Choice Lit Topic: Teaching Writing
Everyone who writes for Choice Literacy loves teaching writing, because we all write ourselves. We know it is “hard fun,” as Donald Murray famously said—exasperating and exhilarating at the same time. The writing workshops you will read about here and see in our videos are busy, noisy, vibrant places. And most days, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else than in the midst of ’em! Here is where you’ll find our latest discoveries, insights, and occasional boneheaded mistakes in teaching writing.
Results
Collecting Ideas in the Writer’s Notebook
Ruth Ayres confers with third grader Jade about the value of collecting ideas in her writer's notebook, and shares some strategies for organizing the information.
“Article of the Week” Activity in Fourth Grade
Tony Keefer demonstrates how the article-of-the-week activity adapted from the work of Kelly Gallagher is a powerful tool for building skills and community in his fourth-grade classroom.
Making the Most of Short Texts
The Common Core State Standards are still on the horizon for 5th grade in my district. But, like the first time you see the distant, shadowy shape of Pikes Peak...
no i don’t think you need to shave
I’ve been conducting an experiment this year. It began on the first day of school. I don’t generally “do content” on the first day of school. Traditionally, I like to...
Explanatory Grammar Moves: Getting Verbal with It
The Common Core asks 8th graders to understand the use of verbals -- gerunds, infinitives, and participles. To keep myself from becoming verbally abusive, I will write about only one...
15 Minutes on Friday: Writing on Demand with Students
I have learned that if I wait to write until I think I have something to write about, it is often a very long wait. On the other hand, if...
Liberty and Dystopia: February Literacy Contracts
Since it is February and we celebrate President’s Day this month, we focus on government and leadership in reading. We chose dystopian literature as the theme of the February Literacy Contract. ...
Words Chart Minilesson
Ruth Ayres introduces a word chart to help students monitor their spelling strategies in this second-grade minilesson.
Streamlining Research Check-ins
For an obsessive person, I’m oddly disorganized. It’s strange: I am meticulous about list making, obnoxious about planning ahead, and consumed with noting everything on my calendar (I break into...
Whole Class Research Planning in 4th Grade
Andrea Smith's students brainstorm how to proceed with their owl habitat research project.
Penguins Are Amazing!: Informational Writing Comes Alive in Kindergarten
Gathered at the carpet one rainy February day, I said to my kindergartners, “We are going to begin researching penguins today. Do you know what it means to do research?’...
Common Core Research Shifts
As expository writing becomes more integrated in Common Core, many changes are occurring in my classroom as I redefine student research. There are four shifts that I am making with...
Rereading for Writing: Conferring with Jack
Katie DiCesare confers with Jack, using rereading to help him rethink the title of his book and possibilities for revision.
Inside and Outside Views: Conferring with Rebecca
Ruth Ayres confers with first grader Rebecca about perspective and illustrations in her writing.
Journeys and Quests: January Literacy Contracts
January is the month of new beginnings, resolutions, and transformations. We love the month of January in the school year because we’ve got long stretches of teaching time. There is...
Tell Me More
I’ll tell anyone who listens that the women who care for my own children are brilliant. Every afternoon, when I slip my shoes off, wash my hands, and step carefully...
Modeling Annotation in 8th Grade
Katie Baydo-Reed models how to annotate text for her eighth graders.
Explanatory Grammar Moves: Right-Branching Sentences
There is a secret that writers know about grammar: it’s the power of the right-branching sentence. It’s easy to navigate for novice and expert writers alike, and on top of...
Second-Grade Minilesson on Capital Letters
Ruth Ayres gives a brief minilesson on the use of capital letters to a class of second graders.
Exploring Winter with Short Texts
December is a short month with lots of interruptions like choir practices and holiday parties, which lead to antsy students. Because of the time limitations, we will focus on shorter...
Finding Topics in Writer’s Notebooks Minilesson
Sean Moore shares the importance of using a writer's notebook to discover topics in this minilesson with his second-grade students from early in the year.
