To print a copy of this chart, follow this link to the PDF in Google Drive. It prints nicely as a 36″ x 48″ chart. Then add your students’ names… Read more Follow Your Own Writing Process (Grades 3 & Up) →
These are the things I’m celebrating when I assess Sam’s writing. One By rereading his first few words, he realized he started with a dependent clause. Then he added a… Read more Nudging Growth through Celebration →
“You’re a left winger! You’re a left winger!” The coach runs along the sideline of the scrimmage. “You’re not trees — move! You need to protect the goal. Move up! Attack!” His feedback is constant. “You’re a left winger! Over here, this is your territory! Be ready for the pass. You’re a left winger!” He directs according to position. “You’re a goalkeeper! That’s how you protect the goal!” He knows soccer. He talks soccer. There are no worksheets on the positions.There are no lectures about what each player does.There isn’t… Read more don’t let establishing routines sacrifice readers and writers →
I wanted a perfect ending. Now, I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity. Gilda Radner I first latched on to this quote in February 2008. At the time I added it to a post called “A Hiatus” on my first blog, Inspiring Readers and Writers. The post was titled “A… Read more finding space in my writing life →
Chalk-A-Bration is coming up next Saturday. (This is a celebration of art + poetry started by Betsy H.) Next Saturday my kids and I will be chalking and writing poetry… Read more favorite bits →
{I made this.} Art is always good for the soul. Especially on the last official day of summer, which for me was last Sunday. I spent the afternoon playing with… Read more surrender (sols) →
If I’m gutsy-honest, the kind of honest that is see-through and stark and you wonder if people are still going to like you when you’re done being honest, then I’d… Read more the book stack: where it’s been →
Lots of writing time today. I’m learning what I need to write productively. Brenda Power is graciously hosting a writing retreat for Choice Literacy contributors. The theme of the retreat is Habits. I consider myself… Read more writing well (sols) →
Here are the birthday plans we made: Andy would pick me up at the airport and then we’d spend the afternoon together, probably in a bookstore and an ice cream… Read more writing all birthday long →