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If you have a PC and want to write offline and then upload, Windows Live Writer is your option. It is actually a very powerful (free) tool for blogging. Here's a blog post about why Scott Hanselman uses this app for his blogging. I've used it off and on but am using it even more now that I have a Surface Pro. I used to draft on my ipad in Blogsy but the biggest issue I had was adding links and full compatibility with wordpress - I can do it all on my Surface Pro using Windows Live Writer. This post links to the app and the why-to from this blogger. It works with wordpress, blogger, and more.

Great post on what it means to be a writer!

Class teacher is suspended for letting her students read freedom writers. I would love to have some opinions from other teachers.

This teacher was banned from using the freedom writers diary in her classroom and now has been suspended. I don't know all of the facts, however, I have to wonder why the school sent her to a Freedom writers workshop and then wouldn't let her use the book. I do respect the desire to limit the profanity -- I wish that perhaps there was a explitive-free version of the book to handle this issue, however, it looks like this entire issue was mishandled. It grieves me as more issues like this seem to be happening in schools. I haven't read this book to have my own opinion, but would love to hear from some of you who have.

My take on the power of the Zoho Office Suite for collaboration and resources for education and the classroom. Writer, Sheet, Show, Creator, DB, Notebook an amazing toolset of free "in the cloud" resources that can build and enhance student collaboration and authientic learning projects.

My "gut feeling" is that when we teach students to write, we do so too methodically. We sometimes allow adherence to form trump creativity... We neglect audience. We're churning out writer-robots who spit back the format they think we want to see. We graphic-organizer-them to exhaustion.

Great rules for Digital Storytelling and working through writer's block or with reluctant writers. 

Communication skills are critical for today's students. Reading, writing and the ability to tell a story set the stage for success. The Hub, a new TV destination dedicated to bringing kids and families together, is partnering with Discovery Education to support teachers in this important endeavor. Here you'll find inspiration to engage and inspire your budding writers. Meet the artists, editors and writers that bring good stories to life-and watch your students' communication skills soar!

Open Source Writers Group

a free web application which offers the ability to create a colorful map for writers who like to color code the creative thoughts and processes. This tool also provides the ability to embed in an e-mail to send to publishers or other writers who may be collaborating on the project.

Grammar Handbook How to Edit your writing To edit your writing well, you need to understand some basic concepts about writing. Sometimes these concepts are called grammar, mechanics, or conventions. Sometimes they are called rules, but really these rules are just patterns that good writers try to follow so they clearly communicate what they want to say to readers. Anybody can be a good editor. First, you have to know what's important and then you have to reread your work carefully. Everyone-especially teachers-appreciate a writer who rereads and corrects his or her work.

"For fun, the writer and children's book illustrator has created a series of images that can help young writers broaden their language and writing, encouraging young authors to "Fill your stories with a rainbow of images" - A great resource for the primary/elementary classroom and beyond…"

Shelfster is in beta and is a tool for writers to collect resources. It is interesting because of how it moves between desktop, mobile, and web. Research is evolving and students should be empowered with social bookmarking and research aggregation tools like this one.

This 2004 study on second-language writers determined that although students prefer oral feedback that e-feedback has a greater impact on the revisions process. Online feedback is a valuable tool in the revisions process.

Outstanding video of Kate DiCamillo speaking about her experiences being a writer and reflecting on her writing process. About 10 minutes long but worth watching.

Great writing mini lessons

Information on popfly and windows live writer and how it may be used in the classroom. Cool post.

This is a fascinating blog post about how Alfred Thompson used PopFly to create a mashup activity for a classroom demo for teachers. He also took this document from word into Live writer to make a blog post. It is important to look at many ways to do things. I found this information very insightful and cool.

Just to review, the idea behind the Twitter Writing Contest was simple… compose a story in exactly 140 characters and post it on Twitter. I want to thank everyone who participated, because there are a ton of talented writers out there (even at 140 characters)!

christchurch library kid lit page with stories, author interviews, plus kids can comment! some activities as well. great for nz writers

resources for teachers - nz books & writers