In my first year of teaching I was expected to use a writer’s workshop model where students almost always chose their own writing topics. This was before the Common Core standards and my district wasn’t very concerned about what genres students wrote in, as long as they wrote. I could definitely tell you that in my…
Teaching Writing Whether you’re a new teacher just getting comfortable with teaching writing or a veteran looking for some ways to invigorate your instruction, this list has some tried and true ideas that you can put in place right away! Use Mentor Texts Mentor texts are published pieces that serve as a good example…
My first writing unit of the year is always personal narratives because I think kids feel comfortable telling stories from their lives. I’ll start with a freebie! This is a rubric to use as you teach your students the characteristics of a great personal narrative. Click on the picture to download it for free. Keep…
Problem: It’s like pulling teeth to get my kids to edit their writing. They frequently turn it in, saying they’ve edited, and I still find lots of mistakes I know they could have corrected on their own. Solution: Shake up your editing routine! Here are some ideas for making editing fun: Rainbow Editing Coloring coding makes…
