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Growing Toward Independence
Cathy Mere shares what to look for and what to try next with young learners who are easily distracted and struggling to concentrate during independent reading.
Knowing Ami: Silent Communication with an English Language Learner
Katie DiCesare finds patience and observation are the keys to helping a first-grade English language learner who is in the silent period.
Jumping into Just-Right Apps
We spend a lot of time in elementary classrooms matching students to “just-right” books. Katrina Edwards uses similar principles to help her first-grade students pick just-right apps. The essay includes a downloadable chart of appropriate literacy apps for young learners.
Bringing Writers’ Voices Home with QR Codes
Bitsy Parks has her first-grade students record their writing as part of a regular workshop and assessment routine, and then uses QR codes to share the recordings with families and the larger community.
Stamina Bubbles
“Why do you always say ‘Happy reading!’ to us?” This question from a first grader leads Katrina Edwards to develop visual support tools for building stamina during reading workshops.
Moving Beyond Bed-to-Bed Stories in First Grade
Katrina Edwards moves her first graders from writing "bed-to-bed" stories early in the year with a mentor text and writing activity that promotes self-discipline and a growth mindset.
Stories from Illustrations: Conferring with Kendall
Ruth Ayres draws out the story-writing possibilities with first-grader Kendall by conferring over her illustrations.
Little Levels, Big Thinking
Katie DiCesare moves beyond levels to consider her first-grade readers’ needs.
Reading, Engagement, and Kidwatching
Katrina Edwards looked around her first-grade reading workshop one day in winter and it wasn’t a pretty picture. Many students were doing anything but reading. She develops a plan to approach the issue of time on task thoughtfully.
Reorganizing Primary Information Texts
Katie DiCesare thinks about the needs of her first-grade students, and spends some time reorganizing primary information texts, considering both physical texts for the library and online resources.
Understanding Fiction and Nonfiction in First Grade
This is a demonstration lesson in a first-grade classroom on understanding the difference between fiction and nonfiction led by Erin Quealy. It is the first video in a three-part series.
Embracing Meaning Making in Guided Reading Groups
Katie DiCesare finds her guided reading practices are rusty, so she develops some new strategies to improve her work.
Reading Workshop Routines in First Grade
Bitsy Parks explains the routines and procedures in her first-grade reading workshop.
Potato the Crow: Blurring the Lines Between Reality, Fantasy, and Play with Young Learners
Leslie Woodhouse discovers a dollar store find takes on a life of its own in her preschool classroom in this delightful essay.
Anchoring Language
Katie DiCesare thinks about what language supports student independence early in the year and how to share this in an anchor chart with her first graders.
Getting to Know a Young Reader
As she confers with first grader Kendall, Deb Gaby skillfully weaves questions about home and reading together.
Big Idea: First-Grade Lesson
Bitsy Parks introduces her first graders to the concept of theme.
Supporting Readers with Nonfiction Text
Cathy Mere finds that criteria for “just-rightness” varies with genre.
Using Picture Books to Foster Resilience
Gigi McAllister uses picture books to strengthen her fourth-grade classroom community.
First-Grade Math Lesson: Concept Practice and Conclusion
Danielle French's first graders continue to test out new math concepts and language in the conclusion of this lesson series.
First-Grade Math Lesson: Practice and Discussion
Students practice creating equations and using new vocabulary in the second installment of a math lesson from Danielle French’s first-grade classroom.
Teaching Search Skill Basics to Students
Bill Bass has advice for teaching web-based search skills to students.
The Power of Written Blind Word Sorts
Max Brand uses written blind word sorts to build student word learning skills.
Small-Group Writing: Steps for Success
Cathy Mere provides grouping guidelines for primary teachers.
English Language Learners First-Grade Guided Group
Stella Villalba leads a guided reading group of first-grade English language learners, beginning with building vocabulary.
Wyatt’s Running Record
Bitsy Parks completes a running record with first grader Wyatt as part of our running record series.
Picture Books or Beginning Readers?
Many beloved characters from picture books are showing up in beginning readers, and in the process can lose a lot of their appeal. Shari Frost provides teachers with criteria for choosing between picture books or beginning readers.
Questions and Picture Books
Katie DiCesare suggests some mentor texts for fostering curiosity in young readers.
Running Record: Kaenon
Bitsy Parks completes a running record with first grader Kaenon.
Jillian’s Running Record
Bitsy Parks completes a running record with first grader Jillian. This is part of our new running records series.
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