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Rehearsing Informational Writing: Conferring with Jocelyn

Stella Villalba confers with first grader Jocelyn about the information text she is writing about bunnies. Jocelyn is an English language learner, and this conference demonstrates the value of oral rehearsal for young ELL writers.

Understanding the Middle East Through Children’s Literature (BOOKLIST)

Sheiks, harems, and terrorists — the stereotypes of the middle east from popular culture may not be realistic, but they sure are pervasive. Ruth Shagoury and Andie Cunningham find authentic alternative views to present to children in their new booklist.

Every Picture Tells a Story

Max Brand describes how he uses images to build reading and writing skills among his kindergartners.

Research IS the Project (Primary Research Series)

Heather Rader blurs the line between research and presentation in the final installment of the primary research series.

A Literary Taste of Home (Home is Where the Books Are Series)

Meghan Rose may live in Los Angeles, but the home of her heart will always be New England. In this booklist, she shares her favorite picture books about everything from the Red Sox to Maine blueberries to give her children a sense of where she grew up.

KLWL: Ordering Research (Primary Research Series Part 3)

Heather Rader looks at the importance of frontloading information for young learners in the third installment of the primary research series.

The “Tys” of Student Research: Safety and Credibility (Primary Research Series Part 2)

Heather Rader shares the second installment in our primary research series.

Putting the Search Back in Research

Heather Rader launches a new four-part series on teaching research skills in the primary grades. This first installment highlights search techniques for children.

Supporting Introverts in a First-Grade Classroom

Courtney Pawol looks at how being an introvert affects her role in learning communities, and then moves from insight to practical changes to help the introverts in her first-grade classroom.

Shared Reading to Explore Writer’s Craft in First Grade

Katie DiCesare’s first graders reread a favorite text in pairs to work on noticing the details of writer’s craft.

Inscribe It! (Home is Where the Books Are Series)

Some of the most treasured notes for many of us are the inscriptions in books that are gifts from others. Meghan Rose shares why inscribed books have lasting value for families.

Integrating Vocabulary and Retelling Strategies into Read-Aloud

Stella Villalba scaffolds the language development of her first- and second-grade English language learners during read-aloud by highlighting vocabulary and providing a tool to assist with a partner retelling activity.

Conferring to Build Stamina in First Grade

Katie DiCesare works with first grader JJ to help him meld decoding and comprehension skills.

Movement with First Graders

Katie DiCesare leads her first-grade students through movements and a song, and explains in the debrief why movement activities are valuable for young learners.

Classroom Jobs Build Community

Keri Archer describes her process of creating a jobs list for her kindergartners, as well as how she has adapted the tasks based on the evolving class community.

Whole Class Writing Share: Teaching Response Skills in 1st Grade

Katie DiCesare’s first graders respond to their classmates’ writing, using questions they developed together over time.

Using Wipe-Off Boards with Young English Language Learners

Max Brand describes why wipe-off boards are such a valuable tool for work with young English language learners in small groups. The article includes a video demonstration.

Previewing and Picture Walks with Fiction Texts

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan provide previewing how-to advice for grades K-2 teachers.

Book Matchmaker: Nonfiction to Read Cover to Cover

With the Common Core emphasis on nonfiction, teachers are striving to integrate more nonfiction texts throughout their literacy workshops. Franki Sibberson shares her favorite nonfiction texts that can be read cover to cover.

Eliminating the Conga Line: Teaching Young Children About Strategic Thinking

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan manage to synthesize workspace cleanup, student independence, and a concrete analogy for strategy work in classrooms.

Hearing Carlos: Helping Young English Language Learners Develop Speaking and Listening Skills

Stella Villalba incorporates more speaking and listening activities into her primary classroom for English language learners.

Writers Inspiring Writers

Melissa Styger invites colleagues and family members into the classroom to share their writing process with students.

Informational Snapshot Writing

Heather Rader finds web video is a powerful tool for scaffolding young writers as they produce informational texts.

Book Matchmaker: Read Aloud Versions of Old Favorites

Franki Sibberson presents some delightful versions of classic tales perfect for read alouds with youngsters.

Formative Assessment: Wall Displays and Conversations in First Grade

Formative assessments are always a priority in classrooms. Cathy Mere explains how she uses a classroom wall display and conversations to highlight strong writing and help her first graders learn to assess improvements in their work.

Supporting Young Writers with Opinion Texts

Katie DiCesare considers how different texts at the primary level can support student understanding of standards for opinion and argumentative writing.

Dear Eve Bunting

A persistent seven-year-old has some powerful messages about confidence, patience, and sending writing out into the world.

Field Experience: Social-Emotional Learning in Workshop

Compassion and understanding are as important to workshop instruction as strategies and routines. Ruth Ayres compiled a field experience to highlight the way understanding the social-emotional needs of students (and ourselves) allows for safe learning environments.

Field Experience: Craft Moves for Elementary Writers

This field experience invites us to consider a handful of craft moves to teach young writers in minilessons, conferences and share sessions.

Field Experience: Classroom Tours

Spend time noticing the details that reflect beliefs and influence instruction.  Ruth Ayres set up room tours for a field experience focused on more than trendy spaces.

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