Goodbye May? (Ruth’s SOLS)

May how can you leave already? It feels like you just arrived. Really, our time together has passed too quickly. I’m reminded of the importance of documenting the little things. The sweet smiles and silly sayings that fill my days will someday be replaced with requests for gas money and strenuous practice schedules. An abundance [...]

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Summer Writing Plans

I’ve been seeing a lot around the blog world and on Twitter about summer reading plans. I think it’s also important to help the writers in our classrooms think about their summer writing plans. Here are some ideas to encourage summer writing. I’m hoping you add to the list in the comments. Help students think [...]

Buglette Blog Tour Giveaway Winners

Did you enter the Buglette, the Messy Sleeper Blog Tour Giveaway?  If so, you may have been one of the six lucky people who won a copy of the book or a “DO NOT DISTURB: Messy Sleeping in Progress” Door Hanger.  Watch the video to find out if you won.  If you did, then please [...]

Words that are Speaking to Me

I focus on creating situations that force the character out of her comfort zone, raising the emotional stakes as I go along. If I’ve developed conflicts that are organic and in keeping with the character’s world, her response to conflicts will naturally lead to internal growth. — Laurie Halse Anderson  

GUEST BLOG POST: Avenues for Differentiation Through Writing Workshop

Amanda Villagómez is a 6th-8th grade language arts teacher in an eastern Oregon dual immersion charter school. She alternates teaching in English and Spanish on a weekly basis and delights in having the opportunity to watch her students continue emerging as confident bilingual, bicultural and biliterate individuals in a reading and writing workshop setting. She [...]

Writing Institute

The Summer Institute for the Teaching of Writing at Teachers College begins in just a few short weeks.  This year, I’ve decided to take advanced sessions that focus on the primary grades.  I just got my course placements and was thrilled to have received my first choices.  I’ll be taking: “Assessment-Based Writing Instruction: Use a [...]

Celebrate!

I feel like I have to apologize. Because of the storms, I keep coming home to no Internet. Boo! So like Monday, today’s post is from my phone. (I’m hoping there won’t be any errors!) Tonight we went to Sam’s preschool graduation. On the way, he requested we play Kool & the Gang’s Celebration. “Turn [...]

This One’s For Me: Ruth’s SOLS

It’s been one of those days where I’ve spent too much time wishing I were something else. Wishing I were older, with the luxury of experience. Wishing I could walk away without caring so much. Wanting to be less sensitive. More patient. I think we all battle days like these. The days when we feel [...]

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What Are You Reading

Leave a comment and share… What have you read lately… For fun? That your students loved? That changed the way you teach? On the web? That you couldn’t put down? That made you want to write? Can’t wait to read your comments!

Words that are Speaking to Me

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou

GUEST BLOG POST: The Way Forward With Brainstorming

Alan Wright is an Australian education consultant who has worked extensively in the United States and Australia. Based in New York for almost six years, Alan worked across primary, middle and high schools. supporting teachers, school districts, regions and school leadership teams to improve learning outcomes for students in literacy. Alan is currently providing school [...]

EEK! Slice of Life Prizes!

My apologies to the recipients of giveaways for the Slice of Life March Challenge. As mind boggling as it is, I actually forgot about getting them out. (This is the reason Stacey handled the details of the prizes in previous years.) There is a reason, which has to do with really crummy internet service, but [...]

Buglette Blog Tour + A Giveaway

Buglette, the Messy Sleeper arrived at my doorstep about two weeks ago.  (Review copy provided by Tricycle Press.)  I was immediately drawn to the book for the fact that I was notorious for being a messy sleeper throughout my childhood.  Buglette, who is a bug, is a messy sleeper because she has BIG dreams each [...]

How’s your writing workshop going?

The year is beginning to wind down, so it is a perfect time for a little reflection on writing workshop. Here are the questions whirling in my mind. I’d love to know your answers to all or some of them. Reflective practice is the key to continuous growth as an educator. What pleased you in [...]

Looking for a Wink (Ruth’s SOLS)

“Yessssss,” a little voice said as I pulled out of the garage. Smiling, I asked, “What are you so excited about?” “Look at the sky,” Sam said. It was grey. Overcast. Dreary. Cloudy. Dark. Foreboding. I checked my rear view mirror. He was still smiling ear-to-ear. I was curious about his excitement. “What makes you [...]

C’mon… Kumon?

This past weekend I needed to pick up a few feeding-related items for my daughter at Buy Buy Baby.  Since Isabelle was sleeping, I found myself weaving through the brightly-lit aisles of the store a little longer than I had planned.  I found my way to the toy section, which was incredible.  I found myself [...]

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Monday Possibilities.

People grumble, growl, and roll their eyes when it comes to Mondays. Monday mornings are good fodder for jokes. However, I like to look at Monday as a day of possibilities. It is the opening day of a week waiting to unfold. What did Monday offer you? For me, I’m looking forward to understanding the [...]

Sundays for the Soul: Serendipity

Serendipity. Go ahead, say it aloud: serendipity. I love the way this word bumps out of my mouth. It’s a favorite word of mine, not just because of the way it sounds, but also because of what it means. The meaning I prefer is: the phenomenon of finding valuable things not sought for. Serendipity is [...]

Words that are Speaking to Me

I’ve been thinking a lot about letting little things go and focusing on the things that really matter. “Today, fill your cup with sunshine and laughter.” — Dodinsky

GUEST BLOG POST: Assessment + Writing = Closure

For the nearly 20 years, Lisa Dewey Wells has taught early childhood (three-year-olds through third grade) at independent schools in Massachusetts, New York and Maryland, including the past 12 years at St. Anne’s School of Annapolis.  Her passion for teaching includes a commitment to knowing each learner as an individual and creating a classroom community [...]

Misused Apostrophes

The day I went into labor with my daughter I was transferred from a labor and delivery room to a postpartum patient room back to a labor and delivery room.  By the time I returned to the labor & delivery room I had been in labor for over 12 hours.  About 14 hours into my [...]

Bits of This & That

Remember this letter that Allie sent to Eve Bunting last fall along with The Ghostly Scary Mystery she wrote dedicated to Eve Bunting? Allie got a response! Yes, there was a form letter, but she also received a personal note from Eve. Wanna see the response? Click here. While getting to know characters, one fourth grader [...]