Join the Conversation on Facebook

A few months ago we started a Two Writing Teachers Page on Facebook as a way to share a little more. While we often use it to link to new pieces we’ve written on this blog, we also use it to direct you to thought-provoking articles about education. It’s neat to watch some of the [...]

Praising Kids. Talking to Kids. Questioning Kids.

I’ve been doing Pilates since August 2008.  I started it in order to get stronger after some surgery I had in 2007.  I’ve been doing it three times a week for the past few months.  While I have nothing even close to Madonna’s physique, I have certainly become stronger.  My Pilates Instructor is very cautious [...]

A Mentor Text that Deals with Social Issues

We’ve all had that kid in our class.  You know who I mean.  It’s the kid who sticks out like a sore thumb because of his weight, because of his hair, or because of the way his voice sounds.  I had that kid in my class each year… sometimes more than one per year.  That [...]

Exceptional Professional Development

Yesterday I enjoyed some of the very best professional development in my career  – and I didn’t even leave the school building!  It began with a short meeting with two art teachers, Cindy Bryan and Bill Eby. As the meeting ended, I asked them about their own art work.  Cindy showed me a picture she demonstrated with [...]

A Call for Slice of Life Stories

I just got home, a few hours ago, from some time away in Arizona.  To pick one slice of my life from the trip seems quite hard.  I intend on sharing one later today.  As for the rest of my vacation tales, well, that’s what scrapbooking is for. I look forward to reading and commenting [...]

Narrative Assessment

There are many lenses to look through when assessing student writers.  Here are some of the things I consider: How well students write when given time, choice, support, and unlimited resources, as well as how well they write on-demand. The effectiveness of their personal writing processes. Attempts at sophisticated craft moves, even if they fail. [...]

A Few Places in Cyberspace

Happy Friday! Today’s post is a smattering of places across Cyberspace you may find interesting, fun, inspirational, OR perhaps they won’t be your cup of tea. Regardless, have a great weekend! The Whole Child Blog: This blog from ACSD is designed to “raise awareness about the need to ensure each child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and [...]

Gradually Releasing Responsibility to Students

Last year Karren Colbert wrote a blog post about using the Gradual Release Model with students when it comes to using mentor texts.  Instead of reviewing a book in this forum today, I am linking to Colbert’s post about mentor texts.  Click here to read what she wrote.

Fighting Apathy.

I think often in life we can do things to get them done or we can do things to make meaningful changes.  Sometimes it’s a difficult fight within ourselves.  Right now, in education, this fight is important.  As more and more mandates and regulations “come down,” it is tempting to simply shell-up and take it.  [...]

SOLSC

These Things Make Me Happy.

2010 has been off to a bit of a rocky start for me.  Now don’t read that and think things have been bad.  They haven’t.  Just rocky.  As in having a rough time finding my footing and feeling sure of the way things are going.  However, I’m pleased to say this weekend has been a [...]

Purposeful Teaching

Writing Workshop changed my life.  Through Writing Workshop I became a writer.  I learned how to mentor myself after my favorite writers.  I learned to collect the simple everyday moments, relish them, and use them to make sense of my place in the world.  This in itself made Writing Workshop worthwhile to me. Yet that’s [...]

Scaredy Squirrel Books in the Primary Writing Classroom

Ruth was shocked when she learned that I had never heard of Scaredy Squirrel Books when we passed the Kids Can Press Booth at the NCTE Conference.  Quite frankly, once I started paging Mélanie Watt‘s first Scaredy Squirrel Book, which was published four years ago, I, too, was shocked.  It was humorous!  I found the [...]

Conferring Reminders

First apologies + thank you.  Apologies because I forgot to blog!  As unreal as that seems, it is the truth.  On Monday night I crashed before 9 (could it be because I had a total of 12 hours of sleep the previous week) and didn’t even think about the blog until about 7 minutes ago!  [...]

SOLSC & Writing Groups

This past weekend I attended the Capital Area Writing Project’s Teachers as Writers Meeting, which was held in a cafe on the outskirts of Harrisburg.  I brought a piece of fiction I’m working on to get some feedback from other teacher-writers.  It was a pleasure to gather as part of a community, to get feedback, [...]

A Daily Dose of Poetry

I recently learned about Jane Jaudon Ferrer‘s site called Your Daily Poem, which posts a new poem by an accomplished poet daily.  The site mixes classic and contemporary poetry and includes a great archive.  If you’re looking for some poetic inspiration, then hop on over to Your Daily Poem and subscribe to receive a new [...]

Record-Keeping Forms

I recently tweaked some of the record-keeping forms I disseminate when I consult with teachers about conferring.  Some of the forms now have space to record the mentor text a teacher studies in alongside a child in a conference or with a small group in a strategy lesson.  I think it’s important to keep track [...]

A Good Reminder

How vain is it to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. — Henry David Thoreau In my 9th grade class, we are moving into a narrative writing unit this week.  I ran across this Thoreau quote tonight and thought it was a good reminder.  I hope to support my [...]

Writing More in 2010

We’re not big on New Year’s Resolutions around here at TWT.  We’re big on living by the power of words. If your goal, hope, or desire this year is to push yourself as a writer, then we hope you’ll consider joining our weekly Slice of Life Story Challenge.  (For more information on what the Slice [...]

Making Plans

One of the things I’ve become sensitive to is how difficult it is to have so many priorities vying for our time.  We all agree it is our duty to prepare students for success outside of our classroom doors.  On one hand (as is evident from the pressure we feel), one of the things our students must be [...]

Inspiring Words for the Second Half of the School Year

As you head back to school (work) tomorrow, consider these quotations: We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched.  Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives… not looking for [...]

If you have a few minutes

In the clickey-click way of the Internet, I found myself here.  Storypeople is filled with whimsy, some art, stories and poetry that will make you smile.  I found myself lost in Storyland. The Wonder of It All Sitting there in your pajamas & all the time in the world & if I could keep any moment [...]

Happy 2010!

Wishing you a year filled with good-stuff.  What WORD will you live in 2010?  Here’s mine: