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The Big Fresh July 20, 2013 A Reader and Her Books

Reading series books is the topic of this week’s Big Fresh.

New Teachers: The Power of Inexperience

Sometimes a lack of experience is a gift worth embracing. Michelle Kelly considers all the strengths new teachers bring to schools, from their comfort with technology to genuine enthusiasm.

First Grade Read Aloud: Sergio Saves the Game

Katie DiCesare reads aloud Sergio Saves the Day to her first graders as part of a unit on understanding literary characters.

Fireflies and Background Knowledge

Karen Terlecky writes about the importance of building understanding before more complex read alouds.

Planning a Read Aloud Sequence to Launch the School Year

Tony Keefer shares the three essential questions that guide his process of selecting first read alouds.

Whole Group Writing Share

Franki Sibberson’s fourth graders use the whole-class writing share time to discuss writing series they are working on (including blog interviews and book reviews), with an eye toward collaborating with classmates.

The Big Fresh July 13, 2013 One and Dones

Renewal and reflection is explored in this week’s Big Fresh.

Using Instagram to Sell Summer Reading Options

Tony Keefer taps into the Instagram craze among his students, and finds it is an ingenious tool for encouraging summer reading while kids are on vacation.

A Summer Reading Camp for Middle School Students

Katherine Sokolowski has tips for a "book club" summer reading camp for middle school students.

Are You Excited About Next Year?

Kelly Petrin finds a bare classroom at the end of the year leads her to improvise with stuffed animals and literacy with her preschool students. The mix of play and reading is so successful that it changes her planning for the fall.

Teacher Resume

Even if you have no plans to apply for a new job anytime soon, creating a resume can be a wonderful catalyst for defining who you are and what you value. It’s also a great document to share with parents and new students. Amanda Adrian explains its creative uses.

SPREAD: Teaching and a Balanced Life

Are you spread too thin? Kelly Petrin uses the acronym SPREAD to remind herself regularly of what she needs to lead a balanced and joyful professional and personal life.

Grateful Journals

Beth Lawson began her own gratitude journal as a troubled teen, and finds that the daily routine of Grateful Journals is a powerful tool for reflection and building community in the intermediate grades.

Word Nerds

What words are worthy of study? Amanda Adrian and Heather Rader explore that question with colleagues.

Books and Organization of the Classroom Library (Classroom Design Series Part 4)

Ann Marie Corgill’s classroom design series concludes with ideas for organizing classroom libraries and a self-reflection tool for thinking through your classroom design.

The Big Fresh June 29, 2013 It Just Takes Time

Are you prepared for word work in the fall? It’s the topic of this week’s Big Fresh.

Adding to a Word Wall in Kindergarten

Mandy Robek introduces a new word to her kindergartners for their word wall.

The Big Fresh June 22, 2013 Cues, Rewards, and Habits

What makes habits stick? That’s the subject of this week’s Big Fresh.

Recommendations for Summer Reading Fun: Early Reader Chapter Books for Boys

Meghan Rose and Ruth Shagoury finish their summer fun for early readers series with a booklist for boys interested in chapter books.

Reflecting All Year Long

Katherine Sokolowski finds the impulse for reflection is strong at the start of summer, but reflection works best when it’s built into routines all year long.

Recommendations for Summer Reading Fun: Comics and Graphic Novels for Early Readers

Early readers love comic books and graphic novels. Meghan Rose and Ruth Shagoury give their top picks in their latest summer fun for early readers booklist.

The Big Fresh June 15, 2013 Plans and Reality

Summer planning is the focus of this week’s Big Fresh.

Conferring with Ben

Franki Sibberson confers with Ben, a fourth-grade writer trying to figure out the best audience for his writing when technology presents many options.

Values and Design (Classroom Design Series Part 2)

Ann Marie Corgill continues her design series, considering the connection between classroom design and values.

Literacy in the Music Room: A Sequence of Lessons

Jennifer Schwanke describes the work of a music teacher who integrates literacy learning into her curriculum.

Recommendations for Summer Reading Fun: Classic Books for Early Readers

Meghan Rose and Ruth Shagoury have written a series of booklists for early readers, perfect for sharing with parents looking for suggestions. The first installment tackles the classic books many of us cherish from our own childhood days.

Decoding and Meaning: Conferring in 4th Grade

Tony Keefer confers with Amanda, a fourth grader who comprehends texts well, but struggles at times with fluency, decoding, and book selection.

Starting with Why (Classroom Design Series Part 1)

Ann Marie Corgill's classroom design series takes you through her process of redesigning a classroom. In the first installment, Ann Marie explains how her designs have become less cutesy and more student-centered over time.

Staying Connected with Students All Summer Long

Cathy Mere explains how she uses technology to stay in touch with students and families over the summer.

The Big Fresh June 8, 2013 A Sense of Place

Classroom design is the focus of this week’s Big Fresh.

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