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.
Sharon Taberski talks about the teacher’s role in helping students make smart and thoughtful book choices.
Heather Rader describes how to use "wows and wonders" to reach students who say they hate to write.
Jennifer Jones finds there is a world of difference between hearing and genuinely listening to the teachers who come to her for support. She shares some simple questions she uses at the start of professional conversations to ensure she is providing the right kind of response.
Here’s a problem many teachers share – students are far too literal when it comes to inferring while reading. Ellie Gilbert finds animated short films readily available on the web are a terrific tool for helping students move beyond literal interpretations of text.
It’s virtually possible to get together around a book without getting together at all. Shari Frost shows us how.
We all want students starting school with intention, confidence, community and more. These books from the team at Literacyhead can help.
Aimee Buckner always has notebooks on her mind and we’re glad because she’s upping the nonfiction and modifying for specific learners’ needs. She’ll tell you more in this podcast.
Tammy Mulligan and Clare Landrigan talk with Franki Sibberson about strategies for getting the most out of observing in a colleague’s classroom.
With a tough winter and tougher budget prospects, many schools will be dealing with the Januaries straight through March. Our contributors have suggestions for dealing with stress, fatigue, and depression to help renew and re-energize your work.
Sometimes the most important work for writers takes place before any actual drafting. Heather Rader shows how a simple metaphor can help students understand the importance of planning and organizing drafts.
Paul Hankins describes the power of pairing high school and elementary students in a partner reading program.
In this podcast, Franki Sibberson chats with Lester Laminack about how he reads as a writer, and what teachers might do to develop this skill in their students. Lester is the author of beloved books for children and teachers, including Saturdays and Teacakes and Unwrapping the Read Aloud.
Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan learn important lessons about planning, themes, and life when they share Knuffle Bunny with a group of kindergartners.
Kathy Collins reconsiders homework for personal and professional reasons in this podcast and generates ideas for homework resulting in fewer tears and more authentic learning.
Even though their Newbery Club of 5th graders didn't read the winning book in advance, Maria Caplin and Bill Prosser consider the club a success. They close out their series on the club with thoughts on how they will do things differently next fall.
Here's a terrific idea for building the home/school reading connection and involving parent groups in literacy. Andrea Smith shares the nuts and bolts of the Tuesday Trading Post, a schoolwide book exchange.
Many new literacy coaches find they are not just in a new role—they have the task of developing most of the routines and expectations for this new role on their own. Terry Thompson shares tips for literacy coaches who are given little guidance at the start of the year.
Here are some fresh and fun ideas for closing out the school year from Choice Literacy Contributors Katie Doherty, Gail Boushey and Joan Moser (“The Sisters”), and Mandy Robek. This is the second installment in a two-part series.
Popular children's book author James Preller talks about his series Jigsaw Jones and being an advocate for kids.
It takes a kid at heart to share what young boy readers would take to heart, and Tony Keefer is just the guy for the job. Tony loves whonunits, blood ‘n’ guts, and cliffhangers, and he shares that passion with his tween students in this fiction booklist for boys.
With summaries as an example, Heather Rader uses trends from learners to help make smart instructional decisions about what is presented during whole group, small group and individual time.
Heather Rader gets three nasty emails, and thinks through how to hold on to an attitude of gratitude when dealing with colleagues who are short-tempered or demanding.
 Mary Lee Hahn finds Poetry Fridays are about so much more than poetry, or even a pleasant end to the week. She shares how this activity is a wonderful way to bring together colleagues and students.
Shirley McPhillips draws parallels between a tentative, battered robin in the snow and the fragility of teachers in the spring.
Heather Rader has advice for literacy coaches looking for honest appraisals of their work from colleagues.
Is there a dialogue doctor in the house? If your students’ writing is filled with dull exchanges, you’ll enjoy these lesson suggestions from Heather Rader.
Pat Johnson and Katie Keier share their thoughts on how a comprehensive literacy approach best meets the needs of all learners, especially those students who struggle.
Kathy Cassidy has the tips and tools of the trade for increasing technology in developmentally appropriate way for little ones.
Katie Doherty knows how to pick the right text to move from whole-class conversations to writing.
What does true independence look like among young readers and writers? A chance comment from a visitor to Aimee Buckner's classroom gets her pondering the amount of choice children have during units of study.
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