Slice of Life Story Challenge

Slice of Life Tuesday

Even though we have one more day until the 16th Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge begins, we're gathering today -- because that's what we do on Tuesdays -- to share our stories.

SOLSC Classroom Challenge · SOLSC Classroom Challenge

Teacher (and Student!) Tips for the 2023 Classroom SOLSC

In today's guest post, fifth-grade teacher Erika Victor shares tips for success with the Classroom SOLSC.

humor · writing workshop

A Mini-Unit on Joke-Telling

It is often said that great comedy requires great empathy. A good joke-teller anticipates how others will react. They adjust each joke to the audience for maximum effect. Will they understand? Will they get it? Will they laugh?

wordless books · writing workshop

Silence is Golden: The Value of Wordless Text

I have to face facts: February is a SLOG for me as a writing teacher. We’re just past the point of knowing the expectations and settling into our routine, but we’re just not quite to the point where all of the pieces start to fall together. There’s magic in the works, but oh! I’m just waiting for it to happen. Now is about the time of year when I’m looking for something - anything! - to get us out of the rut we’re in, spark our creativity, and work on some of that classroom magic I’m seeking. And for me, one of my favorite sources is wordless texts. Animated shorts, wordless books, you name it! They’re perfect for so many reasons. Today, I’ll share some of the ways I love using wordless texts for writers of all strengths and levels of readiness.

engagement · writing workshop

Engagement and the Writing Workshop

I had the opportunity to hear Cornelius Minor speak at the CCIRA Conference earlier in February, and I cannot stop thinking about it. He defined engagement in a way that is both conceptual and precise.  I may have stopped breathing as my brain short circuited in response.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

Slice of Life Tuesday

It's the third Tuesday in February, which means we're rapidly approaching our month-long writing challenge. Gear up by sharing a slice of life story with our writing community today.

conferring

How do I confer with ALL students regularly?

In many classrooms, it's hard to equitably distribute one's time among the students. There are always a few kids who need more attention. Here are seven ways you can use to ensure all of your students have the opportunity to confer with you on a regular basis.

ELL · struggling writers

Wait Just a Second!

What if I told you that you could drastically improve student engagement and learning in just a matter of seconds and with little to no prep time? You can with the power of WAIT TIME!

celebration · challenges · checklists · conventions · goals · grammar · gratitude · reflections

Quick & Fun Lesson Closures? Yes, Please!

Embrace the thrill of trying something new. Know that doing so doesn't require abundant time, energy, or preparation. Small shifts have a real impact on classroom energy, enthusiasm, and engagement. How do you add variety, joy, and/or playfulness to lesson closings?

assessment · mentor texts · student work

We’ve Got Anchor Papers…Now What?

Have you ever found yourself with student anchor (exemplar) papers and not known what to do with them? Today's post provides several ideas for using student writing in powerful ways for assessment, instruction, and communication.

Slice of Life Story Challenge

Slice of Life Tuesday

It's Tuesday! Please join us for Slice of Life. Write your slice of life story, share it by posting the permalink on TWT, and leave comments for others.

Amping up Agency Blog Series

ICYMI: Amping Up Agency Blog Series Recap

Today's post wraps up our week of learning from the Amping Up Agency Blog Series and announces the winner of the book giveaway!