Reading and writing make a pretty great pair, right? I mean, our students get some of their best ideas from books they have read. When it comes to helping kids become better writers, I like to draw upon picture books as mentor texts. Here are some of my favorite picture books about writing for kids. These are sure to inspire… Read More
Classroom Postcards
Students love to receive notes from their teacher! In our digital world, a handwritten or personalized note can add that special touch and let students know how much you care. Classroom postcards are a quick and easy way to jot a personal note to your students, communicate with families about an upcoming school event, let families know when school supplies… Read More
8 Ways to Increase Writing Engagement
What does writing time look like in your classroom? Are your students feverishly writing page after page? That’s great! But if your students watch the clock and count down the minutes until writing is over, then it’s time to add a little fun to your writing block. Here are 8 simple ways to increase writing engagement in your classroom. Ways… Read More
This School Year Will Be the Best Freebie
Do you walk into a new school year thinking that this school year will be the best? Of course you do! So why not start off by reading This School Year Will Be THE BEST! by Kay Winters. I want to share a little writing project you can use with this story. This School Year Will Be The Best… Read More
Writing Ideas for January
January is just around the corner. It’s always the start of a new year, but it’s also a time when students fall into a slump during writing time. Here are some ideas to add a little spark to your writing. Since it is the start of a new year, I like to revisit our classroom goals and then have students… Read More
How Santa Lost His Job (Opinion Writing and Craft)
Can you imagine what would happen if Santa lost his job? Stephen Krensky has done just that with How Santa Lost His Job. Here is an opinion writing activity and craft you can use with your students after reading this book. About the Book In the story, there is always a last-minute rush before Christmas. An elf named Muckle takes it… Read More





