gifts · holiday

The Best Gifts for the Writing Teacher in Your Life

Now is the time of year where I find endless gift lists online: what to get the foodie or the music guru or the athlete or the you-name-it in your life. In that same spirit, I’ve chosen to curate a gift list for teachers of writing, and the folks that support them. I know there are lots of lists for writers out there already. Many suggest pens, headphones, or comfy chairs, but my list is different. Being a poet at heart, I tend to live in metaphor. My list, then, is a collection of things writing teachers owe ourselves and one another - a collection we can’t find on Amazon or Etsy, no matter what search terms we use. So, without further ado, here are my recommendations...

agency · choice · Freewriting

Freewrite Fridays: The Freedom Writers Deserve!

Happy Friday! Learn about how Freewrite Fridays offer writers a much-needed pause at the end of a week.

communication · goals · reflections

Inviting Caregivers into the Learning Journey

A few tips to strengthen the home-school connection.

digital writing · drafting · handwriting

Some Things to Consider in the Handwriting Vs. Typing Debate

Rather than working to prove that one way–digital composition vs. handwritten writing–is better than the other, we have the power as teachers to recognize the benefits of both and to determine the best time and place for each. Here are some things you may want to consider when making these drafting decisions in your own school setting.

slice of life

It’s Tuesday! Welcome to Slice of Life on #TWTBlog!

Let's see what we can create together today!

inquiry · mentor texts · touchstone texts · universal theme

A Deep Dive Into One Spectacular Mentor Text

In this post, I’ll describe the ways I would use Rabbit and the Motorbike as a mentor text for instruction with writers in upper elementary grades through middle school. This is an example of the thinking work I do in advance of sharing a mentor text with students, anticipating what students might notice and planning for the questioning I will do to help them name those craft moves. My goal is always to get kids to the HOW, because that is the level of understanding they need to be able to try strategies out in their own writing.

foundational skills · phonics · spelling · writing workshop

Teaching Kids to Use the Phonics You’ve Taught

This post can be a jumping off point for learning more about how explicit phonics instruction can be connected to a joyful independent writing workshop for young children

One Little Word (OLW)

One Little Word (OLW) to Inspire Your Students (and you!)

2023 is around the corner! Will you choose a OLW to inspire your new year? Will you encourage your students to choose their own OLW?

checklists · conventions · goals · grammar · inquiry · interactive writing · minilesson · Read Aloud · shared writing · spelling

Minilesson Alternatives: Considering OTHER Ways to Kick Off Workshop

If you have ever felt that you were going through the motions of a minilesson, know that there are plenty of other ways you can choose to gather as a community and launch writing time. Here are ten alternatives for beginning a writing workshop session - - with joy, intention, and inspiration.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

It’s Tuesday! Welcome to Slice of Life on #TWTBlog!

Making space for writing is a gift. Please join us in writing and sharing a slice of life with the #TWTBlog community!

growth mindset · language · writers

Have you ever said this?

We encourage a growth mindset in classrooms. We don't permit children to put themselves down. So why do we do this to ourselves?

gratitude · reflections · writer's notebook

Revisiting Writing Through a Lens of Gratitude

As we head into a season of thanksgiving and celebrations, it is worth it to take the time to simply pause and reflect on writing with our students.