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Choice Literacy Articles & Videos
The Choice Literacy library contains over 3,000 articles and 900 videos from 150+ contributors. Classic Classroom and Literacy Leadership subscribers have access to the entire library. Content is updated continuously, with five to six new features published each week.
Latest Content
Living Words: Integrating Word Study, Technology, and Content Literacy (Part 1)
Living Words is a quick routine from Andrea Smith that helps students see the power of rich vocabulary for describing the natural world around them.
Creating a Model Writing School
Julie Johnson shares the professional development plan and experiences that led to her school's evolution into a model writing school.
Expectations for Grade-Level Team Meetings
Tammy Mulligan and Clare Landrigan share their top tips for improving team meetings.
Creating Data Teams
Literacy leaders are spending more and more time organizing, compiling, and storing assessment data, often leaving little time to analyze the findings with teachers. Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan explain the value of enlisting tech support to assist with the data load.
The Joy of Letter Writing: An Integrated Unit for Intermediate Students
Letter writing isn't a lost art in Mary Lee Hahn's 4th grade classroom. This unit has timeless appeal for students of all ages.
Restless Wanderer: Lessons for Teachers from Summer Vacations
Are teachers ever really on vacation? In “Restless Wanderer” Shelly Archer ponders moments on a holiday that aren’t much fun, and can’t help but connect them to teaching struggles.
The Importance of Book Clubs for Learners of Any Age
Karen Terlecky brings lessons from her adult book club to her structure of book clubs in her 5th grade classroom. The article includes launching and management tips.
Creating a Model Writing School . . . Next Steps
Julie Johnson documents the continuing evolution of her learning community as a model writing school.
Understanding Students in Intervention Programs
Using data to make wise decisions about students who are struggling is one of the most important tasks in schools. In this series, Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan take you through the process of linking data to instruction plans in intervention programs.
Books That Invite Thoughtful Conversation in Grades K-2
Nothing beats an engaging and fun text to spark conversations among young children. Here are some suggestions of terrific read-alouds to get the chatter started in classrooms.
Assessment in Writing Workshops: Considering Students
What does formative assessment look like in practice? Katie DiCesare shares her assessment insights in these brief case studies of two first-grade students.
How to Use a Coach: Four Things to Consider
Teachers, are you getting the most out of your relationships with the literacy coaches and other mentors in your midst? Heather Rader has some thoughtful back-to-school advice for building more powerful teacher-coach relationships
Are You Scaffolding or Rescuing?
How much is too much support while conferring? Terry Thompson explores the language of scaffolding and rescuing.
Ecstatic: When Words Shape Thinking
Carol Wilcox prepares her struggling intermediate readers for state exams, and finally experiences a breakthrough in linking vocabulary learning to authentic reading.
Our Living Minute: Integrating Nonfiction Study into Morning Meetings
Teachers can accomplish plenty in a minute if they want to add more nonfiction to their day. Learn how from Andrea Smith.
Changing the Learning Landscape: Organizing My 6th Grade Classroom (PHOTO ESSAY)
Ann Marie Corgill switches from a 1st to 6th grade classroom, and finds herself immersed in rethinking the “learning landscape” as she unpacks boxes and sets up her classroom. While the room looks a little different, the principles for classroom design are the same. She shares her process in this photo essay.
How to Be of Use: Starting Strong
Heather Rader offers sage advice for coaches who want to be of use. Using a mnemonic device—”Peppers make cats cry”—you’ll be ready to start the year strong.
Cap’n George: Mentors Who Matter
Shirley McPhillips finds the mentoring that helps her most as a poet includes principles that are useful in any teaching situation.
Great Nonfiction for Elementary Students
As the quality of nonfiction for students has grown, so have our expectations for using these books with students. Franki Sibberson's presents texts that can help students move beyond "skimming and scanning," and into more in-depth reading.
Expanding the Ways We Preview Books
Franki Sibberson discovers new ways technology can expand and enrich how students preview books.
How Do We Talk with Parents About What It Means to Be Challenged in Reading?
Discussions with parents of precocious young readers can be tricky. Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan have some tips for these conferences.
Countdown: Keeping Children at the Center of My Plans for the New Year
Cathy Mere reminds us that the excitement of facing new students is always tempered and enriched by the lessons from last year’s students that we carry with us.
Lessons from Family Writer’s Workshop
Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan remind us that our own children are often our best teachers. Here they share all they learned from their children during a summer of writing together.
5th Grade Grandfather
Misunderstandings abound when working with struggling readers and writers. Jennifer Jones connects an experience in her personal life to one student she is supporting and gains new insight.
My Colleague Refuses to Collaborate with Us (LITERACY COACH CONFIDENTIAL)
What do you do about a colleague who refuses to collaborate with other teachers on her grade-level team? Literacy Coach Confidential takes on the problem, with suggestions from seven Choice Literacy contributors.
Days Ease
"Some people suggest that in summer's ease, we have the time to rethink our curriculum, to read and select books we want to use next year, to consider how we will begin again in the fall, to get better organized. Yes, we do. And, yes, we could. But somehow just thinking about all that makes me tired." If you couldn't agree more with these words from poet Shirl McPhillips, you are sure to enjoy this poem.
Word Storms: Integrating Nonfiction, Word Study, and Technology
Word Storms help students see the power of rich vocabulary for describing the natural world around them. While Andrea Smith is working with 4th graders, the activities can be adapted for older or younger students.
A Three-legged Dog and a Show About Nothing
If you've resolved this year to keep up with your own writing journal so that you can share the good, bad, and ugly of your process with students, you'll enjoy Jennifer Jones' inspirational and practical new piece.
Making the Case for Literacy Coaches
If your district is considering cuts to its literacy coaching program, you’ll appreciate Shari Frost’s advice.
Picture Books for Shared Reading
Shared reading builds skills and community in Katie DiCesare's 1st grade classroom.
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