Choice & Genre Studies

by Stacey Shubitz

After I attended the November 17th NCTE Workshop entitled “Where Has All The Real Choice Gone?” my mind started turning. Ruth and I went out for cupcakes and coffee at Buttercup Bake Shop… Read More →

New Header

by Stacey Shubitz

Joel from “So You Want To Teach” created our new image header. It’s a combination of our old one (sans the paper clips) and a little something new. Please let me us know… Read More →

happy saturday.

by Ruth Ayres

Over on Ali’s blog, {A}, she’s been talking about traditions this week.  I was inspired to create a list of traditions that follow me into this season.  I was wondering about you .… Read More →

Poetry Friday Roundup

by Stacey Shubitz

Here we go folks! Shelf Elf: A wonderful little haiku and a book recommendation to boot! Jama Rattigan: Links us to a poem authored by Gregory Djanikian who is the Head of the… Read More →

Poetry Friday Is Here! (Please scroll down to submit your poem using Mr. Linky.)

by Stacey Shubitz

Billy Collins’ Poetry continues to inspire me. The following Collins Poem, “Earthling” was published in The Apple That Astonished Paris. It resonated with me yesterday since I spent a great deal of time… Read More →

Personal Essay Rubric

by Stacey Shubitz

Using the rubric I created for the personal narrative unit of study as a skeleton, I created a personal essay rubric a few days ago. I tweaked it with Kate yesterday afternoon and… Read More →

21st Century Literacies (NCTE’s Nov. 2007 Council Chronicle)

by Stacey Shubitz

If you blog, then you know that websites are no longer the sole way to get information out into the world. We’re living in a Web 2.0 World. Today we have blogs, wikis,… Read More →

Creating Folders for “Patches of Thought”

by Stacey Shubitz

During my first year of teaching I attended a Calendar Day hosted by the TCRWP where I got the idea for creating portable folders for my students to use in Writing Workshop to… Read More →

WNW: Noticing Our Surroundings OR Other “Stuff”

by Ruth Ayres

Welcome to Writer’s Notebook Wednesday! Today you can share your response to Stacey’s charge, or you can share something else. It doesn’t really matter what you share . . . the important thing… Read More →

ruth’s wn entry: merry & bright.

by Ruth Ayres

So I’ve been noticing stuff in my everyday world and wondering what to develop for WNW.  It occurred to me on Monday night that I should write about the Christmas lights that have… Read More →

play with words + help end world hunger.

by Ruth Ayres

Click on the picture below to play a vocabulary game.  For each word you get  correct, United Nations will donate 10 grains of rice to help end world hunger.

Take Note of What Surrounds You

by Stacey Shubitz

My students have been doing a lot of noticing in Writing Workshop since we began our Personal Essay Unit of Study last week. Hence, I created this Motivational Poster (of sorts) online. I… Read More →

Customized Spelling Lists

by Stacey Shubitz

I’ve been grading my students’ personal narratives this morning using the rubric I created last month. That being said, I decided not to just grade their personal narratives, but also to use them… Read More →

Gifts from the Heart

by Stacey Shubitz

On November 14th I received funding, through DonorsChoose, for the “Writing Gift Center” I blogged about in October. I was delighted that someone who didn’t know me or my students was inspired by… Read More →

ruth’s wn entry: thanksgiving thoughts.

by Ruth Ayres

Edited:  I posted & then read Stacey’s entry from today.  Strange that we both wrote poems.  Stranger still that we have a similar line.  Strange in a cool way, though.  So thankful for friendship.    So I’m waiting for… Read More →

Thanksgiving: A List Poem

by Stacey Shubitz

On this day, I am thankful for so many things. I figured I’d create a list poem, with my ideas clustered in stanzas, of what I am thankful for. (I decided not to… Read More →

WNW: Mapping Your Teaching Heart & Writing About One Item in Your Heart

by Stacey Shubitz

Please use Mr. Linky and/or post a comment with your entry. Thanks for participating today! Ruth’s entry can be found by clicking here. Stacey’s entry can be found by clicking here.

ruth’s wn entry: teaching heart map

by Ruth Ayres

I teach because of relationships.  I teach to impact others in positive ways.  I was surprised, looking over my map because of what’s not there.  No units, no grammar, no standards.  Nothing of… Read More →

Stacey’s WN Entry: The Sadako Project… A Reflection

by Stacey Shubitz

Coming together, as a class, to do something worthwhile… I wanted all of my students to see what teamwork was about. I wanted them to do something as a group to see the… Read More →

A Twist on Heart Maps

by Stacey Shubitz

Georgia Heard came up with the idea first. Penny Kittle adapted it. I’m bringing it from NCTE to you. Create a Map of your TEACHING Heart. Record the places you’ve worked, the people… Read More →