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
Whole Class Writing Share: Teaching Response Skills in 1st Grade
Katie DiCesare's first graders respond to their classmates' writing, using questions they developed together over time.
Thank You For Arguing
Often when I consider a fun, fresh way to connect students to a new strategy or subject matter, my own children are a great frame of reference because they love...
Using Wipe-Off Boards with Young English Language Learners
It is January, a time to review teaching practices and rethink, reorganize, and re-energize. January is a perfect time to refine skills-based teaching practices, and wipe-off boards are the perfect...
It’s Not About the Tool — It’s About the Learning
Schools have to prepare students for jobs that have not been created, technologies that have not been invented and problems that we don’t know will arise. Andrea Schleicher Incorporating...
Brainstorming Student Blogs
Franki Sibberson works with a group of students as they brainstorm how they will create a blog together.
Two Teachers and One Kindergartner
Little Joey was a bit young when his parents enrolled him in kindergarten. Despite the teacher’s best efforts, he struggled to master basic concepts. The teacher developed a wonderful relationship...
The Writing Process . . . and Processes
The writing process is simple and complex all rolled into one ball. There are a handful of phases and as many ways to execute each step as there are writers...
I Love a Good Argument
It’s been interesting to watch the genesis of teachers’ relationships with opinion and argumentative writing this year. For many of the intermediate teachers I work with, it began with distinguishing...
Word Count
At the beginning of the year, one of the physical education teachers in my school district was training for a 100-mile race. At the same time I was returning to...
Just Write More
I’m a word counter. I don’t count the number of words my students write, but I love watching the word counter at the bottom of my document as I write...
Second Grade Whole-Class Share: Adding Details and Descriptive Language Part 4
In this final video from a four-part series, Sean Moore asks students to share their writing with peers and the whole class. Links to the first three videos in the...
Second Grader Student Mentor Text: Adding Details and Descriptive Language Part 3
In this third video from a four-part series, Sean Moore has a student share his writing as a mentor text for the class.
Choice and Reading Response
Years ago I stumbled across a little book titled The Reading Zone by Nancie Atwell. It was there that I first discovered reading response letters. Further reading of The Book...
Teaching the Rule of Three to Writers
There are some stories that are easy to remember -- we pass them on to our children and grandchildren from memory. I’m not sure I ever read The Three Little...
Hearing Carlos: Helping Young English Language Learners Develop Speaking and Listening Skills
Carlos is listening carefully to me. As I read the story, he laughs and nods. He is absorbing my words as I give directions on what to do next. Yet...
Writers Inspiring Writers
When Stephen King is asked, “How do you write?” he invariably answers, “One word at a time.” Those readers and writers who admire his work seek wisdom and inspiration from...
Rethinking Mrs. T Letters
Sunday mornings are my favorite time to discuss books with my students. On those mornings, I come down to the kitchen with my Ugg slippers on my feet, my cozy...
Second Grader Conferring: Adding Details and Descriptive Language Part 2
In this second video from a four-part series, Sean Moore confers with a student about adding details to his writing.
Peer Conferring: The “Try It On” Phase
Mercy Watson is always causing trouble, but I don’t think she means to. She doesn’t always know what she’s doing. Abby, age 6 “I love Roald Dahl books,...
Second-Grade Writing: Adding Details and Descriptive Language
In this first video from a four-part series, Sean Moore leads a writing workshop focused on adding more details and descriptive language to writing. He begins with the classic Charlotte's...
Poetry Friday in the Computer Lab
“Poetry Friday in the Computer Lab?” questioned one of my students on a Friday morning in mid-May as he scanned the daily agenda on the chalkboard. “How can we do...
