50 Ways to Get Kids Begging to Write More

by Amanda | Dec 17, 2015 | Featured Post, Make Writing Fun

Do your students moan and groan when it is time for writing? Does it make you sick to your stomach when that happens? Does it make you feel like you are failing as a writing teacher? You are not alone! Believe me, it happens to the best of us. It is not you! Remember...

Week Before Holiday Writing Ideas

by Amanda | Dec 10, 2015 | Holiday Writing

Before your pants are covered in green glitter and your classroom floor is littered with candy cane wrappers, make sure those writing skills you taught during that one unit in that one month are not forgotten! I’ve thought up some fun writing activities for the...

How To Do Project Based Learning During Writing Workshop

by Amanda | Dec 3, 2015 | Project Based Learning

  What is Project Based Learning? According to The Buck Institute, “Project Based Learning occurs when students gain knowledge and skills by working for an extended period of time investigating and responding to an engaging and complex problem, challenge or...

5 Essentials for Writing Workshop

by Amanda | Nov 12, 2015 | Management

Teachers are masters of winging it. We are resourceful when put on the spot, it’s what makes this profession an art. Not only are teachers resourceful they are inventive, they have personality, values, ideas, passions, and creativity. All of this has a huge...

Get Writing Conferences Right

by Amanda | Nov 5, 2015 | Conferencing, Featured Post, Management

Share Tweet Pin It Writing conferences are the toughest part of the writing workshop class. If you are new to writing workshop don’t worry too much about the conferring at first. Just do your best to roam the room while students write with quick...

Tips for Planning Writing Units

by Amanda | Oct 29, 2015 | Mini Lessons, Writing Units

Planning a writing unit can feel overwhelming. Many teachers feel stressed out by curricula put in front of them by their schools and districts with little to no training. It is difficult to sift through all the words to get to the good stuff. So let’s simplify things...

Supporting Writers At All Levels

by Amanda | Oct 22, 2015 | Differentiation, Management, Podcast

Teaching writing can be overwhelming to the max!  The variety of writing skills students need to master and the multifaceted competencies and struggles our students exhibit can make your head spin! I’m not a fan of labeling students but over the course of twelve...