Book: No More I'm Done

I just got a fantastic book for writer's workshop with primary students. It's called No More "I'm Done." You can read the entire book online for a short while at the link below.

http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9196&r=

http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9196&r=#toc

Checking In

Ladies,
I am again very excited to Teach and Learn with you again in April. I would love to hear from you on email or via the blog. How are things going? What do you still need from me? Please give some feeback to the Institute. See you on the 15th.

Thursday's Workshop

Well girls, I don't know about you, but I think Thursday's workshop was exceptional. It's so informative and so applicable! I used some stuff even today! You know, I've taught forever and a day, and there's still so much to learn that makes me a better teacher. I am thankful for the info and for the way Melissa presents it. The day literally flies by. Dare I say...it's fun!! Thank you all for your input and enthusiasm. Keep writing!

Merry Christmas Institute Teachers

Just wanted to take a moment and say Merry Christmas to all of you! While you have been working hard in the trenches of candy and christmas ornaments I have been at my desk planning for another powerful Writer's Workshop Institute session! I will see you in January- 2010!

I'm Having So Much Fun

Hello girls! I have had WW every day this week, and it is going really well! It's so much fun! The kids are just bananas over it. They get so excited that they can hardly wait until after recess, when we do it. If I'm a minute late getting started, they call me on it. It's so cool! We have made anchor charts and dedicated an entire bulletin board to writing. I bought some pocket-sized spiral notebooks for them to use as their "Traveling Writer's Notebook." You'd have thought I'd given them gold or something. Every morning they come in and show me their ideas for writing. One girl was in the middle of telling me something that had happened to her the night before, and in mid-sentence she said, "I should be writing this in my Writer's Notebook!" It was awesome! I just couldn't help but share with all of you. Thank everyone for their support and great ideas! Wow!

I Finally Figured it out!

I have had the hardest time logging on. I just got my GMail account back on today (after many emails back and forth with goggle). I am not gifted with the skills for working online. I was very excited to read through the blog, I just wish I could have got it together a little sooner.
I am off to a promising start. We have established some good procedures, and started with the writing process. Some things are going great. Time is productive, lesson format (mini lesson, writing time, share time)is working, and seeing children trying new things. Some things are a struggle. Managing papers with 38 students(2classes), time to visit with everybody and meeting all students writing needs. I love the workshop and can not wait for tomorrow! I need someideas for time management:)

Getting My Feet Wet

Well, I've made the plung and my Kindergarten class has started to create their own ideas on sequels to the Curious George books we have been enjoying. Just getting them thinking as writers was my goal and we have many exciting ideas developing. We decided as a class to have George at a Carnival. We are making Half books with lines at the bottom and space to draw at the top and folding them in half with a title on the outside; because authors are sometimes the illustrator of their book. Next step I will let each student decide and write on what will happen to George at the Carnival when he gets curious. We hope to have each student read their version of what happens to George.