M. Colleen Cruz

February 12, 2015 11:57 AM EST

THANK YOU Colleen for this timely and inspiring post! I've struggled and the teachers I am working with are grappling with, the time it is taking for our Units in the first year of implementation. Your tips and tricks help me pause and breathe. They are helping me take a realistic look at how we might unintentionally be dragging out our kids' work in the unit in our efforts to "do it right" and make sure our kids "have it". Your encouragement to see it through the cycle, trust the process and let go of the need to micromanage it all really stick on me. I leave reading your blog inspired to keep remembering to look at the year as a whole and to keep my eye on the strengths this process is building in our kids' writing. Looking forward to your next blog post!

- Paula Strozyk, Elementary Literacy Specialist, Lacey, WA

February 12, 2015 1:54 PM EST

So many schools are struggling with this issue! Thanks so much for always keeping it real. Your advise is perfectly-timed!

- @ilaura

February 13, 2015 3:14 PM EST

Thanks for your kind words Paula - and your honest reflections. I agree with you - realism in teaching is so important!

- Colleen Cruz

February 13, 2015 3:15 PM EST

@ilaura - I'm so glad you found it useful!

- C

February 14, 2015 1:48 PM EST

So great! Your thoughts are useful. Your timing is perfect, too. This very conversation came up in our inservice today (yes, we work on Saturdays, on Valentine's Day even). I was glad I'd read this last night and had it to share. Thank you for sharing!

- Aeriale

February 14, 2015 2:46 PM EST

Aeriale - Wow - working on Valentine's Day - that is serious dedication. I am awed. And also glad I helped add something to the conversation.

- C