Slice of Life Story: Rain, Rain, Go Away

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It was hard to fall asleep last night since the rain kept tap-tap-tapping on the ledge outside my window. I woke up this morning to the same persistent tapping. Unable to fall back… Read More →

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News Article

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I received the ASCD SmartBrief today and followed the link to read this article in The New York Times. After learning about the ways in which French 5th graders are going to be… Read More →

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Why am I writing this over and over again?

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After hearing about Janet Angelillo’s new book from Ruth, I went online and started reading the sample chapter. I started thinking about the fact that each and every day I write down what… Read More →

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New Book.

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I was looking for a sample chapter from Janet Angelillo’s book Writing About Reading:  From Book Talk to Literary Essays, Grades 3 -8 .  Although I did find the sample chapter, more importantly,… Read More →

Writing Fiction? Take the next step!

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My son loves-loves-loves books.  This steals my heart.  It also allows me even more time to read children’s books.  What I’ve noticed is my desire to dive in and write fiction. I know… Read More →

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confidence.

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I had an interesting phone call yesterday afternoon.  Upon answering the phone, the voice on the other end identified herself and went on to tell me, “I’m not sure why I feel the… Read More →

Cybils 2007 Awards Have Been Announced

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I was honored to have been part of the Fiction Picture Book Judging Committee for the 2007 Cybils Awards along with Mitali, Barb, Nikki, and Gail, which was led by Jules. As I… Read More →

Slice of Life Story: Pancakes for Breakfast

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When I transferred the pancake mix into an airtight container last month, I forgot to cut out the directions from the side of the box before I threw out the box. Oops! This… Read More →

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Slice of Life Writing

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One of my students and her mom spent some time with me after school yesterday afternoon. (Yep, made it through the day even though I was sick!) She claimed that she had nothing… Read More →

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Poetry Friday & Wordless Wednesday & WNW!

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Things are crazy around my home & I’ve missed Wordless Wednesday two weeks in a row now . . . not to mention WNW.  So on this Friday . . . which is… Read More →

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Teacher as Writer.

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One of the most powerful ways to become a better writing teacher is to write.  And one of the most essential things to write is what we expect our students to write.  Dina… Read More →

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What’s on your heart?

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Yesterday a fourth grade classroom I work with kicked off their poetry study by mapping their hearts (sans Georgia Heard).  Stacey & I did this a few months ago for WNW.  This is… Read More →

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under the weather on poetry friday

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It’s 2 a.m. and I’m up sick. I’ve been drinking flat soda, but still feel under the weather. Hence, I went over to my computer and found a poem by Gregory K. from… Read More →

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Spreading the joy of poetry

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One of my dearest friends is turning 31 today. I just sent her an iomoi card with a poem tucked into my online greeting. I give each of my students a poem on… Read More →

Why all the photos? Where’s WNW?

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I’ve been hard at work on this piece of fiction writing for my classroom demonstrations during Writing Workshop. Hence, other than the writing I’ve been doing online (which is quite a bit), I… Read More →

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Wordless Wednesday: Great Literacy Coaches Save Lives — A small tribute to Pat, who was my Literacy Coach during my first year of teaching

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Photos taken by Zlatko Batistich.

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Wordless Wednesday: Two of my AMAZING former student teachers & colleagues at my wedding

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Photo taken by Zlatko Batistich.

Time to Write the Entire Draft

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My colleague Kate and I were remarking that this unit of study on fiction is taking our students longer (i.e., longer for their drafts to come together). Hence, I decided that it’s time… Read More →

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LCD

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I used an LCD Projector in my classroom for the very first time today. (One of my kids took a photo of the computer, the “screen,” and the LCD I borrowed.) I wanted… Read More →

WN Entry: I only needed to buy…

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What did I buy???!!!??? Originally uploaded by teachergal This was the list I had before I went to Whole Foods this afternoon: iced tea, cotton squares, dinner for tonight, veggies, lunch for tomorrow,… Read More →

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