Sometimes we need to scaffold the thinking that goes into writing more than we need to scaffold where a topic sentence goes in a paragraph. Mentor texts can help with that!
Category: Planning
Teaching Each Instead of All
My journey (so far) with differentiating writing instruction to meet each learner’s needs.
Yes/No/So
I try to avoid teaching students formulas for their writing, but sometimes giving them a go-to formula for thinking can help them organize their writing independently.
Showcase Projects
On Monday, I visited the STEAM Fair at our local early years school. My oldest daughter is in kindergarten there, and my wife teaches there. My wife had shared what her students were doing, and my daughter was vibrating with excitement about the chance to show off her work. My obvious highlight was watching my […]
From Facepalm to Firestarter: Embarrassment and Inspiration at a Writing Project Symposium
Facepalm. By the second panel of the 2017 Greater Madison Writing Project symposium, “From High School to College: Engaging in Writing Dialogue,” you could have made a meme of me (or at least my inner monologue, since I managed to keep my outer composure), sitting like Star Trek: The Next Generation’s Captain Picard with my head […]
Planning
As I write this, I’m in my last full week of classes in the first semester of the year. The exam is written, and copied, sitting in a drawer. My students are putting the finishing touches on the last of their work. And my head is pretty firmly a few days ahead in second semester. […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: Eulogy
Mentor Text: 10 Inspiring,Confusing and Humorous Eulogies of the Famous via The Atlantic Writing Techniques: Specific Form Considering Audience Background: This is actually a post that should be subtitled “What I’ll Do Better Next Time” My Grade 11 students are in their final weeks of classes, and we’ve been working on MultiGenre Projects based upon research […]
The Quest to Reduce Text
In August, I gave myself permission to leave walls blank to make way for instruction. Halfway through the school year, I’m checking back in on that work.
Three Things I Believe
A tough start to the school year combined with the launch of a new unit created the perfect storm to force me to put into writing 3 beliefs that drive me as an educator.
#squadgoals or The Importance of Collaboration & Community
Frequently, I seem to find myself with a work related catchphrase, something I find myself repeating in classes, in meetings, and in PD opportunities. It becomes a key part of my philosophy for a time. This year, I find myself harping on the fact that what we do, as teachers, is a human endeavour. When […]
moving writers 