I’m very happy that my idea of creating Embarrassment Free Zones resonated with many teachers and students. My goal in this post is to establish that there are situations when Free Zones won’t work. Yes, that’s right.
Category: Professional Development
A Conversation that Nudges Students out of Embarrassment
If you’ve ever taught a bunch of self-conscious middle schoolers, you know that adolescents are perpetually embarrassed about anything and everything. You also know that they don’t just “get over it” when they realize that embarrassment is an impediment to their learning. In that state of biological and emotional upheaval, the rational voice (even when it exists) is drowned in the fear of embarrassment.
We are BURSTING with New Synchronous Virtual Learning Opportunities!
We are adding EVEN MORE opportunities for live, virtual professional development this spring! We hope that you’ll join us for one or more of these sessions! March 5 Poetry Pauses to Rouse Your Writers Next Week Brief “poetry pauses” not only build students’ capacity for critical reading + stamina for writing, but they can also […]
Facilitating Student Learning by Helping them Overcome Embarrassment
Most struggling students have found themselves failing, and many of these experiences of failure become foundations to future embarrassment. This, then, becomes a huge deterrent to learning when the student begins to default to maladaptive coping mechanisms that serve them at the moment but are detrimental in the long term.
Spring Professional Development with Moving Writers
We’d love to see you this spring for live webinars (recorded if you can’t make it!) Here’s what we’re offering so far in March and April! Just in time to fill your plan book for National Poetry Month, brief “poetry pauses” not only build students’ capacity for critical reading + stamina for writing, but they […]
Making Asking Easier: Part 1
Far from admitting to a teacher, many of my students don’t want to admit to themselves that they’re struggling with something. They prefer not knowing, passing, and faking their way out of a task to the sheer torture of the confession of their struggles.
A Poem a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
Writing poetry can reduce stress? Shouldn’t all children have access to this tool? In this months beat Abigail brings 3 familiar poetry templates into the content area classrooms.
What I’m Thankful For: Small Writing & Big Thinking
These days, everything seems big. The problems are enormous, the exhaustion is shattering, and the challenges are endless. It’s no wonder I keep finding myself feeling totally overwhelmed. Whenever I realize that I’m sitting in an overwhelmed space, I’ve found that something that’s helpful to me is to break the enormity down into smaller pieces. […]
Even More Fall PD from Moving Writers!
But wait! There’s more! Last week, we announced two brand new professional development experiences — an on-demand course to help you develop curiosity about words and phrases in your students and an upcoming live webinar focused on environmental writing and helping students become climate stewards through writing experiences. But that’s not all! We’re rounding out […]
New + Upcoming PD Opportunities with Moving Writers
Now that we’re into the real throes of the school year, the Moving Writers staff is ready for some professional learning! Here are two upcoming opportunities! NEW! On-Demand Webinar Available NOW! In order for students to learn new words, they need to be curious about words. But that doesn’t always come naturally. In this 45-minute […]
moving writers 