Organizing is what you do before you do something so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.
—A. A. Milne
Get Organized
When I was a teenager, I became a scrapbooker. I told stories with words and pictures and 12×12 sheets of paper. As life filled up with work and kids and commitments, there was less time to scrapbook. This wasn’t so bad, but what was frustrating was that even when I carved out time to scrapbook, I wouldn’t know where to begin. It was at this point that I learned an important lesson—I am only as effective as I am organized.
As I began putting in place a system to make scrapbooking possible when I took time for it, I considered my process and functionality. I was driven by two questions:
- How do I work?
- Where will I find what I need?
Today I’m a hybrid scrapbooker, often creating pages digitally. However, it remains true—I am only as effective as I am organized. I organize my digital files in a way that allows me to settle into my workflow and find what I need.
As we begin thinking about classroom spaces for a new school year, let’s remember we are only as effective as we are organized. The decisions we make to set up the spaces where kids will learn matter. This week we are excited to highlight the work of reading specialists—plus more, as always.
If you want to see classrooms coming together, make sure to follow Choice Literacy on Instagram @choice_literacy, because contributors are sharing their spaces and the reasons why they arranged things as they did.
Shine on,
Ruth Ayres
Editor in Chief
Stephanie Affinito explains how to use student checklists in literacy intervention. This article was first published in 2017.
Stephanie recently began a new podcast, Get Lit(erate), where she shares three books you need to know about and ways to invite them into your life through reading, writing, and learning.
Kate Mills and Tara Barnett share strategies for building bridges between intervention and classroom instruction. This article was first published in 2017.
NEW ANNOUNCEMENT: We are pleased to offer a monthly membership for Classic Classroom. This is the perfect way to get a taste for the site without a yearlong commitment. Click here to find out more about membership options.
Small-Group Reading Instruction is an important part of elementary literacy instruction. This field experience is a sampling of a variety of examples.
Classroom observations are some of the most valuable learning experiences. Yet there is no way you can see everything when visiting a live classroom. Our Field Experience collection allows you to virtually discover a variety of field experiences and see instructional strategies that pique your interest, as well as learn about the art of teaching. Many professors find our Field Experience collection perfect for their students.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
Dana Murphy guides reading specialists in setting up intervention rooms to welcome readers.
Tammy Mulligan shares a beginning-of-the-year routine where second graders create an identity frame. This becomes a place to highlight photographs of their learning each week throughout the school year.
In this encore video, Deb Gaby confers with second grader Reagan early in the school year. She is reading her first chapter book, and using a reading strategies “tool kit” for support.
New members-only content is added each week to the Choice Literacy website. If you’re not yet a member, click here to explore membership options.
David Pittman offers practical advice and inspiration for instructional leaders to intentionally connect to students on a school-wide scale.
In this Coaching Minute, instructional coach Jen Court takes advantage of the early days of a school year to be present with classroom teachers and create conversations that begin to anchor meaningful professional relationships.
In this encore Coaching Minute, Jennifer Schwanke finds that one of the biggest changes in moving from teaching to leadership is control (or lack of it) over her time.
Quote It:
One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever.
—Linda Lam
That’s all for this week!
