easier, dare-I-say a pleasure to maintain meaningful conferring notes on all of your students. Have you made use of any of these apps in… Continue reading Conferring Notes Go High Tech

collaboration · creativity · critical literacy · Q & A · questions · technology

Solve It Your Way

I'm excited to share Franki Sibberson's latest project with you. SOLVE IT YOUR WAY! is an innovative project to encourage creative problem solving and collaborate with others around the globe. I shared this month's question with them while we waited in the car for Andy to run into the store. When we got home, my… Continue reading Solve It Your Way

authors · illustrators · mentoring · Read Aloud

Author & Illustrators as Mentors

It is important to say the name of the author and the illustrator when you read a picture book.

aimee buckner · notebooks · Write: It's good for you! · writer's notebook · Writer's Notebook Wednesday · writing workshop

Writer’s Notebooks

Last week I had a conversation with a middle school teacher who has spent her summer studying writing workshop and is excited to make writer's notebooks the backbone of her writing instruction. This is my tenth year as an instructional writing coach and I've had the opportunity to see teachers put notebooks in action hundreds… Continue reading Writer’s Notebooks