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 […]
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From Good to Great with Mentor Text Study
Several years ago, I taught The House on Mango Street and I did what a lot of English teachers do while teaching The House on Mango Street — I assigned my students a vignette writing assignment using Sandra Cisnero’s work as the writing model. And I remember that assignment being good. My students worked hard […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: A Lifetime of Secrets
Today’s guest post comes from Anne Wolter, a 6th grade English teacher at Western Heights Middle School in Washington County, Maryland. Anne has a Bachelor’s degree in English literature, a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction, and has been teaching for four years. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two young children. You can connect with her […]
A New Approach to Finding Mentor Texts for Literary Analysis
In our 9th grade Reading Writing Workshop, most writing studies are genre-based. Occasionally, we center our writing studies around a writing technique. But in my 12th grade IB English class, things are a little different. We still use a workshop approach to writing — we move through writing processes in different ways and at different […]
Mentor Text Wednesday: Drawing Opinion and Response
Mentor Text: WE by Nick Sousanis Writing Techniques: Expressing Opinion Visual Thinking Background: As I write this, I’m beginning the multigenre project with my Grade 11 class. They’ve done some research around a topic that falls into the realm of global issues that interests them, and will use the multigenre project to present their learning […]
The Only Four Questions You’ll Ever Need to Ask Your Writers
Carl Anderson taught me to begin every writing conference with the simple question, “How’s it going?” I love this question for two reasons: it’s a question we ask our colleagues, our friends, and our family members when we want to know how they are doing. In other words, it’s an authentic question that shows we care. […]
#notebook
My notebooks are an important part of my process as a teacher, and as a writer. They are places that allow me to collect my ideas, and to work them through. I keep one on the go constantly, in my satchel. It comes to every PD opportunity with me, and is often open on my […]
Helping Writers Listen
A recent conference has me thinking about ways to use audio recording to help my students gain independence as writers.
Mentor Text Wednesday: Sick in the Head: Conversations about Life and Comedy
Today’s guest post comes from Brian Kelley, co-director of the Pennsylvania Writing & Literature Project. He teaches at Charles F. Patton Middle School in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania and produces the podcast “The Classroom,” where he confers with students about writing. you can connect with him on Twitter @_briank_ or at brianjkelley.net. Mentor Text Sick in the Head: Conversations […]
Academic Gifting: Offering Authenticity and Collaboration
Academic Gifting allows students to respond to authentic writing and to identify as authors.
moving writers 