Ideas and Updates from Teachers Affiliated with the Chippewa River Writing Project
Having never been to Madison, Wisconsin I did not anticipate such a beautiful city nestled upon an isthmus between the lakes Mendota and Monona. In this place, all roads lead to the capitol building where colorful food trucks and various statues of Bucky the Badger dot the landscape. I traveled on this busy weekend with […]
Continue ReadingIn the April 2014 edition of Educational Leadership, renowned reading and writing teacher Kelly Gallagher writes about the power of mentor texts and how teachers can use them to help students improve their writing. The article, entitled “Making the Most of Mentor Texts,” begins with an anecdote about how George Lucas and his special effects […]
Continue Reading
Thunder rolled. The lightning stuck. And I woke up 40 minutes before my alarm was set to go off. Woke up widely with the same giddiness I feel upon waking on a party/big event day, or a painting/redecorating my house day, or new-project-that-you-know-is-going-to-rock-at-school day. Why — in the name of Garth Brooks — why? I […]
Continue ReadingI was reminded again this past summer that Michigan is truly one of the most beautiful places on this planet … At the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year, a unique opportunity was presented to my science colleague Jeremy Winsor and me to apply for a week-long science literacy professional development at the Central Michigan University […]
Continue Reading
I shared my writing with my students and it was really powerful. I know what you’re thinking: Of course it was. We all know this. We know that we should write with our students, model for our students, share with our students. But, I know that we don’t. Or, at least, I know that I […]
Continue Reading