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Launching Writer's Notebooks

How is it possible that I've never written this blog post before?!?! Today, this day, notebook launching day...it's my favorite day of the beginning of the year! It's so exciting! The energy is palpable!

We begin by talking about what writing is. This helps me get a peek into their previous writing experiences and the emotions surrounding them. Here's what I heard today...

These answers gave me such joy and hope. It's evidence of students who already feel successful as writers. Next, I shared my life as a writer. I love when I show them my very first notebook and hear the gasps when they see what year I began writing...1982. 

After we discuss my experience with writer's notebooks, I say, "Writers, you need notebooks." Students begin shuffling around until they see the giant pile of wrapped notebooks...

I begin passing them out and the volume slowly goes up. Students start whispering and soon, they are cheering. The sound of hearing their joy as they unwrap their packages is like no other I've ever heard. It's JOY! 

Once the students open their notebooks, they notice that there's something inside...

I wrote a poem for them. It seems as if they enjoy the poem. And now, they are off! Writers, begin writing...




















All this and it's only day one with our notebooks! Watch out world, here we come!

Thank you to the Two Writing Teachers for this amazing platform to write and share writing! What a wonderful community you've created! I'm honored to be part of it. Join us at Two Writing Teachers.

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  1. Stacey ShubitzAugust 29, 2017 at 5:28 PM

    I don't know why you haven't written it before, but you did now. So glad you did!

    You and your students are in for an incredible, writing-filled year!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jennifer LaffinAugust 29, 2017 at 7:30 PM

    Love the notebook that says: "The Beginning." The life of a writer has to begin with that first notebook. What a tremendous gift you have given to your students. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. RamonaAugust 30, 2017 at 12:38 AM

    I love the enthusiasm of this post! And that you're the real deal when it comes to writing notebooks. Here's to a beautiful beginning!

    ReplyDelete
  4. DogtraxAugust 30, 2017 at 5:39 AM

    yeah!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Margaret SimonAugust 30, 2017 at 12:59 PM

    Awesomeness!

    ReplyDelete
  6. LoraleeSeptember 7, 2017 at 3:36 AM

    Such excitement! And you rock!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Amy LVSeptember 11, 2017 at 3:46 PM

    I can't even stand this. I feel this same way with a new notebook...as you saw with the yellow one! If your young notebookers have any interest...once they're off and running...it's be my pleasure to have them share peeks into these pages at Sharing Our Notebooks! xx

    ReplyDelete
  8. jan godown anninoDecember 15, 2017 at 7:00 PM

    This is a gift to us all! And how about that true line "Warning! Mistakes will be made!"
    Appreciations for turning on these writers to their enormous energy for words.

    ReplyDelete
  9. shogemAugust 4, 2018 at 4:25 PM

    Michelle what a great way to start school & get engagement on the fist day.
    Meg

    ReplyDelete

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