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
Argumentative, Opinion, and Persuasive Writing in the Common Core
Change can be challenging, even scary. My daughter had a tough time getting back into the swing of things after winter break. We would be getting ready for the day...
Main Ideas, Summaries, and Notes in a Reading Conference
In this conference with a fourth grader, Aimee Buckner tackles text choice, notes, and main ideas all in less than five minutes. You'll notice teachers observing in the background; the...
The Sponge Summary Lesson Part 2
This is a companion video series to Heather Rader's article "A Sponge is a Summary." In this sequence of videos, Heather teaches a fourth-grade class, using the analogy of a...
The Sponge Summary Lesson Part 3
This is a companion video series to Heather Rader's article "A Sponge is a Summary." In this sequence of videos, Heather teaches a fourth-grade class, using the analogy of a...
The Sponge Summary Lesson Part 4
This is a companion video series to Heather Rader's article "A Sponge is a Summary." In this sequence of videos, Heather teaches a 4th grade class, using the analogy of...
“School” Writing at the End of the Year
For the past few years, I had the opportunity to loop with seventh and eighth graders. As last year's eighth graders prepared to leave the school, I wondered what it...
Learning to Write Engaging Nonfiction: A Middle School Partner Writing Study
This year I attempted to do something I had never tried before in my teaching career . . . planning and following through with a partner writing study, a study...
Digging Into Literary Nonfiction
Andrea Smith and her 4th grade students use an article from National Geographic for Kids to chart literary nonfiction elements.
Preparing Students for Summer Reading (ROUND-UP)
As the end of the school year draws near, many teachers are thinking about ways to support summer reading. We know that reading over the summer is important for all...
Best Practices in Spelling Instruction
My fascination with spelling is personal and professional. My oldest two kids with similar DNA and educational experiences are very different spellers. My son needs to look at a word...
Listen In: Spelling Aids in the Writing Workshop
Madison showed tremendous growth during her year as a second grader. By the spring, others were able to read and understand Maddie's messages, which was a powerful incentive to write....
Lifting the Quality of Student Reading Letters with Quotes
If you're looking for a way to perk up student reading journals, try a lesson on adding quotes. Katie Doherty demonstrates for her middle school students how quotes can lift...
The Affect of Tech on Splrs
"The spelling of English words is not fixed and invariable, nor does it depend on any other authority than general agreement. At the present day there is practically unanimous agreement...
Second-Grade Punctuation Conference
Beth Lawson confers with a second grader, assisting as she works on her punctuation skills.
Preschool Thank-You Writing Center
Teachers Melissa Kolb and Andie Cunningham help preschoolers use the thank-you writing center in this quick two-minute video.
Respond, Reflect, Rejoice: The 3 Rs of Writing Celebrations
Almost two years ago I started a writing group. I knew if I wanted to keep writing, then I needed a group of other writers to hold me accountable. I...
Conferring: Stretching Words
In this conference with a second grader, Beth Lawson uses a visual aid and a hand motion to help a young English language learner understand the concept of stretching words...
More Productive Writing Share Sessions in First Grade
In this video from a first-grade classroom, Katie DiCesare demonstrates how she has made writing share time more productive by linking student work to recent lessons.
Teaching and Assessing Persuasive Writing Skills
Some time ago I led a writing class with fifth-grade teachers. Our purpose was to write our own essays, using state classroom-based assessment criteria to analyze them. I chose the...
Scaring Up Better Narratives Part I
Just before Halloween, Aimee Buckner leads a lesson on brainstorming topics in writer's notebooks using the mentor text Some Things Are Scary. In this first installment of a three-part series,...
Listen In: Magnifying a Moment in Writing
When second-grade teacher Linda Karamatic pulled out Sammi's folder during our meeting, she commented on how delighted she was to see Sammi finishing some pieces. There were several workshops at...
