A procedure I appreciate in many writing workshops is the use of a quiet writing time (Some teachers call in No Walk No Talk. It happens after the minilesson in order to give the writers in the room a chance to settle into their writing. Here are some reasons I like this procedure. It provides… Continue reading Settling in to Write
Glogster
I recently read a post on Raising Reading and Writers that talked about Glogster. I hadn't heard of Glogster, which is a tool for creating virtual posters, and therefore checked it out immediately. This is a site that allows you to create a poster through text, images, video, and music. Once you create your own… Continue reading Glogster
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Slicing on Tuesday
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Beginning Procedures
I'm a believer in routine. When writing workshop is predictable everyone is able to work more efficiently. It takes several weeks to build the procedures necessary to create the culture of writing workshop. Over the past two weeks I've collected some footage of routines in primary classrooms. One of the important things about developing routines… Continue reading Beginning Procedures
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Celebrate What You CAN Do!
If I were still a classroom teacher, then tomorrow would be my first day back to school (unless I were still teaching in Manhattan, and then I'd be heading back the day after Labor Day). Even though I no longer have a classroom of my own, I can still recall how overwhelmed I felt in… Continue reading Celebrate What You CAN Do!
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Words that are Speaking to Me
When you first start writing --- and I think it's true for a lot of beginning writers --- you're scared to death that if you don't get that sentence right that minute it's never going to show up again. And it isn't. But it doesn't matter --- another one will, and it'll probably be better.… Continue reading Words that are Speaking to Me
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Launching Writing Workshop in the Primary Grades: A Guest Blog Post by Mary Brothers
Mary Brothers is starting her tenth year of teaching with Dublin City Schools where she has taught first, second, and fourth grades. Last year she was a Technology Support Teacher for the district and started her blogging journey. She blogs about her learning, as well as that of her students’, at Teaching in the Tech… Continue reading Launching Writing Workshop in the Primary Grades: A Guest Blog Post by Mary Brothers
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Katherine Bomer Speaks About Her Newest Book
I have admired Katherine Bomer's work for a long time. Her books are exquisite. Her love of children shines through when she speaks in front of a small group or delivers a keynote address to a huge audience. Her warmth is genuine from the moment you meet her. Hidden Gems: Naming and Teaching from the… Continue reading Katherine Bomer Speaks About Her Newest Book
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Choice in Sharing
Robert B. Parker. There is no one right way. Each of us finds a way that works for him. But there is a wrong way. The wrong way is to finish your writing day with no more words on paper than when you began. Writers write. Every August, I think about what area in regards… Continue reading Choice in Sharing
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Quotations for Notebooks
I like collecting quotes, especially quotes about writing. If you like inspirational quotes, then here are a few about writing. Some of these would be perfect to paste onto the inside front cover of your students' writer's notebooks if you're planning to purchase notebooks or hand out school-issued writer's notebooks to them. "Stories are the… Continue reading Quotations for Notebooks
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Slice of Life Story Challenge
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Evolution of Anchor Charts
There are many ways to go about creating an anchor chart to use in your classroom. One way is to create the chart ahead of time and use it as part of your instruction. I find myself using this approach when I think my teaching point is brand new for students. An example of this… Continue reading Evolution of Anchor Charts
