It’s been a month since school started. A month since a school-free dream, worry-free Sunday, since my mind has been at rest. It’s also been a month since I’ve written, the one essential aspect of my life I have yet … Continue reading It’s all about the numbers
I was a reluctant writer — —Something I have never considered myself before. In fact, I’ve always felt writing was a strength of mine. When it came to this type of writing, writing for the world (as I call it below), I … Continue reading I Am a Writer
I’m thrilled to see so many teachers trying soft starts or planning to try them. There have been questions floating around that I am hoping to answer in this post. Know that last year was my first year trying … Continue reading More on Soft Starts
Today was a crappy day. As educators, no matter what is going on in our personal lives, or with our health, we have to muster up everything we’ve got to give to our kids. Realistically, we are all … Continue reading Please Stop the Morning Work
Partner time in reading and writing workshop was something I dreaded. Year after year, I struggled with the same things: forming what I could only hope to be successful pairs, off-task behaviors, absent partners, lack of engagement, and static partnerships … Continue reading Growing Joyful, Authentic Partnerships in Reading and Writing Workshop
With time to finally think about myself, I am determined to accomplish long-abandoned personal goals in the summer days ahead. After several drafts, I published my own summer goal chart. *Not written is my long-term goal of becoming a better … Continue reading Rethinking Daily Schedules
Close your eyes. Picture your classroom. Picture what a typical day looks like. What are your kids doing? What are you doing? Where is the furniture? What’s on the walls? Now picture the classroom you want to have. Are the … Continue reading Big Picture, Small Steps
small steps 