#TWOTCW Archive
#TWOTCW is a weekly chat that discusses the Big Ideas, classroom strategies, and tips from The Writing on the Classroom Wall. The chat is moderated by Steve Wyborney, that author of The Writing on the Classroom Wall. This 1-hour chat takes place every Tuesday at 7:00 PM (Mountain).
Tuesday November 1, 2016
Hello everyone Tim in Omaha
Tonight's topic is drawn from ideas in chapter 4 of The Writing on The Classroom Wall.
Everyone is welcome to join!
Hello this is Melissa from Katy TX
Good Evening Steve my friend.
Greeting: In traffic & at a meeting so not fully present. I am timing my tweets to magically appear. . . https://t.co/TKqE0Wbzvz
Hello ! Victoria, middle school librarian from Nebraska.
It is a beautiful November evening here in eastern Oregon!
good evening, - michael from columbus, ohio - in and out tonight :)
Hi - Lena Marie joining from MA. I have too many favs to pick just one!
Hi, y'all! Amy, from Arkansas! 4th grade teacher!
Joining in from India, three cheers to
Hi, Victoria! I can't wait to find out what some of your favorite books are!
Hi, Michael. I'm glad you'll be here for a little while!
oops,
https://t.co/6zy17XXqLH
Hi All, Margie from PA.
Math Coach K-12
Important topic tonight. I mean;
aren't we all reading teachers!!
Welcome! Thanks for joining from India!
always glad to make it when I can!
I hope tomorrow will be amazing!
Hello everyone! Jace from NJ
Hello, Amy from Knightdale NC, happy to come and learn with everyone tonight
Hi, Amy! I'm ready to learn, too!
I'm so happy to see everyone tonight!
I remember Trixie Belden books! Liked them a little bit more than Nancy Drew - if I remember correctly! https://t.co/DxiTjjceni
Greeting: In traffic & at a meeting so not fully present. I am timing my tweets to magically appear. . . https://t.co/TKqE0Wbzvz
:
Child:The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Read Aloud:Thanksgiving with the Tappletons
Recent Fav:The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto
Kym from Hopewell joining the chat and ready to talk READING π
Ahhh, great list, Margie!
Hello all! Stef Rothstein from Central MN, and will be popping in and out this eve!
There is a holiday theme in here, too.
Fav books: From childhood: Petunia, Fav Children's book as an adult:Toby Speed's Two Cool Cows, Fav Read Aloud: Black Whiteness
from childhood: Little House on the Prairie series; read aloud: Anne of Green Gables; recent favorite: Girl⦠https://t.co/gwnsRlHTX4
I always love reading Maniac Magee and Holes (with its clever plot holes) aloud.
a) The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet
b) The book w/ no pictures
c) Making it stick
https://t.co/QFgn5x1mIv
Edgar Allan's Invest. Detective Notebook is fun to read aloud as well!
I need to get a hold of the book w/ no pictures.
Greeting Answers: 1) Anything "GoldenBooks" 2) Anything Shel Silverstein 3) Unwind
From childhood anything Dr. Seuss or Laura Ingalls Wilder..Read Alouds Tar Beach
Childhood - anything
Read Aloud - Where the Sidewalk Ends
Recent fav - Small Great Things
I love these book lists. They are stirring emotions in me!
GreetingA: The Velveteen Rabbit, Enemy Pie and currently anything by
that shows that you read for many different reasons.
A1a
Reading can be complicated because of all the intricacies of language in print
A1 The scientific process is complicated, the connections that can be made complicated, and beautiful. Beautiful when u make meaning
Hi everyone, a tad late. We all survived Halloween, hopefully people are not on a sugar overload.
Excellent! Thanks for coming!
