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
Finding the “Ex” Factor in Explanatory Writing
Explanatory writing isn’t as simple to define as it sounds. Recently there has been an explosion of conversation about explanatory writing and the way it feeds argument writing. Explanatory writing...
Kidwatching and Connections in the Early Days
Sitting down beside Daniel, I notice he has a large collection of picture books surrounding him. He has collected several books from our author stand and is comfortably seated on...
Mentor Texts for Writing Endings
Have you ever been completely satisfied with a book because of the power of its ending? The last few words or paragraphs the author chooses can leave me fulfilled ....
Literacy Contracts: Introduction
As you walk into our fifth-grade classroom, Raigan and Gracie are seated shoulder to shoulder, hovering over their books and whispering to each other while pointing to specific lines and...
Using Technology to Connect Young Readers and Writers
We are stronger together than we are apart. Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach I’ve always been one of those people who likes to talk about books with others. I’ve always read voraciously,...
Fourth Grade Writing Workshop Minilesson on Focusing
Franki Sibberson shares some tips and strategies with her fourth graders from the web for focusing and organizing their writing.
Building from Strengths: Conferring with Mia
Sean Moore confers with second grader Mia, encouraging her to build on her strengths by writing about what she knows well.
In Defense of Dictation
Our preschool classroom is not quiet at journal time. To the untrained observer, it may even look a little chaotic. For the children, this is a predictable and expected part...
Rethinking the Assessment Binder
In early December, I asked my 26-year-old daughter to come into school and help me file papers into student folders. After a few hours at the back table, she looked...
Notebooks, Goals, and Writing About Characters in First Grade
Katie DiCesare confers with a group of first graders about their writing notebooks, goals, and drafts about the characters they are studying during reading workshop.
Daily Routines: Finding Time for What Matters
When groups of children enter the classroom each morning, year after year, my ultimate goal is to make sure their days are filled with happiness, laughter, and lots of learning...
Whole Group Writing Share
Franki Sibberson leads a whole-class writing share session with her fourth graders, with students focusing on their process and collaboration rather than drafts.
Grateful Journals
The sun was up, but the TV was on. In our house there was a strict rule: When the sun was up, anything with a screen had to be off....
Adding to a Word Wall in Kindergarten
Mandy Robek prepares students for adding to the word wall in kindergarten.
Conferring with Ben
Franki Sibberson confers with Ben, a fourth-grade writer trying to figure out the best audience for his writing when technology presents many options.
The Cure for Senioritis? Poetry!
Teaching seniors at the end of the year is always a challenge. The other day, I actually heard one student say to another, “Why would I bother learning anything now?”...
Conferring with Pierce
Franki Sibberson confers with Pierce, and in this three minute conference tackles audience, integrating visuals with blog posts, and teaching new skills to others.
13 Ways to Raise Students Who Hate Research
Certainly there are just too many words of positive advice for how to raise empowered students. Sure, of course, some people want kids who are inquisitive and energized to learn....
Launching a Fiction Writing Unit with Fifth Graders
Towards the end of the school year my students start to get a little bit antsy. I try to find units to teach in reading and writing that give them...
What Can Charlie Do?: The Value of Response Journals in Preschool Classrooms
In the fall, Charlie’s drawing was of a single typical tadpole-like person. He formed a shaky version of C, the first letter in his name. His verbal story was: “C....
5th Grade Sentence Observation
Karen Terlecky leads students through a sentence study routine in her 5th grade classroom.
