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
Literacy Letters: Helping New Students Understand Ongoing Assignments
How do teachers bring new students up to speed with ongoing assignments? In this video from Katie Doherty's middle school classroom, Katie presents the latest "Literary Letters" assignment to her...
A District Film Festival: Giving Kids An Authentic Audience for Their Work
Last spring, students in the Parkway School District in Missouri attended their 2nd Annual Film Festival: "Lights. . .Camera. . .Parkway! Our World Through a Digital Lens." After receiving their...
Preschool Writing Center
In this video from Melissa Kolb's preschool classroom, children work in the writing center. Melissa explains how she routinely changes the supplies in the center to spark interest in students...
Injecting Writing into Everything: Bringing the Outside In
In her third-grade classroom, Debbie Davis-Reid and I were observing the students the first few days of writing workshop. Who starts quickly? Who adds to their authority* list? (from Ralph Fletcher's book: Writing...
“The Wrath of Guess Jeans”: Reading, Writing, and Cliques in Middle School
In this first video in a three-part series, Katie Doherty leads her 6th graders through a response activity. The text they are reading was written by a middle school student...
Persuasive Pamphlets
My state and district standards require that seventh grade students should be able to write persuasively. Traditionally, teachers meet this standard by assigning a speech or a paper, and I...
Writing Do-Overs: ERPs in the Classroom
When I was in elementary school I played four square and tetherball. These seemed like the best sports for a kid like me who was less tall and more small...
Quick Take: Selecting Mentor Texts for Writing Instruction
In this two-minute video, Aimee Buckner explains how she selects mentor texts for writing, as well as the importance of using writing by students and teachers in lessons.
The Power of Wonder Questions
"Do you know what I've been thinking and reading about?" asked Will as we settled into an out-of-the-way spot in my grades 3-4 multiage classroom. It was time for reading...
Teaching Revision to Struggling Writers
Revision can be a difficult process for many writers—kids and adults alike! As writers, we both know how difficult it is to come up with a topic, get our ideas...
New Notebook Essentials
Sitting around a crowded conference table, eight of my colleagues and I discuss the merits of using a writer's notebook with our students. What started out as a study of...
A Thanksgiving Take on Differentiating Instruction
As I've traveled between conferences and classrooms this fall, I've heard a lot of buzz around the concept and practice of "differentiation." When I've asked teachers, literacy coaches, and language...
When Does Level Matter? Being Efficient with Small Group Instruction
I find my flexibility as a teacher is both challenged and validated when I group students for instruction. When I think about the wide range of needs in my classroom...
Rethinking the Study of Nonfiction in the 21st Century
I have always found that reflecting on my own literacy helps me to think about how to best meet the needs of my students. As a media specialist, much of...
Infographics and Lists in Science Notebooks
Today I observed my students scattered around our school's outdoor learning lab. I wandered from group to group, from micro-habitat to micro-habitat, thrilled with their focused energy, thoughtful conversations, and...
When Do I Launch the Writer’s Notebook?
It's the end of summer, and where I'm from -- down South -- teachers are scrambling. Scrambling for last minute trips to the beach. Scrambling to clean out the closets...
Living Words: Integrating Word Study, Technology, and Content Literacy (Part 1)
I will be honest. I am a "digital immigrant," a person new to rapidly changing technologies. I am proud to say that I am adjusting, and I've accepted the fact...
Countdown: Keeping Children at the Center of My Plans for the New Year
I did a crazy thing the other day: I started a countdown to school on iGoogle. For those of you who want to know: 23 days, 12 hours, 10 minutes,...
Overcoming Slumps: Principles for Student Writers
I began last summer in two slumps: a running slump and a writing slump. I injured my lower back in early May and could not run for about six weeks....
Writing Like a Scientist: Launching a Scientist’s Notebook
When I transitioned from 18 years as a primary teacher to a 4th grade classroom, I started thinking about how I could use the same successful strategies for launching writing...
A Coach’s Perspective: No More Flying Pig Prompts
Leslie's Story It was spring when I met with Leslie*. She had invited me to her classroom to try out some problem solving with her students. She was in her...