A1: As a child: Balarama (Indian comic book)
Read Aloud: I read poems aloud
Recent Title: The Happy Teacher Habits (Michael Linsin)
Childhood - Beatrix Potter
Read aloud - The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak
Recent - The Hunger Games series
A1) Complicated can mean intricate, which is often found in descriptors of things considered beautiful. Reading is both.
hi all! Fave from childhood: country bunny & little golden shoes, read aloud: that is NOT a good idea, recent: we found a hat
Charlotte's Web, Goodnight Moon, Wonder
I'd love to see the Indian comic book. That one is new to me.
A1. Complicated because the words can have many meanings beautiful cuz learning is happening
The book with no pictures is appearing in more than one list now.
A1b
Beauty comes when we are whisked away simply by words on a page & found without limits in the constructs of our hearts & minds
Beautiful...
https://t.co/5H0Xnvbquo
A1b
Beauty comes when we are whisked away simply by words on a page & found without limits in the constructs of our hearts & minds
A1: Reading is complicated b/c we have to decode words & meaning but it's beautiful b/c once we do, a whole new world is open to us.
Absolutely! https://t.co/dtAkt4YRQQ
A1: Reading is complicated b/c we have to decode words & meaning but it's beautiful b/c once we do, a whole new world is open to us.
Will have to look for the book with no pictures. https://t.co/pfpMpGcjJl
The book with no pictures is appearing in more than one list now.
a1: complex: picking a book at the right level & the right interest for a student. beautiful? when they ask if it's pt. of a series
A1) reading is complex & beautiful bc we r thrown in2 a brand new world w new people & conflicts & it changes who we r in our world
1) Tales 4th Grade Nothing. 2)Don't Let Pigeon Drive Bus my niece,liked me 2 read even after could by self⦠https://t.co/ZcSn0FLaSh
I can almost feel the beauty of reading when I look at the promise of a shelf of books that are waiting, inviting me.
One of my favs to recommend!
A1: READERS have so much to do with the reading...their own life experiences can both complicate & offer beauty to a books message
Those worlds are so inviting. We walk in willingly. We fight through challenge to enter and live in those worlds.
Requires a lot of energy to process words, content, story, simultaneously but the mental journeys that it l⦠https://t.co/pP1IT1GtFN
Shel Silverstein Jack Prelutsky Tomie DePaola
A1: mirrors, windows & sliding doors. Reflects who we are back to us, let's us see into others lives, & enter new worlds
A1: Reading is complex and beautiful at the same time because of the meaning making process that happens when we read
Is it writen in English? Would love to have a few in classrooms, great global connections
A1 Complicated because we need to make meaning of the written words. Beautiful when we make meaning of the written words.
A1 Rdg is complicated 'cause print can have so many meanings & beautiful 'cause words can lead to escape, new worlds, knowledge
This is a nice set of analogies...
https://t.co/mArEh5AFF3
A1: mirrors, windows & sliding doors. Reflects who we are back to us, let's us see into others lives, & enter new worlds
love this https://t.co/VBhlERgrEf
A1 Complicated because we need to make meaning of the written words. Beautiful when we make meaning of the written words.
A2 The beauty is in the journey we take through the pages of a well written story!
Sorry! It is not written in English! But there are plenty of English Comic Books 'made in India'
Love this description! https://t.co/rIY7aoOvv6
A1: mirrors, windows & sliding doors. Reflects who we are back to us, let's us see into others lives, & enter new worlds
So true. The very same print can have a very diff. meaning/experience/emotion when the same person reads it again.
A2. The reader who never gives up
I find the power of the journey extends as I share the story, retell the story, wonder more about it. https://t.co/EjW8dFmzs3
A2 The beauty is in the journey we take through the pages of a well written story!
A1 Often tell Ss I read the same books many times and discover something new each time
A1. Complicated because their are so many genres and so many writers having something to say...
A2 One who chooses to read for fun & to learn, able to interact with and connect within/btwn texts, makes meaning between the lines
A1. Beautiful? This right here...we all love different work!
A2 Strong when they read the words, reflect to make meaning and then relate to their own experiences.
