The idea that “everything’s an argument” seems almost too obvious these days. After all, talk to almost any adolescent today and it’s clear how aware they are of the ways in which they are constantly being persuaded, whether it’s an editorial from the Wall Street Journal or The New York Times, the latest newscast from […]
Category: Notebook Time
10 Ideas for Notebook Time
Recently, my seniors competed in a state-wide writing competition, and to aid in inspiration and help launch their writing process, I presented students with unique and exciting, low stakes writing opportunities. After reading my students’ writing contest pieces, I was reminded once again of the importance of time spent journaling—of the freedom and release of a writer’s […]
3 Favorite Writer’s Notebook Prompts
I have a confession. I didn’t always use a writer’s notebook, either as teacher and especially as a student. It’s hard to remember what that was like—Where did I keep all my thoughts? How did I keep track of it all? Writer’s notebooks—or journals—were something I remember learning about in graduate school, and while I […]
Short Inspiration
I had a meeting this week, during the school day, in my building. It meant prepping a sub plan, but, since I was in the building, something I could get going before running out to the meeting. As often happens, this wasn’t the best time for my Grade 9s to be without me. We’ve just […]
Wonderfully Messy Notebooks
I had great plans to help my students organize their writing lives. Things didn’t go quite as planned, but their writing lives are alive and well!
How Mentor Texts Engage Secondary Students in Play
We are over at the Heinemann PLC Series this week chatting about mentor texts & discovery . Read — and watch — more here!
New Notebook Rituals
As this post drops, I’m wrapping up the second week of the new semester. I’ve got new courses, new students and new ideas. One of the first things that I try to establish is the importance of our notebooks. I actually try to do a lot of our work, our writing, our responding… our thinking […]
A 24-Hour Play, a 365-Day Inspiration
“Take a line; take a prop; write a play!”: these are the three commands of The MadCap 24-hour Play Festival, a theatrical fundraiser held at a coffee shop and performance space in my hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Last weekend I followed those commands to write my third play for the festival. My “madcap” experience has inspired some new […]
New Year, New Writer’s Notebook
I’m one of those New Year’s Resolvers. I love making lists. I love setting goals. I look at the New Year as a chance to reorganize my whole life. It’s a magical time in my weird little world. So, of course, I was immediately intrigued when I saw a mention of Bullet Journals on Facebook. […]
Resolutions
2016 is just about done. That, as we all know, makes it resolution time. Even if we’re not publicly stating them, we’re making them. Of course, as teachers, we did this already, back at the beginning of the school year, right? And, well, we’re sort of consistently making resolutions throughout the school year, as a […]
moving writers 