When we know we’re not alone, writing (and life) can be a little less daunting.
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Big Picture/Closeup: a model for reading and writing
Closeup elements are how the story is told. Big Picture elements are the story itself.
28 Mini-Mentors for Prompt-Based Writing
Catch up on my series this fall. Last month I shared mini-mentors for review writing! Sadly, some students only write in response to prompts in English class. Whether it’s daily journaling prompts or larger essay prompts, these students miss out on one of the toughest parts of an authentic writing practice: developing ideas. Still, both […]
First Year Teacher Support: Progress over Perfection
As I began preparing for my 10th year in the classroom, I realized I’m in an interesting place in my career. I by no means consider myself a veteran teacher; I still have so many lessons to learn and experiences to be had before I’m wise. It honestly feels like it was just yesterday that […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: Denialist Glossary
Mentor Text: Denialist Glossary by Daniel Heath Justice Techniques: Critical thought about Word Choice Deconstructing language use Background – As I write this, a group of teachers at my school has been prepping a series of lessons to deliver to our student body around next week, as we recognize Truth and Reconciliation Week here in Canada. […]
Balancing Support & Autonomy
Questions Instructional Leaders Can Ask To Support Their ELA Teachers I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard or seen teachers complain about how they are expected to go to professional learning where the facilitators teach in ways that would never fly for classroom teachers. As someone who does an awful lot of facilitating […]
The Craft Moves of Climate Stewards: Thinking with Xiye Bastida and Greta Thunberg
One way to provide an entry point for students who often feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the climate crisis is to explore a text pairing that puts ideas in conversation with each other. This juxtaposition can bring key concepts into relief, as well as help students articulate the priorities of each writer because there […]
Learning From Poems: Brevity
The brevity of poems allows us to slip them into lessons as we develop skills for writing in any genre.
Welcome to…The Presents of Mind!
Each spring, I use my discomfort with my school’s requisite summer reading assignment as a challenge: How can I make required reading work for my students and our wider community? How can I create some opportunities for student choice and voice that still allow some structure for evaluation? This year, I really thought I hit […]
Deep Dives and Side Quests: Idea Gold Mines
As an American now living and teaching in Canada, I’ve had to learn a lot in a short period of time. I’m teaching a self-contained 3rd + 4th grade class this year, which means I’m teaching Social Studies, and the American Education system doesn’t really give us all that much about our neighbors to the […]
moving writers 