Last week, Ruth Ayres’ post encouraged writers to celebrate lists as a valuable writing craft. Then I went to my writing group, and both educators included lists in their draft articles. The ideas these authors listed in their pieces helped me as an educator and as a writer. As I read their drafts, I… Continue reading Lessons Learned from Teaching Phonics Online
Author: Tammy Mulligan
Tammy Mulligan co-authored It’s All About the Books and Assessment in Perspective. At work, you can find her teaching second grade and collaborating with teachers. At home, you will find her in the garden, with her family, working with her therapy dog, or hiking in the woods.
It’s the 10th Anniversary of #PB10for10
This summer, I attended #IREL20 facilitated by Tricia Ebarvia and Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul. During a breakout session, a fellow educator named Tamika introduced me to Bobbie Harro’s cycle of socialization (I am sorry not to have Tamika’s full name to give her proper credit.) This work, and Tamika’s explanation, helped deepen my understanding of how… Continue reading It’s the 10th Anniversary of #PB10for10
Lessons Learned from Assessing and Teaching Online
I listened to a third grader as he read a list of CVC words. (Yes, I realize how much this first sentence reveals about the amount he needs to learn.) As he reads, I repeat, “Come on. You’ve got this,” in my head, somehow hoping to will him to success. YES! He reads the list… Continue reading Lessons Learned from Assessing and Teaching Online
Summer Break - See you in August
Our collaborative team of thirty-one educators will take July off and will be back blogging about connecting books and kids in August. We will even have a few new contributors joining the @tbrblog31 team. Join us in August as we: Share our commitment to “own voice" authorsBlog about books we’ve read and shared with childrenLearn about… Continue reading Summer Break - See you in August
Lessons from My Strawberry Lawn
Each week on Sharing Our Stories: Magic in a Blog, Ruth Ayres gives participants an open invitation to try a new writing technique. Last week, she blogged about how writers can weave bits of research into all forms of writing. So, I let her writing lesson marinate for a few days, and then I tried… Continue reading Lessons from My Strawberry Lawn
Lessons Learned from COVID-19
"Let's make a tool to help you remember your short vowel sounds," I say to a five-year-old through a computer screen. “Okay, I know how to make a chart.” Before I got another word out of my mouth, this kindergartener turned his paper over and constructed this chart. I’m at that familiar teaching moment when… Continue reading Lessons Learned from COVID-19
Rivet - Free Online Books for Emergent Readers
I knew Rivet was a hit when I opened the website to show a kindergartener, and he cheered during our digital chat. "Wow! Are these books? Can we read these?" The next day, his enthusiasm continued, "Wait. Is that a book about gummy alligators?" The following day he asked, "Do you think they have books… Continue reading Rivet - Free Online Books for Emergent Readers
Lessons Learned from COVID-19
I've always been a planner. As soon in my family is up on Saturday morning, I ask, "let's plan out the day. During this pandemic, I have asked my family to "plan out the day" for the last 87 days. Yup - They are a bit sick of hearing that out of my mouth. But… Continue reading Lessons Learned from COVID-19
Dear Fellow White Educators,
In Jennifer Serravallo's recent post, she shared resources and asked, "Please do not thank me or give me compliments for this post. Instead, please respond with what your goal will be and what your specific actions will be." You won't read many words from me in this post. Right now, I need to read, listen,… Continue reading Dear Fellow White Educators,
Kids Teaching Kids (SOS: Magic in a Blog)
Whether it is math facts or letter sounds, engaging students to learn rote skills is difficult in the classroom, which means it ten times harder when teaching online. As I teach phonics to a young reader through a screen, his eyes wander. Then he begins to tap his pencil and squirm in his seat - … Continue reading Kids Teaching Kids (SOS: Magic in a Blog)
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session
Hi Writers, Summer is beginning, and it is time to say good-bye. It has been so much fun creating writing pieces with you. Let's finish our opinion pieces and share them with other kids, so students have fun all summer long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA34NMImUtQ Thanks, Maddie and Joseph, for sharing your writing with all of us. We… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 13
Hi Writers, Let's make something this week to help other kids while we are all stuck at home. Look at what Maddie did to start. She wrote a a list of all the things she loves to do. We can use these lists to write an opinion piece about what kids should do to have… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 13
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session
Ranger and Hoppy cooling off in the river. Summer break is almost here, and it is time for writing camp to come to an end. Thank you for watching these videos and sharing your writing with me. I have loved learning with you. Here is our final lesson about writing book reviews. Remember, the reviews… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Final Session
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 42
Thanks, Maxwell and Saphira, for sharing their writing. Hi Writers, It's our last week of writing camp, so let's make something that will have a BIG impact. School is almost over and kids need books, websites, and lots of digital texts to read all summer long. To help kids know what to read, let's write… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 42
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 12
Hi Writers, Today is a big day at writing camp. My friend Jack, who is in kindergarten, shows how he says the sounds he hears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2mPp2Zmeqg Thanks, Jack, for teaching all of us. Writers, give Jack's strategy a try and then share your writing with your teachers. HAPPY WRITING!