A2: strong readers engage w text & pictures; make connections to deepen understanding; are willing to be flexible in their thinking
A2) a strong reader is someone who isn't afraid to pick up a book outside of their norm & who looks for purpose in their reading
A2) Begin by looking for one who chooses to be "all in" when reading - not forced, not exhaustive, not limited.
A2: Makes connections to what is being read, has a mental movie going on & knows when those mental images s⦠https://t.co/6PCXo0i0wg
Reading can challenge you to look outside of yourself and also look at yourself - sometimes whether you wan⦠https://t.co/jA012OTSJa
A strong reader understands vocabulary at & above their grade level, sees the complexity & identifies inte⦠https://t.co/IfUno7CkmQ
A2 Reading can be complicated when the words don't speak to us. When you can't connect to the message, reading = frustration!
A2. Strong readers are open to various genres...they reflect, share opinions about what they read
Well stated https://t.co/omGn4Psbzm
A2: strong readers engage w text & pictures; make connections to deepen understanding; are willing to be flexible in their thinking
A2: A strong reader is one who can deal with the complex process of reading while still enjoying the beauty of it~!
Love using picture books in MS or HS and they remember the book/story but now they understand the message! https://t.co/vi83cZRA4e
A1 Often tell Ss I read the same books many times and discover something new each time
Reflection makes a strong reader! https://t.co/z2nTzpUkZF
A2 Strong when they read the words, reflect to make meaning and then relate to their own experiences.
A2 Strong readers go beyond decoding print - make meaning, connections, ask, infer and use what they read to act, feel, or just be
This shows that iterations of opportunities are important. Opportunities to read, to experience story, to listen.
A2 A strong reader loves to read a variety of books and enjoys discussing their meaning with friends & family.
A2. I love when I watch kids make connections to their books!
It is great that they are able to appreciate their favorites even more now that they are older
There have been many books that I didn't connect to for various reasons. I had to fight through until I connected.
but is a sign of a strong reader knowing when to abandon a book?
A2: strong readers choose to read; get lost in books and can't wait to get back to them; miss their characters when a book ends
Love that you are using picture books with older Ss, after all they are written by adults and have multiple meaning
A2 Strong readers think deeply about what they are reading! They are hungry for words, and words bring them joy!
Q3. In 4th grade, they connect reading to learning, reading in a partner team and making connections
Great Q. I have certainly abandoned many books when I recognized they weren't a match with me. I made a⦠https://t.co/uQ2ZvRPotl
but is a sign of a strong reader knowing when to abandon a book?
A3 Making sense of the printed word Making meaning & making connections Reading is understanding the written message It is engaging.
I have a difficult time abandoning books. Might put down for long time but always finish!
A3) reading is discovering something, be it fiction or nonfiction, using any modality for our own learning & for enjoyment
A2: it's vital to talk about the pictures in a book...strong readers know that both the author & illustrator have something to say
I have found that if I make Ss read a book they hate they won't grow as readers. I'm the same.
A3: The definition of reading is engaging with a book, whether it's in the words or the pictures & making some sort of sense of it.
A3. Ss also like small group guided reading with me
I have found that I often come back to books that I have abandoned, once the time is right.
Yes, such a good Q. I wonder if there is a diff. between don't like, and ID it's not what we're looking for.
A3: In math, I am teaching how to navigate informational text: slow down, reread,make representations, connections, ask ?s, &predict
Does it have to be a book? so many digital versions out there now - both with text and audio!
Absolutely. Big Idea #1: Learning is about making connection. https://t.co/WIx9QYojUR
Q3. In 4th grade, they connect reading to learning, reading in a partner team and making connections
Me too, if reading for fun. Once I read the first word, I am compelled to finish.
A3: Reading is THINKING π
These are very thoughtful discussions. I think there is both a time to pick up a book and a time to put one down.
