early childhood · preschool

“Mat Man”: Reflective Practice

What is the value in "teaching" children how to draw a person, even before they may start to draw figures on their own?

early childhood · Reflective Practice

A Glimpse into Pre-K Writing: Reflective Practice

What does writing look like in my pre-k classroom? Young children are insightful writers. Their work is deep and meaningful. They may not be able to write the words yet, but their ideas still speak volumes.

minilesson · sketching · storytelling · writing workshop

A Step Back, A Leap Forward

Sometimes the most effective way to help writers leap ahead, is to slow things down and take a step back.

classroom signage · Kristi Mraz · primary grades · writing workshop

Simple Shapes Convey Meaning

I have a confession to make: I'm a wanna-be artist.  I have a deep appreciation for art and for people who can draw the human form.  Until last month, I couldn't even draw a decent stick figure.  As a result, my classroom charts as a teacher were neatly written, and sometimes color-coded, but they rarely… Continue reading Simple Shapes Convey Meaning