Article Content Type: Article
Results
Purposeful Partners
What teacher hasn’t experienced the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) position shifting that happens when students are asked to turn and talk? If kids haven’t already chosen a spot on the...
Hot Glue Guns
My revelation came between the appetizers and the main dish. At a dinner with a teacher friend I see in person only occasionally, I was describing what Genius Hour is...
Culturally Responsive Texts
We were gathered together on our rug, ready to dive into thinking and feeling along with the characters in a book. Having looked for a text that would be relatable...
Adjusting the Classroom Library for Student Needs
It won’t work. Can I make it work? No, I can’t make it work. This was my circle of thought during the first month of school. I had recently finished...
Choosing and Refining Student Goals
I love those last couple of days before a school break. I slow down a bit, knowing I don’t have a full week of instruction in front of me. I...
A Place to Belong
It is early spring, and like all teachers, I am gearing up for the wild ride of school days that race like two-track roller coasters starting in April through the...
Revising Weekly Reflections
I find that I am constantly tweaking and revising lessons from year to year. Heck, I make revisions as I move month to month and week to week in a...
Alternatives to Daily Editing as a “Bell-Ringer” Activity
“I just don’t understand it,” muttered David, a fourth-grade teacher, as he sat frowning down at some student writing. “The daily editing exercises have emphasized commas in a series almost...
An Individualized Conventions Checklist
A refrain I hear all the time is “I teach conventions, and they don’t show up in student writing.” As the writing coordinator for our district, I am in classrooms...
Deep Reading of Picture Books in Middle School
I have listened to my favorite song, “Paradise” by the BoDeans, more times than I can count. However, nothing beats a live performance. In fact, I enjoy it so much...
The Beauty of Imitation
Recently, I read an article titled “Ode to Imitation” in Flow magazine that started out with this: We’re often told that we should be original, independent, and innovative. But sometimes copying is...
No Cutting Corners in Coaching
Recently, my husband and I decided to give our bedroom a much-needed makeover. We bought our current home about six years ago, and every summer I have chosen one room...
Coaching and Tracking Conferences
I admire teachers who ask questions about conferring since conferring is at the heart of writing workshop, but it is one of the hardest parts. Unlike the minilesson, teachers don’t...
A Test Run for Difficult Decisions
Making decisions is difficult. Whether it is a personal or professional decision, it can feel overwhelming to consider all the pros, cons and potential effects of one decision. Leaders need...
Starting with Core Beliefs and Values
Working with a leadership intern this year brought back memories of student teaching, working with a mentor my first two years of teaching, and hosting practicum students. I’m thankful for...
Conflict: A Coach’s Perspective
“But that isn’t my vision!” The teacher I was working with was getting more and more frustrated. I was serving as the editor of a book being collaboratively written by...
The Importance of Creating a Literacy Room (Instead of a Tiny Office)
This past spring, I was asked if I would be willing to return to a literacy coaching role in my school. I was in that role for three years before...
Conflict: A Teacher’s Perspective
Feedback is an essential part of learning. As a teacher, I give and receive feedback. I give feedback to my students so they can reach their learning goals. I receive...
Becoming a Literacy Coach: Principles and Mission Statements
When I think back to becoming a literacy coach, I can remember worrying about many parts of my new career. How do I develop my schedule? How do I get...
Coaching Tool: Presentation Binders
In Tammy’s family, we never go out on a hike without our “hiking backpack.” There isn’t anything special about this backpack except that certain supplies are always in it: a...
Temporary Strategies
I observe as the reader continually looks at the picture and then the first letter of the word, the picture again, the first letter of the word, and the picture...
