Verbs in Revision

Georgia Heard’s Book The Revision Toolbox: Teaching Techniques That Work is one of the best books on the teaching of writing that I own.  If it’s not in your bookshelf, then click here to preview it and/or buy it (It’s that good!).  To that end, I decided to do one last revision lesson, before my [...]

SOLSC: Day 8 of 31

Welcome to the eighth day of our month-long writing challenge! Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]

SOLSC: Day 7 of 31

Welcome to the seventh day of our month-long writing challenge! Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]

Ruth’s Slice: Gummy Worms.

Often on Friday afternoons, my youngest two kids and I will stop at an old fashioned general store in a tiny town on our way home.   We park alongside the railroad tracks.  When we’re really lucky, a train will pass. “I love trains,” the youngest will say.  Naturally followed by, “And bong clocks and bowling.”  [...]

comments matter!

Stacey and I often talk about the power of comments.  The long and the short of it all is this:   Comments matter.  A lot. With that said, we’ve been ecstatic about the number of people who have chosen to become “Slicers” this month.   We’ve been even more excited about the number of people who have [...]

SOLSC: Day 6 of 31

Welcome to the sixth day of our month-long writing challenge! Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]

Conferring Truths.

The thing that struck me the most while observing Debbie Miller was her demeanor with children. She was genuine.  Sweet.  Kind.  Responsive.  After watching her in a second grade and first grade classroom, I was inspired to make the following list.  These are little nuggets I’ve picked up over the years of listening to voices [...]

Ruth’s Slice: Debbie Miller Observation!

Sitting on the floor of a primary classroom, watching Debbie Miller lead a reading workshop, I am reminded of the importance of a student-led classroom.  It all comes down to either embracing the thinking and work of students or embracing standardized test prep.  It’s either empowering students or it’s empowering the test.  I am renewed [...]

Learning More About Conventions Through the Close-Study of a Text

I’ve been thinking a lot about conventions and their importance. Without proper conventions, how can a piece of writing hold its own? All of our young writers need to realize that published writers use conventions when they’re drafting, not just as an editing tool. There’s a new book coming out on Tuesday, 3/10 entitled Alex [...]

Better Written Responses

As some of you know, one of my colleagues and I put the finishing touches on a p.d. we’re doing, later this week, yesterday afternoon.  One of the things we spent some time planning yesterday was a mini unit of study on how to apply the qualities of good writing to test writing on standardized [...]

SOLSC: Day 5 of 31

Welcome to the fifth day of our month-long writing challenge! Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]

Thank You for the Thank You Note

I’ve hesitated writing this post for a few days.  For one thing, I didn’t want this post to seem like I was tooting my own horn.  Second, I didn’t want my classroom to seem like it’s without flaws either. Recently, I’ve had some visitors in my classroom (one of whom is a TWT Reader and [...]

Ruth’s Slice: Morning Tea.

His loud wailing sobs broke into the serene morning.  Our mornings are peaceful.  Always.  (Usually.)  Right now it isn’t quiet.  The sobs are echoing through the entire house — bouncing off of the  floor; binging off of the walls; filling the house.  In my mind I growl my five year old’s name.  Certainly she did [...]

SOLSC: Day 4 of 31

Welcome to the fourth day of our month-long writing challenge! Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]

Ruth’s Slice of Life 3/31: Hello March!

The sun streams through the sky down to my face: bright, bold, warm. The wind whips through the parking lot cutting through my winter attire: brutal, biting, cold. Hello March! whirls in my mind. The calendar says you are here. So soon, won’t you bring out the green? And the crisp blue skies? And the [...]

SOLSC: Day 3 of 31

Welcome to the third day of our month-long writing challenge! Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]

Ruth’s Slice of Life 2/31: Home

Ahh, the comfort of my office. I sit here, with one of my favorite scents permeating the room – mandarin cranberry – the soft glow of my lamps and the ticking of my clock all make me feel welcome. My eyes pause on all the things which make this space mine — a Scott Mutter [...]

SOLSC: Day 2 of 31

Welcome to the second day of our month-long writing challenge! Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]

Ruth’s Slice of Life 1/31: New

The smell of Murphy’s Oil Soap stings my nose and eyes. It’s such an old fashioned smell and it reminds me that the methodical, intricate scrubbing I’m doing on my cabinets is something generations have done before me. I clean the cabinets, getting in all of the crevices, sweeping my rag in the dark depths [...]

SOLSC: Day 1 of 31

Welcome to the first day of our month-long writing challenge!  Please link your Slice of Life Story to this post by leaving a comment (scroll to the bottom of this post) before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time today. For more information: Click here to get information about implementing this Challenge in your classroom. Click here to [...]