Flower Boy (SOLS)
{Flowers from My Editor} Once, a long time ago, Andy and I lived in two different Big Ten towns. I attended IU Bloomington and Andy studied (briefly) at Purdue. One… Read more Flower Boy (SOLS) →
Teaching Points Lead to Authentic and Specific Writing Instruction
Before every single minilesson I teach in writing workshop, I write a statement. It always begins the same way, and I never (not-ever) forget to write it. It begins like this: Writers… This statement is a non-negotiable for me because it forces me to boil down the teaching point to something specific and authentic. If I can’t complete the statement, then I shouldn’t be teaching the lesson. Here are a few of my recent teaching points. Writers decide how to enter a new writing project either through collecting, drafting, or… Read more Teaching Points Lead to Authentic and Specific Writing Instruction →
practical joker
“Ask Sam what he did to me today,” Andy said as we were driving to a soccer game. I look over my shoulder and Sam winks at me. “It was… Read more practical joker →
blending research
Something that has been stirring inside of me for awhile now is the way research is an integral part of a writers life. It doesn’t matter the genre you are… Read more blending research →
hugo cabret
The Invention of HugoCabret by Brian Selznick(Scholastic) We gave Sam The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick for Christmas. Sam and I have been reading it together ever since.… Read more hugo cabret →
story = narrative + informational + opinion
Yesterday I had the privilege to hear James Kofi Annan tell his story. He is a survivor of child slavery. After he escaped, he eventually became a business man. Then he left his promising career in order to fight for freedom for Ghana’s children. He started Challenging Heights as a place to protect and educate children. I am moved by his story. It is one made up of nightmares and eventually overcoming them. It is a story of walking away from prestige and money. James’ story faces the horrors of this world, and… Read more story = narrative + informational + opinion →