Each week, I ask my writers to set an intention for the following week, and to let me know what, if any, support they might need. One of my kids asked me for some support on how to make her characters more complicated. Well, this fourth grader also happens to be an incredible writer. AsContinue reading “#SOL20 Day 4: Letting Out The Meanie”
Tag Archives: writing
#SOL20 Day 3: Story Stand-Off
Day 3 of the Slice of Life story challenge. Here goes: “Go ahead. You can do it,” she urged. Lainie drew a breath, huffed it out and rubbed her face with her hands. “But I don’t actually want to,” she whined. “Can’t I just…you know…write some poetry or personal narrative? I’m sure it will turnContinue reading “#SOL20 Day 3: Story Stand-Off”
#SOL20 Day 2: The Find
There it was, glistening like a coin dropped to the bottom of a pool. She glanced down and shrugged her shoulders – probably not worth the effort to pick up. I mean, she thought, after all, she considered, what on earth, she pondered, would I even do with it? She thought a moment at thisContinue reading “#SOL20 Day 2: The Find”
#SOL20 Day 1: On Carrying Stories
Today begins a commitment to thirty-one days of writing. Thirty-one days of stories from my life, from school, that I am putting out into the world. It makes me think about stories, and how very much I talk and think about them. I carry them with me, and I encourage my students to do theContinue reading “#SOL20 Day 1: On Carrying Stories”
Poetry, Found
If you had asked me today whether or not writing poetry should be on my to-do list, I might have laughed at you. But knowing that the universe has a way of conspiring, and knowing that grocery list poetry is a thing in this world, I felt compelled. What I loved were the ways thisContinue reading “Poetry, Found”
Exhibit Q, R, S
“So, Lainie. How do you know you’re working with gifted kids?” I present to you an obituary for…wait for it… an EXPO marker. People, I can’t make this stuff up. Earlier this week, we read Leo Lionni’s obituary to learn more about him as an artist and as a person. To understand that text, weContinue reading “Exhibit Q, R, S”
Steering My Craft: Short Sentences, Revisited
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: I’ll get real here. I wasn’t a huge fan of how things turned out for my shortContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Short Sentences, Revisited”
Steering My Craft: Long Sentences
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: Craft a passage (up to 350 words) within a single sentence. Punctuation and complex clauses are welcome! SheContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Long Sentences”
Steering My Craft: Short Sentences
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: Craft a paragraph using short sentences (maximum 7 words each). No sentence fragments are allowed! FIRST ATTEMPTAmong itContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Short Sentences”
Steering My Craft: Am I Saramago
This blog post is part of an effort to refine my own work as a writer, and to strengthen my practice as a writing teacher. For each exercise, I’ll provide the directions, my effort, and a short reflection. The Assignment: Craft a passage using NO punctuation. Gulp. Here was my go: He tied his shoes yes allContinue reading “Steering My Craft: Am I Saramago”
Soapbox: The Way I see Things 