Reading is interpreting the world around us by taking an independent journey through the path of information & words
Agree but I am not able to do it myself. I took over a year for one book!
I just spent about 3 months on one - paid overdue fines 3 times, but did finish.
I really think that is important to acknowledge. The personal experience of reading.
A3: that bottom part of the q changes my answer. Making me think more about my academic definition versus what I'd tell sts...
A1. Sometimes gets me thinking sooooo much. Where I end up is beautiful!
I guess I feel an obligation to the writer!
must have missed that part - it is a grand debate both in my house and in schools!
It's also why returning to a book later may provide an entirely different experience later in life (even weeks later).
That really speaks to the power of connection between the writer and the reader.
I wish I could easily abandon when it drags but....
A3. I keep reading casual. Light. Fun. Not a mandatory task. Something we all do.
A4 opens doors to areas otherwise inaccessible!
A4 I think one way reading sets us free to look for connections is that it inspires us to write our own stories.
A4) sometimes reading is an escape from life. I love when Ss take the perspective of a book's "hero" & apply lessons to their lives.
A3 Reading is a transcendental exchange of information over generations. A connection made globally & timelessly.
A4. Powerful connections can spark powerful thoughts or memories...β€
hmmm... now I wonder if it's possible to read without (at least in some sense, in some form) writing meaning of our own. hmmm...
A3 Reading begins with a curiosity about the world around us, and we read to learn.
A4: Reading & making connections to text is personal; St must feel free to bring themselves & their experiences into the reading
A4 each person brings their own background & experiences to the text, we all approach from own angle, free to connect and build
When we are immersed in reading, it changes us.
And we learn more about our new selves.
A4) it helps us see things from others' perspectives & in situations we might never be in, or may be in in the future
Need to leave early tonight! Great chat tonight! Thanks everyone! Have a great night!
Yes, and every time we see something from another perspective, we can learn more about our own perspective. https://t.co/zfgFmw393F
A4) it helps us see things from others' perspectives & in situations we might never be in, or may be in in the future
Yes! It mentors our thinking! https://t.co/uF4yLIy3vY
A4 I think one way reading sets us free to look for connections is that it inspires us to write our own stories.
A3: Reading is what makes you grow up ;) (Kids love growing up and becoming adults, you see!)
Always afraid Oprah's Book Club was going 2 pick a fave of mine. Work at library and don't like to make staff picks.
Nicely stated
"It mentors our thinking!"
https://t.co/ML3JqQ83iQ
Yes! It mentors our thinking! https://t.co/uF4yLIy3vY
A4 I think one way reading sets us free to look for connections is that it inspires us to write our own stories.
A4: Both the reader and writer bring things to the table & have a unique connection in the transaction that takes place between them
A4. Reading gives us the ability to think for ourselves & power to make decisions
A3 Reading is equality. It brings children, adults, men and women together in a common setting: fantasy, sci-fi, even superhero
I like how you phrased it. Such a great sense of personification.
A4: it's especially freeing when a St connects deeply with the feelings of a character..."ahhh, I understand what that feels like"
A4: Reading is perspective building!
Mine is longer than that - wheel of time series!
Side Q - Does anyone else have stacks of books that you are reading 7, 8, 9 of at a time?
A4 Reading provides us access to the world, new people, new thoughts, new information and the reader decides what to do with this
Yep. https://t.co/yaaTPhhXtz
Side Q - Does anyone else have stacks of books that you are reading 7, 8, 9 of at a time?
A4 So often we find ourselves in the stories we read. That real connection brings the text to life and often validates us as humans.
That's one of the aspects of Maniac Magee that I really like. Moving us through many situations.
A4: Reading is a two-way connection. One, you see another person's perspective. Two, it communicates with your perspectives!
Just a turn of the page away... a turn of the page and a powerful act of thinking.
A5 Once truly read, a text stays with you, it changes who you are and how you see the world and how you interact with the world
Yes, both of these can happen.
