It is important when cultivating a language for writing building wide to provide a situation where many (550 kids) the opportunity to read and make comments on writing. We posted over 100 pieces of writing on the walls of our building. Sticky notes and pens were made accessible. When students went to the restroom or [...]

There are so many ways for young writers to come up with ideas to write about it’s hard to choose a favorite. One of my favorites is the “Neighborhood Map”.  In this kind of prewriting activity the writer imagines himself above a place he once lived or a place that is important to him. Not [...]

There are so many ways for young writers to come up with ideas to write about it’s hard to choose a favorite. I personally enjoy the heart map that Ralph Fletcher et al describe. It is a particularly good instrument to use when searching for a powerful topic to write about such as in the [...]

Writing teachers would agree that the most difficult population to inspire to write can be the boys that sit in front of you. I believe, in part, that is because so many of them prefer first to work in a non linguistic mode and secondly they enjoy writing and thinking about “boy” topics: hunting, rough [...]

I have introduced many kinds of writing already this year. It allows the young writers many choices. The kids love to have a say (choice) in what they write. Here is a list of what we do so far as of 10/27/09.

Our Genre Selection List
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I often talk about writing workshop with schools and how to implement it successfully. This PPT shows some of what I believe are the “essential” elements of a writing class. Without them the wriitng workshop will quickly disengrate and the teacher will be left with a defeated feeling and likely not try to attempt teaching [...]

In the writing class, the flipchart mini lesson is a perfect tool to model short excerpts of the writing craft that can make a student’s writing grow. These lessons can include procedural, convention, and craft lessons. Some can be invitational but most should be an expectation for the writer to Have-A-Go at the lesson that [...]

Ashtyn reads her poem, Imagine. She was inspired by the book, Imagine A Day, by Sarah L. Thomson. Ashtyn imitated Sarah Thomson’s text and ended up with a quality poem she was proud of and enjoyed sharing.

I’ve spent thirty years exploring every aspect of what technology can do and more specifically how it can make learning better in my classrooms. I’ve come to believe though…there are times that today’s technology can not beat the communication modes of years gone by. When was the last time you held and cried over an [...]

Writing teachers would agree that the most difficult population to inspire to write can be the boys that sit in front of you. I believe, in part, that is because so many of them prefer first to work in a non linguistic mode and secondly they enjoy writing and thinking about “boy” topics: hunting, rough [...]

Patricia MacLachlan is an extraordinary writer and one a writing teacher can freely use to model writing in the wriitng workshop. In her book, All The Places To Love, she displays the use of skillfully using prepositional phrases that tell you when and where things are happening. Sometimes she puts the prepositional phrases at the beginning of her lovely sentences. But sometimes they can be found in the middle or at the sentence’s end. By using these prepositional phrases it will give your writing fluency and beauty for the reader to enjoy.

Everyone has secrets. This lesson taps into that human equation. Using mentor texts that were lifted from other writers the students and I study what the writers attempted to do. If we can name it we can claim it to use in our own writing.
 
 
I Never Told Anyone

What Titles Do you Teach From?
(polls)

October 20, 2009
 In the National Gallery of Writing we’re collecting all kinds of writing from people from all walks of life—people just like you.  Submit stories, poems, recipes, emails, blogs, even audio, video, and artwork.
Want more information on contributing to the National Gallery which will open to the world on October 20?  Learn more about submitting your [...]

What if…by Regina Williams is an excellent resource to use to structure a lesson for student success. All children naturally wonder about our world and what could be if they had the power to change things. So the “What if…” concept is a fascinating one for them to ponder as they compose.
What If…

In the Writing Workshop and the Reading Workshop young learners need ways to process the information you’ve presented. This paper includes over 25 ways to deepen their thinking and understanding of the material.
Representing to Learn Activities

October 20, 2009
 In the National Gallery of Writing we’re collecting all kinds of writing from people from all walks of life—people just like you.  Submit stories, poems, recipes, emails, blogs, even audio, video, and artwork.
Want more information on contributing to the National Gallery which will open to the world on October 20?  Learn more about submitting your [...]