Just a little list of some things that are on my mind about conventions and teaching conventions and using (or not using) conventions. Conventions are important. Learning to use them in Standard English is even more important. Conventions are power. If you write with conventions, you are more likely to influence others. You should use… Continue reading Conventionally Speaking
Talking Writing with Tatyana Feeney
Small Bunny's Blue Blanket is one of my favorite new picture books, which I blogged about last week. The main character is adorable. He acts just like a little kid, but he's a rabbit. Second, it's a versatile mentor text. Third, the story has universal appeal for adults and children. Tatyana Feeney, author and illustrator… Continue reading Talking Writing with Tatyana Feeney
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My WordFest Mentor Text Stack Is Growing!
I've been tinkering around with the picture books I'm going to bring when I speak at WordFest later this month. My presentation focuses on using recently published picture books as mentor texts to teach students a variety of craft moves, which will lift the level of their narrative writing. When I say recently, I… Continue reading My WordFest Mentor Text Stack Is Growing!
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Digital Text Bins
I learned about digital text bins when I took Maggie Beattie Roberts’s session “Tap the Power of Technology and Media to Teach Higher Level Comprehension” at this past summer’s Reading Institute. Now that the leaves are changing color, it means that it’s time to start thinking about nonfiction reading in many classrooms. (Yes, I know… Continue reading Digital Text Bins
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Is it Wednesday?
Dang. It's Wednesday. I supposed you can blame my writing group for the late post. It couldn't have anything to do with me forgetting it's Wednesday. So here's a little quote for you in order to salvage my bloggy-day. “It is worth mentioning, for future reference, that the creative power which bubbles so pleasantly in… Continue reading Is it Wednesday?
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Capital Area Writing Project’s Annual WordFest
Come and join the Capital Area Writing Project for its annual WordFest on Thursday evening, October 18th. This year's theme is "Reading and Writing Now for Their Future." The evening is a three-hour conference that celebrates writers and the teaching of writing. There are sessions for all grade levels, including one I'm leading for elementary… Continue reading Capital Area Writing Project’s Annual WordFest
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It’s time for the weekly SOLSC.
Please link the Slice of Life Story you write today to this post by leaving a comment. Be sure to check out other bloggers’ writing by clicking through the links in the comment section of this post. Come back later today (or even tomorrow) to read through the links of a few other Slicers who… Continue reading It’s time for the weekly SOLSC.
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Honoring Experiences
A long time ago I shifted my language from talking about "low" or "weak" writers to inexperienced writers. The shift in language is significant. It's not about kids being good enough or capable of writing, but rather it is about gaining experience and becoming stronger writers. At the same time, it's about honoring the experiences… Continue reading Honoring Experiences
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Reflections from Listening to M. Stiefvater
Here's the thing: I'm not really the kind of person who follows authors around and gets their signatures and takes photos with them. In fact, I'm rather shy when it comes to this kind of thing. So when I wanted to go to the National Writers Series: An Evening with Maggie Stiefvater, I was a… Continue reading Reflections from Listening to M. Stiefvater
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Where am I?
Look who I spent the evening listening to... Yes, that is Maggie Stiefvater, YA novelist and one of my personal mentors when it comes to crafting a story. Later I'll share some of the cool things she says. Tonight, though, check out the latest addition to my notebook... I'm going to fall asleep thinking about… Continue reading Where am I?
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The Magic of Workshop
Today I was working with a group of primary teachers (Hello North Webster Elementary School!) and we were talking about the silly things kids share during writing workshop. Sometimes their stories are outrageous and they laugh about the strangest things, like a character turning into a Booger Head, as one teacher shared. I laughed and… Continue reading The Magic of Workshop
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Paragraphs — Part II
I took your wise words and put them together in a chart. It's hanging in my office because I love how it is a reminder of the power of collaboration. It also restores my faith in our ability to teach conventions through writing workshop. I love (and I mean lovelovelove) that no one offered a… Continue reading Paragraphs — Part II