A5: there's a certain "mulling over" that happens to a reader...sometimes the biggest "ah-ha" moments come long after we've read
this is my wife- thank GOODNESS for ! https://t.co/dFgJbBoMqT
Side Q - Does anyone else have stacks of books that you are reading 7, 8, 9 of at a time?
A5. Example of acquired learning
A5 The story does not pause when the cover closes. It becomes engrained in who we are. The words are a cond⦠https://t.co/HKxM0lRIeu
Q5 ...the power of reading is sometimes found in the moments when there is not text in front of us. What does thi⦠https://t.co/HYmpvHXJfs
LOL, I have lots that I'm reading - what I read depends on my mood and purpose https://t.co/8zmSp6Gpgy
Side Q - Does anyone else have stacks of books that you are reading 7, 8, 9 of at a time?
I might have to walk into the other room and see how how the stack is right now!
Q5: it makes me think of the ways we are so profoundly changed and influenced by what we have read. We carry it with us forever.
A5: Reading is about sparking imagination! Often, what you read stays with you long after you keep the book away!
That's quite a stack. I love it!
I love Maniac Magee and Star Girl for that reason too
I do! I do!! Me! Me! https://t.co/xoBny6u9jv
Side Q - Does anyone else have stacks of books that you are reading 7, 8, 9 of at a time?
A5) I loved when a S would come to their own conclusion(s) or new learning days/weeks after reading together. It's the same for me!
A5 Amazing writers cause words to resonate and reflect meaning so deeply they become memories.
A5. I immediately think about Reflection...you don't need to be holding a book to enjoy it
A5 Have read a few books that have stayed with me days after I read the last page.
It may be that reading provides content and context that we realize at a later moment in life.
This is the best way to look at reading so far! https://t.co/JIZMT1xhg2
A5 Amazing writers cause words to resonate and reflect meaning so deeply they become memories.
Ah, Star Girl! Love that book!
A5. Growing up in Inner City Chicago, reading helped me learn commonalities of people my age worldwide.
A5: sometimes the most powerful moments in reading come when I'm talking about the book w a friend...this can happen during & after
Hopefully we can encourage & nurture the "Star Girl" in each of our Ss. Celebrate our differences
A5: Reading propels us to think more creatively and this often comes later on as we ponder over what weβve read. It changes us
It's a beautiful thing to find those books - the ones that we can repeatedly read. https://t.co/TwL4zgWciO
Awww, The Language of Flowers, The Nightingale & Girl with the Pearl Earring, Could read them every year
Reading is personal and words are interpreted uniquely how one identifies with the content gets added to pr⦠https://t.co/PbETxbHGhS
Reading Pax w/ class as part of .1 S in tears b/c of Gray. They are going to learn about Runt tomorrow.
ππΌ https://t.co/9NwS9ASyT2
Hopefully we can encourage & nurture the "Star Girl" in each of our Ss. Celebrate our differences
This chat has been wonderful! Thank you I have to leave a bit early. Have a nice night everyone! Keep reading π
Great comment. I can say this from the perspective of growing up in a town of 150, too.
Nice comment. https://t.co/1wY2zuM1nc
A5. Growing up in Inner City Chicago, reading helped me learn commonalities of people my age worldwide.
A6 To read is to understand, to think deeply and to connect
The power of the text inhabits our experiences as we travel forward with a willingness to connect. https://t.co/haAATOdkWR
A5: When I see something happening in my "real world" & the words of a text come back to me. Happens a lot with Tho⦠https://t.co/saZuBH85Gf
Making Meaning...I think about the connection we as readers can develop with the author...what is the message from the author? βΊ
https://t.co/1THrRfHI2n
Love using picture books in MS or HS and they remember the book/story but now they understand the message! https://t.co/vi83cZRA4e
A1 Often tell Ss I read the same books many times and discover something new each time
A6: sometimes readers must work to make meaning...blending their background knowledge w the words/pictures...creating inferences
Sorry, I have to call it a night. What a great conversation. Thanks everyone. Thanks . Always insightful questions
I feel so blessed to interact with all of your reflective thoughts this evening!
