Creative Writers sorted model texts into their correct genres: narrative, expository, or persuasive? Then we took a closer look at what details make a genre! #villagenorth #todayincreativewriting

Creative writers use one of our favorite sharing strategies- EKG! Students record the “exciting” parts of each other’s writing on a sentence strip like a heartbeat. Now writers know the most engaging parts of their piece! #todayincreativewriting #villagenorth

Another day of clocking in creative writing!! This is our favorite type of peer editing! “It’s helpful to see what other people see in my writing without feeling like I’m wrong”😍 #villagenorth

After reading Pandora’s Box, we’re group-writing myths of our own!! Such a fun Friday-before-the-last-week activity 🤪 #villagenorth

#villagenorth creative writers became impromptu pen pals with Canyon Ranch Elementary today! We wrote letters to Katie Cassidy ‘s third graders, congratulating them on a great first semester and offering advice for middle school. Another reason to love living with you Ms. Cassidy!!!

I love how Katie Cassidy & Morgan Wilson are working together to create pen pal opportunities between our classes! Talk about PLC! Our 3rd graders are so excited to write back to their pen pals today! #crecoyotes

Creative Writers got their pen pal letters back from Katie Cassidy and @MrsHernandezCRE ‘s 3rd graders!! Look at how big their smiles are!! #CISDOurStory

I’m excited about the Lit. Analysis Hexagon in Creative Workshop. Learners of ALL levels are able to contribute something, and completing a hexagon depends on actively reading and thinking about the text. I love seeing different levels of analysis appear on my wall!!

Learners are tracking their research takeaways the old fashioned way- and it makes a cool gallery walk for our most interesting finds!

#todayincreativewriting we had 100% engagement for 37 minutes because we <3 clocking! This strategy is our go-to, final-steps editing technique, and we’re pros when it comes to giving and receiving feedback on our writing. What a highly underestimated, empowering skill!

I participated in a book study over the book Workshopping the Canon this summer- and it was AWESOME! I know this year will look different (to say the least) but it is SO validating to see strong literacy values reflected here. Thanks Jennifer Gunn !!#R10ELARwkshp

AND check this out- the appendices of #WorkshoppingtheCanon include hundreds of paired texts and media to go with many commonly used classroom classics! #R10ELARwkshp

NTTBF is hosting a virtual author panel this Thursday! See northtexasteenbookfestival.com/nttbf-presents… for more details.

Last year, I started digging into sketchnoting. Now, it feels even more important to look for ways I can model and apply these visual note taking skills- whether that’s in recorded lessons, zoom lessons, etc. Check out this student who has mastered the art already!

Zoom Teaching: where “give me a thumbs up if...” and “show me on your fingers how well...” have become my new best friends

Yesterday’s writing assignment- how cool!!!

Today students browsed a virtual gallery walk. I missed having them roam the room, but the conversations from the virtual version were still good!

Today, students are finding the connections between characters and the plot. What a high level task!! We found events and asked, “what does this event show about the character?” This activity is low risk-students can go way in depth or stay surface level-and super aligned!!

❗️COOL ACTIVITY❗️Learners worked together across the whole grade level today. Ls decided to “teach”(make a video)or “learn” (watch a vid made by peers) and they worked with each other on an 8th-wide Google Sheets page! Brave, constructive, supportive, collaborative! #villagenorth

Today learners had a choice between an extension and reading time. Many have asked, “can we keep reading instead? Can we read the whole time?” 🥰 Proud that LA8 has created an environment that has kids excited to get in (and stay in) their books! #villagenorth