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 11
Hi Writers, One way to connect with all the people we miss is to write letters. In this video, I'll show you how one teacher wrote a letter to a friend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmG31QPxAB8 You can send your letters in the mail, take a photo and text it, or even email it. I can't wait to see… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 11
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 41
Hi Writers, Let's finish our essays with powerful endings that impact our readers. Thanks to Mrs. Curtin's class, we have some thoughtful endings to study. https://youtu.be/Vyz-bOgzkVc http://www.studentssendinglove.com Please remember to share your writing with your teachers. If you would like me to see your writing, please add it to our Padlet Board and I will… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 41
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 40
Ranger had a run-in with a porcupine. Hi Writers, Don't worry, we got the quills out and Ranger is fine now. I wish he would learn to leave the porcupines alone. Let's work on our essays to the heroes and helpers in our communities. https://youtu.be/Ok9vcLAdQCA Here is the writing I showed in the video. I… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 40
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 39
Students from the Brown School wrote essays to show how much they appreciate their custodians. http://www.studentssendinglove.com Hi Writers, Did you know that essays can be gifts to send out into the world? This week I am writing essays to celebrate all of the heroes and helpers in our communities. I hope you will join me.… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 39
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 10
Hi Writers, Let's learn to make our characters talk in our writing. I can't wait to see what you create today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDaVum24xqk Here are the lists that students created! Please add your writing to our Padlet Board if you would like me to see it. Don't forget to show your writing to your teachers. HAPPY… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 10
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 9
Hi Writers, Let's learn a new way to add more to our narrative stories. I can't wait to see what you create today. Don't forget to share your writing with your teachers. If you want me to see your writing, please add it to our Padlet Board. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hBHBO5Ur_A HAPPY WRITING!
Grades 2-5: Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger - Session 38
Hi Writers, I hope you are having fun making something. Today I'll show you how I wrote about the life lessons I have learned in my letter to my future self. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9Zhka_cRtM HAPPY WRITING!
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 37
Ranger and Hoppy enjoying the spring weather. Hi Writers, Let's add more to our letters to our future selves. Today I'll teach you how to think of the life lessons you've learned while you stayed at home. These will be lessons you will want to remember when you read this letter many years from now.… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 37
Grades 2-5: Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger - Session 36
Mrs. Blumberg's Anchor Chart Hi Writers, This weekend I watched lots of teaching videos. I love the way Mrs. B teaches kids how to write a letter to their future self. I'll be working on my letter this week and sharing my thoughts with you. https://youtu.be/0hlsrzcYvGQ I hope you share your letters or whatever writing… Continue reading Grades 2-5: Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger - Session 36
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 8
Hi Writers, Let's learn how to say more when we write so that our readers will enjoy our writing even more. I hope this video makes you smile and helps you make something today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFuCxiMdY4w So many kids are sharing their writing with their teachers and adding it to our Padlet Board. I hope you… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 8
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 7
Hi Writers, Let's learn a new way to think of a writing idea. Remember, if you know what to write, please write it. If you don't, you can try one of the strategies we learned or the strategy I teach today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnmY2YyLb-k Don't forget to share your writing with your teacher. If you would like… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 7
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 35 - Editing Choice Board
Hoppy ran across a stream and couldn't get back. Good thing my daughter was happy to go across and carry him back. Hi Writers, I created an editing choice board to help you make your writing the best it can be. To give it a try, watch my video and then click on the boxes… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 35 - Editing Choice Board
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 34
Hi Writers, Thanks to my friend, Mrs. Shepherd, I learned how to make choice boards on Google Slides. To give you more choices as writers, I created a revision choice board. This board is interactive and you can choose what you want to learn. I can't wait to hear how you revise your writing. https://youtu.be/voZ_E4jLf8I… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 34
Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 33
Hi Writers, Tessa, a fifth-grader, is writing moments from her life to capture this unique time in history. We can learn so much from other writers. I hope you find craft moves to try after reading Tessa's writing. I certainly did. https://youtu.be/GBO2d0czuSs Every day when I open our Padlet board, I smile. There are so… Continue reading Grades 2-5 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 33
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 6
Look at what this student created in her notebook. She wrote a story about brushing her dog. Hi Writers, Today I have a big message for you. I want you to write the sounds you hear. When you write the sounds you hear, you can get all of your beautiful ideas down on paper. As… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 6
K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 5
Hi Writers, Let's learn to add labels and speech bubbles to our drawings and then touch and tell to think of what to write. I hope you enjoy watching Hoppy do a trick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfFfeT6BFzU I am going to work on my story and I hope you will too. Please add your writing to our Padlet… Continue reading K/1 Writing Camp with Hoppy and Ranger: Session 5