Well said https://t.co/IAEE7wirpw
A1: mirrors, windows & sliding doors. Reflects who we are back to us, let's us see into others lives, & enter new worlds
aha moments/when u can't remember if u rd it or actually know a person/quoting a bk bc it just fits/still c⦠https://t.co/SQTgvtoJX1
Q5 ...the power of reading is sometimes found in the moments when there is not text in front of us. What does thi⦠https://t.co/HYmpvHXJfs
Yes, reading is a powerful act of thinking. It's inviting, and it requires important effort and choices. https://t.co/wLg0dpuOUI
A6: sometimes readers must work to make meaning...blending their background knowledge w the words/pictures...creating inferences
A6. Meaning is the thinking we get from reading. It's amazing how personal experiences shapes the thinking!
Powerful books reach many people in ways that are personal and individual - yet also connect us.
A6 Turning words on a page into a picture or a movie that we can understand.
I have to admit I also have a book I've been reading for two months and I'm still on page 84. My husband calls it my sleep tonic. :)
So sorry to miss tonight . Plans changed as my daughter is not feeling well. Hoping to catch up next week
Margie, that is the kind of book that I paid 3 overdue fees for at the library. It was perfect in really small doses.
you're very welcome. Your book travels with me everyday. Hard copy and Kindle edition:) It's that good.
We hope she feels better soon, Nikki! Perhaps a good book...?
A6 A great book is meaningful when it mirrors our own lives, where we came from and where our future may le⦠https://t.co/lRWvnXuKch
A7: each time we return to a book, we bring new experiences with us...as the reader grows and changes, so too does the reading
I am saving this tweet! I might print it out and put it on my. https://t.co/NGUYZuZkCz
you're very welcome. Your book travels with me everyday. Hard copy and Kindle edition:) It's that good.
A7 Because the ultimate goal is to create lifelong readers who find joy, adventure, peace, and comfort within the pages of a book.
you should:)...reminder of how important your book is to learning environments.
A7 Hmmm...my thinking about reading continues to grow. We continue to grow as readers, seeking solace in books
A6: Helps us find meaning in the world around us and in those in which we will never live. Reading gives us perspective
Those words I tell the students, "We will never stop learning about reading," I see through new eyes all the time.
To Kill A Mockingbird has meaning on so many levels it changes ones outlook.
A7. As my experiences (vocab) change my reflections on what I read and hear filters the learning.
A7. As a T, I want inspire Ss to love reading...so we'll always become stronger and learn...lifelong skill
So, every chat we make sure the last question gives us time to reflect...
It is such a unique genre. It would be interesting to have a student detail the nuances.
This chat has made me reflect deeply on my personal experience as a reader, and how my life experience impacts my journey.
A7. Readers need to continue to see the world through different lenses
That is a vivid description. Clever.
Q8: I'd love to hear other book suggestions...favorite read alouds...shared reading texts...etc. I'm in the mood to read! π
The power of story is so rewarding. We must never lose sight of that.
A8. I tweeted before...I never really have just made time to think/reflect about what I'm reading...need to do more of that
A7 Reading evolves like our learning. The more we read, the more complexity we understand & deeper meaning we absorb.
A8: I'd love to hear other book suggestions...favorite read alouds...shared reading texts, etc. I'm in the mood to read! π
Excellent conversation tonight πͺπ
A8
Reading is the catalyst to such joy, progress, and emotion in life.
A8 In my earliest memories I've always been a reader, loved books, never without them Want to bring this confidence & love to our Ss
Strive to make reading relevant for Ss and Ts.
A8. The power of Read-Aloud in the classroom and the importance of teaching Ss to make connections.
