In School
4 weeks 3 days ago
from Bill Goldsmith
[Editorial note: we love that Bill was inspired to extend the strategy instruction in the Making Meaning® program. We wanted to note that he teaches these lessons in a small group setting and Making Meaning, as written, is typically taught using whole class instruction.]
As the year progresses it is my goal that students begin to take more ownership of each strategy that I’ve...
(0)
9 weeks 13 hours ago
from Sharon Mora
This third grade class was the first room to host an Authors' Reception in late November. Feedback from parents was amazing and as a result many more rooms are hosting receptions to showcase student work. Forrest Elementary held an Authors' Reception this fall to celebrate student writers and showcase their work. This takes the idea of the Author's Chair a step further to show...
(0)
9 weeks 1 day ago
from Karen McCormick
This year, kindergarten has begun piloting the Being a Writer™ program in our classrooms. When I began teaching kindergarten three years ago, I found writing difficult to engage my students in. There was little-to-no curriculum before and the ideas I came up with were somewhat repetitive. This year, our students are much more engaged in developing their ideas for writing. The Being a Writer...
(0)
9 weeks 1 day ago
from Karen Osmun
My fifth graders recently completed “The Writing Process” section of the Being a Writer™ program. They enjoyed the steps we followed daily to reach the goal of their published book. The students were excited about working with their partners to discuss each other’s writing. They each took pride in truly trying to give constructive feedback to their partner, as well as...
(1)
9 weeks 1 day ago
from Melissa Broiles
My class is thoroughly enjoying the Being a Writer™ writing program. We are currently working on the Personal Narrative unit. The children are very motivated to write, and some of them are even taking it upon themselves to write at home, even though I haven't asked them to do so. They come to school and are very excited to share their work with me. I see impressive changes in my...
(0)
9 weeks 1 day ago
from Kathleen Morris
My students are continuing to make progress with their writing. Now I am focusing on not only the ideas (content) that they have written, but also the conventions domain of the Pennsylvania rubric. As many of us do, we read what we think we wrote. I had taken notice when students originally came to me for a mini conference that they often experienced that dilemma. Now I have each student read...
(0)
9 weeks 1 day ago
from Kathy Solimeo
Our class read the book Fortunately and then created our own book modeled after it. This book was read in Being a Writer™ Unit 1, Week 4, "Getting Ideas from Pattern Books." The students were to listen to and discuss a text that uses patterns. In this case it was the repeated words "Fortunately, Unfortunately". My class loved this book and I read it several times to...
(0)
9 weeks 1 day ago
from Robin Leddington
I can honestly say that teaching writing was my least favorite time of the day. Over my 17-year teaching career, I have never found a program or technique that inspired my students to think like writers and produce such talent.
A major advantage to the Being a Writer™ program was having the ability to use great literature to model what the children need to be able to do in the lessons. The...
(0)
11 weeks 4 days ago
from Patrick Graham
With the school year well underway, we invite you to take a moment to reflect and congratulate yourself on just how far you’ve come. Routines are established, and students have a good sense of both what to expect and what you expect of them.
But it’s also likely that you’re becoming increasingly aware of that thief called “time.” The holidays are right around the...
(0)
12 weeks 3 days ago
from Patrick Graham
We are excited to be able to share the experiences of first-time Being a Writer teachers at Forrest Elementary in Philadelphia, PA. They are in the first months of piloting the program and have agreed to write blogs telling us how their writing instruction is progressing this year.
The school was not happy with the state of their writing curriculum and, after a long search, had chosen the Being a...
(2)
Stay connected with us:
