We are getting Writers’ Workshop kicked off school-wide – K-12!
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Modeling Generating Ideas with Heart Maps in Elementary
We are getting Writers’ Workshop kicked off school-wide – K-12!
7 Strategies for Generating Ideas in a Writers’ Workshop
In the ideal Writers’ Workshop, students will write about topics of their choice that they are passionate about. This sometimes leads to frustration on the part of the students because they have a hard time figuring out what they want to write about and many times we hear comments like “I have nothing to write […]
Mini-Lesson Basics
Through my many visits to schools and classrooms, I have realized that there is a myriad of ways the term “mini-lesson” is being used. It’s almost like the “old-fashioned” (according to my kids) game of telephone. A definition began, was passed to another educator, changed slightly, passed to another, and so on. As we start […]
Writers’ Workshop: Writing for Authentic Audiences
The importance of authentic audiences is crystal clear as I work with classrooms around the world. When I begin work with a class of “new to me” students, I always ask them to write. This is usually greeted with groans, sometimes tears! There are a multitude of reasons for these groans and many different remedies, […]
Reading Nonfiction Text in Guided Reading and Small Groups
Children are naturally fascinated by learning through nonfiction books, but many don’t know how to navigate the complexity of the text. Small groups and guided reading groups are the perfect places to teach and reinforce how to read nonfiction texts. First, you’ll want to choose strong nonfiction texts! Think about what the students want to […]
Best Practice: Motivating Students in the Classroom
Over the past two years, I have been asked to work with schools to help them motivate their students to work and learn. Almost any current research on motivating students will discuss the growth mindset, autonomy, and relationships. While I wholeheartedly agree with the importance of these factors, I want to approach student motivation a […]
Independent Reading Goals to Improve Reading Instruction
It’s time to be transparent with our students. Should it be a secret that we want them to ask more questions while they read? That we want them to read at a higher fluency level? That we want them to analyze the characters more closely? Obviously, the answer is no. Have you ever tried to […]