Rethinking Schools: Writing that Works

Just a few lines to greet the summer months with you. Isn't it wonderful to be able to enjoy these beautifully crafted days of sun and glorious colors?

As educators, we are always looking for new insights...what might enrich our strategies...and what might be a great hook for igniting new learning and mastery with our students. Well here is an article that will give you some "much needed" refueling.

Linda Christensen has written an article about the "Joy and Justice" of teaching language arts to her students. What she learned from her students guided exceptional voices within the Portland school district. Her mastery of the dreaded "red pen," will begin renovating your institutionalized thinking about "correcting" student work vs. "inspiring" the writer within the student.

Enjoy rethinking your style,
MrsK

Elements of Style

As an educator I was interested in this writing standard. What could possibly be so different about these writing standards vs. what has been in use for 50 years. As you know, so many standards in education flies into the classroom and is thrown out once a new and better version is adopted. So why would the Strunk and White, Elements of Style, continue to be in demand that the book warrants a new re-printing?

Check out the article, by clicking the title of the post, and then consider getting your hands on the book.

Always on the look out for ideas that will make the difference,
Mrs K

Multicultural Connection

Click the above title to enter website

Encouraging students to be creative and to understand "voice" in their writing can be one of the hardest traits to teach. Yet, at the same time, "voice" is the one trait that you recognize right away when you are reading. I was delighted when I ran across Chris Soentpiet, an author/illustrator who portrays "voice" not just in his writing but in his artwork as well. Chris went to Grant High School in Portland, OR before attending Pratt University in New York City. With a collaboration, Chris and his wife, Yin, have published beautiful Korean picture books. On his website Chris discusses cultural accuracy, " Though Asian communities share similar values and physical features, each group has its own unique culture that is different from the others."

Enjoy discovering the various avenues in which Chris' picture books will expand the world of writing and illustrating within your classroom and with your students,
Mrs K

February Links

Hello Educators:

Forgive the wait for the latest explorations, not enough time in the day.....

I've been collecting these insightful web connections and I am hopeful that you will locate at least one new connection to take back to your students:

News Writing with Scholastic Editors

Teachers TV: Writing Teacher Videos

Ms. Edwards Language Arts

Reading Rockets: Writing in Practice

Student Online Practice

NWRL Homework Help

Read, Write, Think: Interactive Activities

Elementary Library: Writing Tales

Techno-Activities for Writing Beyond the Classroom

Write-on writers,

MrsK