Gentle readers, when we were last together, I shared some ideas for assessing the spirit of workshop with an emphasis on assessing both process and product without looking for perfection. Instead, in writing workshop, we look for growth. When we consider assessment separate from grading (something too personal, too school-by-school to really make broad recommendations […]
I’ve never spoken to a group of teachers about writing workshop where someone didn’t pose the question, “Wait — but how do you grade this?” Here’s what I always say: I can share how I think about assessing students’ writing, but I can’t tell you how to “grade” it. First of all, as it’s well […]
You might know Paige from this guest post or this guest post! We loved her and her perspective and her voice so much that we invited her along for the ride as our newest contributing writer! Welcome her in the comments below! *** “It has got to stop!” These words, spoken by Kylene Beers at […]
Last time, I encouraged you to have LOUD, boisterous writing workshops full of writerly talk between writers and between writers and teachers. Our confident writers benefit from identifying sounding boards in the classroom; our insecure writers can often do more in their speech than they can through their written language, so intentional classroom talk time […]
At first glance, it might seem like we are “just hanging out”: I am wildly waving my arms in the corner of the classroom, talking to a student about his latest, greatest idea. Meanwhile, Charles and Bowen are in the hall talk-writing. (Talk-Writing (n.) — the condition of chatting and writing at the same time.) […]
In my series this fall, I have been looking at ways that any teacher in any classroom in any school can wade into writing workshop or take their existing workshop to the next level. Most recently, I wrote about teaching writing skills in the workshop — something that can be very hard for teachers to wrap their […]
Today’s guest post is from Paige Timmerman, a high school English teacher in Salem, Illinois. She has guest written for Moving Writers before as she explored audience and the college essay! You can connect with her on Twitter at @pbrink12 or via e-mail at timmermanp@salemhigh.com. Senior English can be a beautiful and frustrating thing. For […]
In my continuing series this fall, I am examining the fundamental elements of writing workshop and providing ways for teachers to get started and ways for seasoned workshop teachers to take their practice to the next level. In the first two installments, I wrote about choice (here and here) and making time for writing (here […]
We loved spending time with you at #NCTE18 and sharing a bit from Beyond Literary Analysis. A perfect way to follow up and dig deeper with us is to join us for a 3-part webinar series! Grab a glass of wine after work and join us to chat about why we need to broaden our […]
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time to gather (in Houston) to learn together! Here’s where you can find members of the Moving Writers team at #NCTE18. We hope you’ll come say hi!!!
