Living Life Twice

  By the time students reach Grade three they have been exposed to, continually reminded and alerted to the importance of using ending punctuation at the conclusion of sentences. However, if we look at the writing samples they produce early in the school year, we notice how intermittently such marks appear in their work. Punctuation often appears by chance rather than conscious effort. If we want developing writers to exhibit consistency in the use of punctuation, we need to teach them to value its use in their writing. The best case scenario is to have young writers using punctuation with thoughtful intent. How do we achieve this? Let’s start by initiating a close study of how such ending punctuation can be used to make writing more interesting for the reader.  The message needs to be- This punctuation helps to convey the writer’s voice!  Remind them to link their reading of their writing to an emotion - anger, happiness, frustration etc. The me...

Some initial reviews of my latest book -Notebook Notions sighted on various on line book platforms -Fishpond, Booktopia, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. I am most gratified by these affirming responses. Let me tell you, I am happier than a dog with two tails... ORDER NOW @ Amba Press Karsan on February 15, 2026 'Alan's books have been a trusted companion in shaping how I support students’ writing through writer’s notebooks. Notebook Notions reminded me that writing must be lived, not just taught. Alan positions the notebook as more than a classroom tool... it’s a space for thinking, noticing and developing an authentic writing identity. His message is clear: if we want students to see themselves as writers, teachers must also write alongside them. And I've don't exactly that! I love the “Consider” sections at the end of each chapter, which provide prompts that translate into writing lesson ideas. Alan encourages collecting ideas, observations and sentences which support...

Quite some   years back, I found myself talking to a group of enthusiastic Year one writers keen to commence their writing pieces. As they stood up from the carpet to return to their seats, I realized that the spark of imagination that would fire my own writing ideas, had suddenly evaporated.  The students all seemed fired up and ready to create the miracle of meaningful marks on paper There I   was the most experienced writer in the room,  completely blank, unable to conjure up a single thing to write about. I was trying to will my brain into action. A damp foggy mist had descended upon my writing mind. An unexpected intrusion on my normally rich inner world of ideas. A small boy stood beside me at this critical juncture and casually announced, 'I’m going to write about the first time I went fishing on Saturday with my Dad.' 'Oh thank you,' I said with an audible sigh of relief. The bemused child looked at me unsure as to what he had actually done. 'You have ju...

  Sparking A Desire To Write Among Young Writers As the start of another Australian school year begins to settle in, the question arises –How do we most effectively engage my students in authentic literacy experiences? How do we encourage them to become lifelong readers and writers? It is important to remember that during the summer, many of them have not consistently engaged any considered reading and writing. For some, virtually no time has been spent on such pursuits. How do we rebuild their literacy muscles? How do we build their stamina for these critical literacy experiences? In these early days and weeks when students re-enter school, building personal relationships should be priority one, -finding out what defines them as literate beings. Students need an opportunity to talk and think about their reading and writing intentions. Some may need to draw, sketch create maps etc to further stimulate their thinking about potential writing ideas. It would make sense to...

Writing's Launch Pad in the Classroom As the start of another Australian school year begins to settle in, the question arises –How do I most effectively engage my students in authentic literacy experiences? How do I encourage them to become lifelong readers and writers? It is important to remember that during the summer, many of them have not consistently engaged any considered reading and writing. For some, virtually no time has been spent on such pursuits. How do we rebuild their literacy muscles? How do we build their stamina for these critical literacy experiences? In these early days and weeks when students re-enter school, building personal relationships should be priority one, -finding out what defines them as literate beings. Students need an opportunity to talk and think about their reading and writing intentions. Some may need to draw, sketch create maps etc to further stimulate their thinking about potential writing ideas. It would make sense to challenge them to create ...

Writing Creates Its Own Magic I spend a lot of time thinking about writing. Almost as much time as I do actually composing thoughts and ideas.  As a student I was taught what to write, rather than how to write. The teacher frequently said -here is the genre, here is the topic, now show what you can do.  As a consequence I have always striven to teach in ways that demystify writing, trying to build understanding through modeled, guided and independent practice.  Much of my teaching life has focused on sharing the knowledge I have gathered from my sustained writing life. I am keen to share what writing has taught me with young writers and their teachers. If what I share helps to set inexperienced writers up to be successful, to view themselves as confident writers, then my mission has been successful. Writers share. They willingly unpack their understanding about writing in the hope a less experienced writer may benefit from knowing important aspects of the craft.  You...

  Here are five of the most popular  Living Life Twice  posts for 2025. Thank you for your continuing support and interest in teaching writing and all it involves. Here's a chance to reconnect with writing ideas. Ideas you can easily carry forward into 2026.  Just click the blue links to discover more... Developing Personal Writing Projects In this post I wanted to challenge the long held practice that the first logical action after identifying a writing project is to always immediately start drafting. For generations schools have reinforced this approach. It does the young writer a disservice. It does teachers and learning outcomes a disservice too. Creating Opportunities For Kids To Publish A recent question from a teacher prompted me to think more deeply about  publishing student writing . She was searching for professional reading that dealt more deeply with the  publishing  phase of the writing process. My own search revealed that many of the avai...

For this writing piece I didn't have to look any further than my left hand. I was holding the idea right there -and my deeper thoughts followed... I have always been pen particular. Pernickity, or should that be penickity ? My pen of choice is a Uniball Gel Impact pen with black ink. Always black ink. Must be black ink.  It is the pen I prefer when writing. It feels comfortable in my hand. When writing with this pen, words seem to flow more easily. They effortlessly spill across the page. I actually feel like I am speed writing. Being left handed, this continues to be my most glorious delusion. I also have a Lamy fountain pen which also uses black ink cartridges. I enjoy writing with this pen too. It has become accustomed to my left handed peculiarities. I would never a let a right hander use it. Call me fussy. It won’t change my thinking on pen sharing. Not for me, a pen of questionable origin, no generic biro with a chewed end. No novelty pen with gaudy fluoro coloured ink. ...

Many teachers don't see themselves as writers – a disconnect often rooted in their own restrictive school experiences where writing meant following rigid assignments with little room for creative freedom. Yet writing alongside students transforms teaching, allowing educators to demonstrate the authentic struggles and joys of the writing process while building their own confidence with words. In   Notebook Notions , experienced educator and writer Alan j Wright shares the lessons learnt across a rewarding career, revealing how the simple act of keeping a writer's notebook can revolutionise both your teaching practice and your relationship with writing itself.   Drawing from years of experience as a teacher who writes – and a writer who teaches – Alan offers practical wisdom on launching and sustaining a writer's notebook practice. From collecting raw ideas and embracing inspiration to moving notebook entries into finished projects, this book provides a clear pathway for ed...