Category Archives: Pre-writing

Skyping Up Some Great Ideas With the Writers at Martin J. Gottlieb Day School

April 4, 2011 – 1:57 pm

I am *so* excited to meet and write with Andrea Hernandez’s class this afternoon! Andrea is a 21st Century Learning Specialist at the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School in Florida, and a few weeks ago, she invited me to Skype in and kick off writer’s workshop in her classroom. Today, we’re going to begin by [...]

By Angela | Also posted in Dispositions, Expertise, Ideas, Seeking Understanding, Writer's Craft, Writer's Process | Tagged | Comments (0)

Retracing Our Digital Footsteps

March 13, 2011 – 12:51 pm

“But what about technology?” that little voice at the back of my head was nagging while I was working with Cheektowaga writers last month. “Teach the writer, not the writing,” a different one reminded me. This bit of wisdom from Lucy Calkins continues to transcended time, in my experience. If someone were to ask me, [...]

By Angela | Also posted in Courage, Dispositions, Ideas, Seeking Understanding, Writer's Craft, Writer's Process | Comments (0)

Where Are They Going? Where Have They Been?

March 13, 2011 – 12:49 pm

Every winter for the last few years, I’ve been invited to spend some time with about 70 middle school writers at Cheektowaga Central School. These are some of my favorite days of the entire year, and why wouldn’t they be? I easily learn as much as I teach on those days. I’m smiling just remembering [...]

By Angela | Also posted in Courage, Dispositions, Ideas, Seeking Understanding, Writer's Craft, Writer's Process | Comments (0)

Arriving at the Axis of Awesome…as Writers

December 11, 2010 – 7:33 am

What do four chords, a batch of great cookie dough, and the seven basic plots have in common? Potential for goodness. Case in point: last week, I spent an afternoon gathering cookie recipes together for holiday baking. Incidentally, this is a holiday where one theme is rapidly emerging: the need to keep things simple. To [...]

By Angela | Also posted in Courage, Narrative Fiction, Organization, Seeking Understanding, Types of Writing, Uncategorized, Writer's Craft | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Vision: The Most Critical “21st Century” Skill

September 9, 2010 – 9:52 am

The Beginning of a Writing Process, WNY Young Writers’ Studio 2010 It happens every year. “We’re only here because our moms made us come,” they told me. “We hate writing. Seriously.” Seriously? I wonder if most kids are given much of a chance to consider what writing really is anymore or why they would even [...]

By Angela | Also posted in 2010 Summer Session, Alignment, Cooperation and Collaboration, Courage, Dispositions, Drafting, Expertise, Ideas, Seeking Understanding, Stop Motion Video, Writer's Craft, Writer's Process | Comments (2)