If you are struggling with how to plan your year or just need some fresh ideas, then you are in the right place! Join me for a 10-month mini-series on creating an ELA curriculum map for your middle school classes. This month, we will focus on opinion writing. Teaching opinion
If you are struggling with how to plan your year or just need some fresh ideas, then you are in the right place! Join me for a 10-month mini-series on creating an ELA curriculum map for your middle school classes. This month, we will focus on a theme essay. If
This is the fifth part of a mini-series on back-to-school tips with a focus on selecting the first of your units of study. If you are reading this, your year is either about to start or has maybe already begun. You might be in a bit of a quandary as
Middle school ELA teachers know how difficult it is to teach writing. One of the best ways to teach writing is through a well-tuned writing workshop model. With the writing workshop steps, students will be led through mini-lessons, have plenty of time to write, and conference with you. Then, they
This is the sixth in a series of writing workshop blogs with an emphasis on writing workshop components, specifically conferencing. If you are a middle school ELA teacher, you know how difficult it is to teach writing. Besides planning cohesive units, you need to get your lessons in order, teach
This is the fifth part of a mini-series on writing workshop in middle school. Running an effective writing workshop will, undoubtedly, help your students move along in their writing, but it is so much more. When your workshop is running smoothly, kids enjoy it. They are collaborating, doing their best
Planning writing lessons for your writing workshop units sounds easy, but there is so much to consider. Teaching writing in middle school is the hardest component of teaching language arts. Many new teachers find themselves ill-equipped to handle the demands of coming up with writing lessons, units, grading, and motivating
If you are reading this, you are either considering teaching writing workshop, you have to teach writing workshop, or you want to get better at teaching writing workshop. Wherever you fall on this spectrum, I believe I can help make getting started with writing units for writing workshop easier and
This is the first in a series on middle school writing with a focus on the benefits of writing workshop in your classroom. If you’re reading this, you are wondering if writing workshop in middle school is right for you. Or maybe it’s your first job, and maybe you are
The word “essay” can elicit screams of frustration…and the kids don’t like them either! Although essays are a necessity, there are other forms of writing that we can and should teach. Read here for interesting writing ideas with some suggested great alternatives to essays in middle school. Why We Should
Teaching writing workshop in middle school is no easy task. Sure, teaching the lesson is easy. The challenge comes when students start writing. Or not writing. Keeping your middle schoolers on target during the independent writing portion is critical. Conferencing in a writing workshop can help you do that. Read
Personal narratives. By far, they are my favorite writing piece to teach my middle schoolers. Why? It is about them. It’s more free-form. And it can be very, very powerful. But if you have ever taught writing to middle schoolers, you know it can be tough. Very tough. Sure, a
If you are struggling with how to plan your year or just need some fresh ideas, then you are in the right place! Join me for a 10-month mini-series on creating an ELA curriculum map for your middle school classes. This month, we will focus on opinion writing. Teaching opinion
If you are struggling with how to plan your year or just need some fresh ideas, then you are in the right place! Join me for a 10-month mini-series on creating an ELA curriculum map for your middle school classes. This month, we will focus on a theme essay. If
This is the fifth part of a mini-series on back-to-school tips with a focus on selecting the first of your units of study. If you are reading this, your year is either about to start or has maybe already begun. You might be in a bit of a quandary as
Middle school ELA teachers know how difficult it is to teach writing. One of the best ways to teach writing is through a well-tuned writing workshop model. With the writing workshop steps, students will be led through mini-lessons, have plenty of time to write, and conference with you. Then, they
This is the sixth in a series of writing workshop blogs with an emphasis on writing workshop components, specifically conferencing. If you are a middle school ELA teacher, you know how difficult it is to teach writing. Besides planning cohesive units, you need to get your lessons in order, teach
This is the fifth part of a mini-series on writing workshop in middle school. Running an effective writing workshop will, undoubtedly, help your students move along in their writing, but it is so much more. When your workshop is running smoothly, kids enjoy it. They are collaborating, doing their best
Planning writing lessons for your writing workshop units sounds easy, but there is so much to consider. Teaching writing in middle school is the hardest component of teaching language arts. Many new teachers find themselves ill-equipped to handle the demands of coming up with writing lessons, units, grading, and motivating
If you are reading this, you are either considering teaching writing workshop, you have to teach writing workshop, or you want to get better at teaching writing workshop. Wherever you fall on this spectrum, I believe I can help make getting started with writing units for writing workshop easier and
This is the first in a series on middle school writing with a focus on the benefits of writing workshop in your classroom. If you’re reading this, you are wondering if writing workshop in middle school is right for you. Or maybe it’s your first job, and maybe you are
The word “essay” can elicit screams of frustration…and the kids don’t like them either! Although essays are a necessity, there are other forms of writing that we can and should teach. Read here for interesting writing ideas with some suggested great alternatives to essays in middle school. Why We Should
Teaching writing workshop in middle school is no easy task. Sure, teaching the lesson is easy. The challenge comes when students start writing. Or not writing. Keeping your middle schoolers on target during the independent writing portion is critical. Conferencing in a writing workshop can help you do that. Read
Personal narratives. By far, they are my favorite writing piece to teach my middle schoolers. Why? It is about them. It’s more free-form. And it can be very, very powerful. But if you have ever taught writing to middle schoolers, you know it can be tough. Very tough. Sure, a