Teaching Writing

So I looked and the last post was June 20. Now I know you're thinking that there's no excuse now. But honestly, the truth is, I spend every moment I can with Dimples. I also know that sounds extremely cheesy, but it's true. He's home all day and night now, and I can't get enough of him. I love having him here all day. I never thought I could spend all day, every day with my partner, but after two years of seperation....
But that's not what this blog is about.
I decided (was that a good idea??) to take a workshop on teaching writing. I have known that writing, or rather teaching it, is my weak spot. That and history. *bleh* Ok, see the deal is, I'm a reading teacher. And I LOVE math. (Yes, I'm weird.) And science is so FUN!!! Writing is natural to me (maybe genetic??) but I really didn't know how to tackle beginning writing. We've kept journals, answered prompts, written reports, but nothing really WOW. And I want my kids to write WOW. It IS genetic since they come from a line of newpaper writers/editors. They *should* be able to just write (and the youngest is looking like a potential song-writer.) But the boys.....well, boys will be boys. And I think it might be genetic to  dislike, hate  loathe school. So anyway, I went to this workshop and have to tell you about the 6+1 Traits of Writing.
http://educationnorthwest.org/traits
Very excited with my newfound knowledge and much more sure of my ability to teach, I mentioned it to a friend. She jumped on it. Or rather me. Now I have a student for the summer. He and Justice Seeker are learning the Traits. Of course, teaching writing requires some good literature (I could have told you that) so I *needed* to buy some new books. One in particular I have to mention is Chris Van Allsburg's "The Mystery of Harris Burdick." ("Jumunji", "The Z Got Zapped") It's a wordless book, but I don't want to spoil it so look it up. There's also a portfolio (which is what I got) of the pictures.
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/harrisburdick/
Armed with my new (to me) books and the portfolio, we've been writing our hearts out. Nothing WOW yet, but it's sure to get there. And still reading, reading, reading. Justice Seeker went to the library twice today. Because he finished the book he'd gotten. At 7 pm. Then went back just before they closed at 9. I do so love being a block from the library.