Shared Writing: Expanding the Reach with Small Groups
Shared writing isn’t just for whole class lessons and isn’t just for primary grades! Expand your reach by incorporating small group shared writing lessons in any grade!
Favorite Ways to Teach Foundational Skills in the Primary Grades: Expanding the Reach with Small-Group Work Blog Series
This post covers the how, the why, and the what of introducing stations or centers to support small group work on foundational skills in the primary grades.
Pattern-Seeking Strategies to Optimize Efficiency and Effectiveness: Expanding the Reach With Small Group Work
Pattern-seeking is one of the ways that I keep planning for small group instruction manageable in writing workshop. When I can both anticipate common needs and plan for ways to learn which kids share those needs ahead of time, then I can be much more strategic and efficient with small group instruction.
Tuesday Slice of Life
Today is the last Tuesday of October! Soon we will welcome November slices to our table.
The High Value and High Reward of Including ALL Students in Small Group Lessons
Small group instruction can be for a single lesson or objective or we can plan a course of study over a period of time. Regardless of the time commitment, it’s important to remember that small group work isn’t just for striving writers… it’s for ALL writers.
Expanding the Reach with Small Group Work: A Blog Series
Even in the best of teaching times, a student’s work is rarely completely one level since there are so many elements that constitute effective writing, and it’s also rare for the same sequence of lessons to meet the learning opportunities of all students. With such variation and discrepancies, small group instruction is more critical than ever in order to address and nurture the range of learners in classrooms. We hope that this blog series inspires you to lean into small group instruction with intention and confidence!
One Good Thing
Recently, my 11-year-old daughter was cleaning out her dresser drawer. She came across a small blue journal from second grade and ran into my bedroom as I folded the laundry. … Continue Reading One Good Thing
Tuesday Slice of Life
It’s Tuesday and that means it’s time to slice!
Let Them Write
Ever feel like you just need a nudge to give your students time for low-stakes writing? Here you go!
Three Steps to Prioritizing Your Writing Instruction During the Pandemic
Whether you are fortunate enough to have a structure to collaborate with others on your grade-level team, or if you are planning solo here are three steps you can take.
Tuesday Slice of Life
Welcome to Tuesday Slice of Life!
Modeling as Eavesdropping on a Writer’s Inner Monologue
The power of modeling—modeling the verb—is the opportunity to make not just the product visible—model, the noun—but the thinking of the writer visible as well. Without modeling the thinking, it is still a bit of a mystery how a writer gets from point A to point B—no matter how clear that point B might be.
Principals can be literacy coaches too!
Building administrators are and should be lead teachers! Although we often get bogged down in the mechanics of running a school, finding moments to reconnect with our own teaching passions is a key part in staying grounded, being a model for the staff, and building relationships with students. For me, writing has always been my passion and therefore I make it a priority to find time to teach, confer, and connect with my community to both share my passion about writing and fuel theirs!
Student Writing As Data for Love and Instruction
I believe we might understand student experience is by looking at student composition with asset-based eyes, first to recognize students as whole children and secondly to determine flexible writing goals.
Tuesday Slice of Life
October is here and the autumn air is on its way.
Join us today for a Tuesday slice!
Be the first reader of your writing!
It’s important to take a beat before sharing one’s writing. With practice and reminders, children can learn how to become the first readers of their work.
Storytelling Starter Pack: Making the Leap
If you’re trying to reach reluctant writers with “nothing to write,” pushing students to use craft and voice in writing, or just hoping to make the writing process creative and fun, storytelling may be your answer. Taking the leap is easier than you think!
It’s Tuesday! Welcome to Slice of Life!
Every Tuesday, we invite you to join the slicing community. All are welcome.
Writing About Reading
Writing about Reading When I am learning anything new, I take more than the average time to understand the new concept to its fidelity. Recently, a student’s mom gave me … Continue Reading Writing About Reading
Nourishing Your Teacher Soul
When your “to-do” list is super long at back-to-school time, should you take time for poetry, writing and friends? A resounding yes! How are you making time to nourish your teacher soul during these challenging times?
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 