You've heard the saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." But what about, "Don't judge a book by its first page?" Is this even possible to do? When we pick up a book, it is most likely the words on the first page that determine whether or not we will keep reading. We've all read a book or two that didn't capture our attention so we stopped reading. Don't let this happen to you as a writer! Those first few lines of writing are referred to as the "hook" or the "grabber" becau

Powerful dialogue does more than help characters say something. Good dialogue moves a story forward. Here's how to use mentor texts to s

I love a good mentor text. Bringing a mentor text into your writing workshop reinforces the reading/writing connection. It can teach about the craft of writing and show student-writers how certain craft moves work. Mentor texts can also help spark ideas and provide a roadmap for students to try new things with their writing. I consider it a double-bonus when those mentor texts are also stories about writing. How better to drive home your lesson about writing than with a chara

There are a plethora of books about writing that are written for the adult writer. Books that will help improve their craft, provide inspiration, and point the way toward reaching writing goals. But did you know that there are books that will do the same thing for younger writers? Here are a few of our favorite books about writing that are written for students of all ages: Pretty Much Anything by Ralph Fletcher: In my opinion, no one relates to the young-at-heart writer as we

Some people collect stamps, coins, or Star Wars figures. I collect books. Many of my favorite books are those about my favorite topic -- WRITING! I am always on the lookout for titles that will inspire me or teach me something new. There are plenty of books on the topic of writing, the old standbys being Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg, and On Writing by Stephen King. If you haven't read these books, stop reading right now and go get t

Welcome to the February 17, 2018 edition of the Writing Round-Up, a resource of ideas for teachers of writers and teachers who write. We are glad you're here! For Teachers of Writers The Safety of Our Notebooks: As we continue to grapple with the craziness of the world around us, writing can help us--and our students--process our thinking. We hope you will read "On Days Like These, Write. Just Write" by Tricia Ebarvia and Moving Writers. It is a beautiful reminder of the pow

Welcome to the October 15, 2017 edition of the Writing Round-Up. Thanks for stopping by to check out some of my finds for teaching writing and being a teacher who writes. I'm glad you're here! I'm super excited about the tips I found to share this week. Please read on.... For Teachers of Writers Mentor Text Lessons Galore: When I had first started teaching using the writing workshop method, I stumbled across the Writing Fix website and their extensive list of writing mentor t

When students “think like a writer” as they are listening to the read aloud, they learn many new craft moves that they can add to their own

Welcome to the September 17, 2017 edition of The Writing Round-Up, a gathering of some of our favorite tips for teaching writing and being a teacher-writer. Have you settled into the flow of the school year yet? Getting into a routine always makes me feel so much better and gives me more time for other hobbies...like writing! So let's get started with this week's Round-Up... For Teachers of Writers The Power of the Notebook: We all know that the writer's notebook is an import

Welcome to the September 3, 2017 edition of The Writing Round-Up, a gathering of some of our favorite tips for teaching writing and being a teacher-writer. I hope your first weeks of school are going well. I've settled both of my kids into their college lives and have spent the week adjusting to being an empty-nester. I'm looking forward to more time to write and to share some great writing finds with you in the days ahead. (Be sure to sign up for our mailing list to keep in

This week's Writing Round-Up features ideas about using wordless picture books as a writing genre, teaching your students to self-edit,