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Writers need to feel ready to write and knowing where, what and how you will begin this thing called writing is an important start. Space and tools are unique to the writer and can change from day to day. Respect this and allow the opportunity for each writer to search and make choices for writing.

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It is day five of our 31-day writing challenge. Are you having fun yet? What feels easy? What feels challenging? Please share your thoughts when you leave the link to your slice of life story.

Every year, around this time, I start having dreams about setting up my classroom. In the classroom of my dreams, I’m moving around small circular tables, unfurling a brand new rug for the… Continue reading →

I want to know where do you write. At a computer or on paper? At a desk or on a couch? At home or at a coffee shop?

A messy work space.

I decided to go up to our attic today in search of some brown kraft paper and came out with a gigantic ruler of some sort,  my old books lots of ‘em! and a very pink cutting matt which is something I’d been meaning to buy so I’m pretty psyched about this find.

This very pink cutting matt probably use to belong to my mom (use to…because it’s mine now). I don’t know if many people know this about my mother but she’s quite a talented seamstress and I think she could have been in fashion had she opened her mind to that calling in her yester-years, but instead she became a teacher and makes a hobby out of her dressmaking skills… which is all fine and dandy! I’m just really glad she got past her “I’m going to make dashiki’s for everyone” phase..

Oh Yah and I totally found my copy of one of my fav books ever that I picked up during my internship at Sesame…ahh those were really good times… I’m looking forward to reading this again. If you have yet to read Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid I totally suggest you pick it up soon, it’s a fun read for those who are just starting out with chapter books…like me…HAH!

HAPPY ALMOST FRIDAY!

My HAWT NEST is a mess.

Each week I receive, The Big Fresh, an e-newsletter from Choice Literacy.  This week’s feature is entitled “There’s Room for Me Here.” As I began reading through the article, it resonated with the Responsive Classroom Training I received three summers ago.  Essentially, the bottom line is to make your classroom feel welcoming for your students, [...]

I recently took this pic of my work space for a book I'm contributing to. The picture is only of my desk since I literally don't have a "real" space to work. I've been working in the corner of my living room for over 3 years now. But I'm so happy to announce that I will be getting my own room as my studio (i.e., four walls and a door!) very soon. More on that later.

The count down for my wedding is less than a month away. I'm also working on some designs for Surtex, which its so hard since I can't show everything I've been doing here. But a sneak peek...notice whats on the screen in the pic? Thats a piece for my postcard. I'm waiting for it from the printers...I'll show that here once I get it.

With the action research project I’m about to embark on, I’m trying to get a better hold on the writing behaviors my students, who do not write regularly, possess. I reached for M. Colleen Cruz’s New Book from the Workshop Help Desk Series entitled A Quick Guide to Reaching Struggling Writers. This book [...]

A Messy Desk is a Sign of… Originally uploaded by teachergal Last Friday I returned home from six weeks away. I went on vacation for a week and then spent five more in the NY Area with family and friends. I loved every minute of being away, catching up with my loved ones, but it [...]