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Word games keep us connected… Staying connected with my children with all our busy lives is a challenge to say the least! With one grown child in Florida, another a college senior, and one daughter home with me working her way through high school, it’s a challenge just to connect , let alone find time to have fun together!… Continue reading STAYING CONNECTED

This month we invite writers to put their own spin on favorite fairy tales. Fairy tale writing has long been one of our favorite tools for teaching children to write.  Here are a few reasons why this works:   1.  Fairy tale writing gives writers a structure to follow. When your child writes a fairy tale in their… Continue reading 3 REASONS TO WRITE FAIRY TALES

As a parents to young writers, we often hear the question: “Want to hear my story?” What our young writers most need from us at this moment is validation.   Try listening with full attention—body and mind. For those few minutes, take in nothing but their words.   At the end of the story, of… Continue reading HOW TO KEEP YOUR CHILD WRITING: A SECRET FROM TEACHERS

How do you define your family culture? One of my daughters was a volleyball player for a while. This was a new sport (for all of us) and there was a steep learning curve. Once I asked a star player on her team how long she had been playing. She couldn’t remember. “We always had… Continue reading BUILDING WRITERS FROM A YOUNG AGE

From day one, we are encouraged to read with our children. But what about writing with our children? Educator Ralph Fletcher writes, “Childhood is the time to develop a love of writing, to learn the habits of a writer, and to start becoming aware of what makes writing work.” In fact, practice in writing creates… Continue reading TIPS FOR WRITING WITH YOUR CHILD

Hello friends! Young writers come in all varieties. If your family is anything like mine, there are a variety of personalities growing up under one roof. The “variety” that concerned me most during the back to school season was always my introverted writer. ​When the other girls were laughing, she didn’t seem to get the… Continue reading Will my child fit in at school this year?

Hello friends! Flying to Florida this month, I found myself sitting next to a woman who had an infant strapped to her front and her adorable son buckled up next to her. I know what it’s like to fly with children, so the mom (and the teacher) in me decided to engage the little boy… Continue reading Raising a Writer WITHOUT the Guilt

Hello friends! Sooo, I’m back in the classroom this week teaching 7th and 8th grade. When I first started working, my main worry was my girls. (Maybe you can relate?) How was I going to keep up with everything? It turns out, I can’t keep up. And, it also turns out, this is great news.… Continue reading The Power of Backing Off

Hello friends! On Monday, Steven sat and sat. It was the first day of Writer’s Workshop in first grade. He did not write one word while his friends began to fill pages about the small moments happening in their lives. I chose not to prompt him, or tell him what to write. Instead I gave… Continue reading Never Underestimate a Young Writer

Hello friends! Most writers can never say no to a book. But even so, we should keep a good eye on our young writer’s reading life too. This week, we’d like to share with you  7 simple tips for strengthening your home reading environment. 1. Surround your children with books. Yard sales, thrift stores, and library book… Continue reading Reading Like a Writer