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Teaching Poetry to Teens with the William Stafford Archives
William Stafford, a white poet born in 1914, might seem like an unlikely candidate to inspire my classroom of diverse 21st century thirteen-year-olds. I'll admit that even I was skeptical...
Spelling Rules — Or Does It?
I am a spelling nerd. How nerdy? When I hear a word I don't know, I ask someone, "Can you spell that for me?" Then I air-write it or copy...
Katherine Casey on Coaching in Classrooms (PODCAST)
Katherine Casey shares her latest thinking with Heather Rader on the best ways to mentor teachers in classrooms. Katherine is the author of Literacy Coaching: The Essentials. You can visit her...
Finding Time for Your Writing with Ruth Ayres (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Ruth Ayres chats with Franki Sibberson about why it's so important for teachers to write, and how she finds time in her packed schedule for writing books...
Three Rules Worthy of Spelling Inquiry
Over the last five years, I've dug into teaching conventions with an inquiry-based approach which I define as: using correct text and artful questioning to get students to wonder about words...
What’s the Evidence?
The first and most brutal fact that must be confronted in creating professional learning communities is that the task is not merely challenging: it is daunting. It is disingenuous to...
Top 10 Technology Tools for Teachers
Technology to some teachers means email, grading programs, and school webpages. It may also mean programs that students must use to accomplish skills. Too often that is all technology provides,...
Classroom Changes and Birdhouse Gourds
I work with 24 third and fourth graders in a multiage classroom. Writing is a social endeavor for us - we have writing partners that help us grow our thinking...
Conferring with Parents (Part 2)
Here are some suggestions from Choice Literacy Contributors about the best ways to have high quality parent conferences, with everything from pre-conference connections to electronic adaptations. This is the second...
Keeping It Real for Students: Never Underestimate the Power of Reflection
Katie is a veteran teacher who willingly shares what she is learning all the time. Her stance has evolved over time from the traditional preparation she received in her preservice...
Writing and the Common Core with Bud Hunt (PODCAST)
Franki Sibberson chats with Bud Hunt about writing and the Common Core. Bud is the author of the popular "Bud the Teacher" blog: http://budtheteacher.com/blog/ You can download a free copy...
Assessing Gifted Readers
In my classroom of gifted learners, I'm required to collect baseline data on my third- and fourth-grade students' reading abilities in order to set measurable learning goals for the year....
Kate Messner on Revision (PODCAST)
Franki Sibberson: Kate, can you talk a little bit about the premise of your work around revision? What are the most important things for teachers of writing to...
Creating a Coaching Culture with Jane Kise (PODCAST)
Jane Kise chats with Heather Rader about her book Creating a Coaching Culture for Professional Learning Communities. A full transcript is available below the player. Heather Rader: In your...
Working with Adults: Structuring Effective Conferring
Most of us acquire the ability to run shortly after we learn to walk. Although the movement is second nature, given the choice, many of us choose not to engage...
Writing Celebrations with Ruth Ayres (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Ruth Ayres chats with Franki Sibberson about the importance of writing celebrations in her classroom. Ruth is the coauthor (with Stacey Shubitz) of Day by Day: Refining...
Adventures with Author Skyping: Nuts and Bolts from My Fourth-Grade Classroom
When I was in elementary school my favorite time of day was read aloud. I loved hearing about the adventures of Ramona or Fudge, and I couldn't wait to find out what was...
Preserving Student Writing as a Curator
It's a Friday afternoon when I sit down with second-grade teacher Linda Karamatic. After teaching many years, she's tried different systems of preserving student writing. She's clear on what she...
A Drive Through Assessment of My Writing
On the way to school, my son's favorite radio station DJs argued over who was the best driver among them. They decided to have a professional (someone who gives driving...
Georgia Heard on the Common Core (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Franki Sibberson chats with Georgia Heard about the surprising connections between the Common Core and poetry. Georgia is a poet and teaching consultant. Her latest books are...
When You Hate the Book
My family took a vacation to Tuscany this past spring. A dear friend bought my husband and me a copy of The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone. My...
