Choice Lit Topic: Content Literacy
Reading and writing across the curriculum is sparking more interest than ever among teachers and school leaders. Here are the resources you need to build more writing into your math curriculum, more reading and talk into your science program, and especially, how to infuse more nonfiction texts into your teaching throughout the school day.
Results
Making Connections as a Reader and a Scientist
My son recently attended a science fair at a local university as a requirement for the seventh grade. He did an experiment of his own design called "Where the Wild...
Using Comics in Literacy Workshops
Franki Sibberson works with her 3rd and 4th graders to use comics in the literacy workshop.
Injecting Writing into Everything: Bringing the Outside In
In her third-grade classroom, Debbie Davis-Reid and I were observing the students the first few days of writing workshop. Who starts quickly? Who adds to their authority* list? (from Ralph Fletcher's book: Writing...
Family History Inquiry Project: Integrating Technology with Social Studies in First Grade
Room 14 is buzzing with excitement. Cole and Kai are sharing bicycle stories that their fathers told them. Kai's dad wanted a bike so badly when he was in first...
The Nuts and Bolts of the Family Inquiry Project
In the Family Inquiry Project, we all found that 21st Century learning encompasses so much more than the increased use of technology. Our students expect to be an integral part...
Social Justice Picture Books
Many wonderful new resources exist to introduce issues of social justice to even very young children. There are a wealth of picture books that can help us educate students, their...
Young Learners and Martin Luther King Day (BOOKLIST)
I never met this parent, but her concerns in a letter to the editor stayed with me for years. The parent was very upset that her kindergarten daughter came home...
Math, Writing, and Coaching to Learn
In Writing to Learn, William Zinsser states, "Writing is a way to work yourself into a subject and make it your own." There is no subject I like more than...
Procedural Writing in Math
I'm getting ready to make gluten-free oatmeal cookies, and I'm thinking about what a fifth grader said to me: "We spent all this time working on word choice and voice,...
Science Writing Workshop Part 1
How can teachers connect the principles of writer's workshop with science explorations? In this first of a three-part video series, Jennifer Morgan leads her 3rd and 4th students through the...
Science Writing: Small Groups
In this second video in a three-part series, Jennifer Morgan leads her grades 3 and 4 students as they work together in small groups on a science and writing task....
Books to Celebrate Earth Day
As we think about celebrating Earth Day in our schools in April, we can expand the things that we can teach children by the books that we share. There are...
Science Workshop Whole Class Debrief
In this final video in a three-part series, Jennifer Morgan discusses what was learned during a science observation and writing activity in her grades 3 and 4 classroom.
Content Connections in Reading Workshop
In this four-minute video, Andrea Smith confers with a 4th grade student interested in immigration, helping her set up an independent reading and learning plan.
What Velcro Can Do: Science, Literacy and Coaching Connections
"You aren't going to be the science program police, are you?" Donna* said in response to my prompting about where science fit into her day with fourth graders. Our science...
Rethinking the Study of Nonfiction in the 21st Century
I have always found that reflecting on my own literacy helps me to think about how to best meet the needs of my students. As a media specialist, much of...
Infographics and Lists in Science Notebooks
Today I observed my students scattered around our school's outdoor learning lab. I wandered from group to group, from micro-habitat to micro-habitat, thrilled with their focused energy, thoughtful conversations, and...
The Power of Wonder Questions
"Do you know what I've been thinking and reading about?" asked Will as we settled into an out-of-the-way spot in my grades 3-4 multiage classroom. It was time for reading...
Literacy Learning on Presidents Day (BOOKLIST)
As someone who is fairly new to the role of librarian, I have been thinking about the holidays that we celebrate throughout the year and the books available to celebrate...
Living Words: Integrating Word Study, Technology, and Content Literacy (Part 1)
I will be honest. I am a "digital immigrant," a person new to rapidly changing technologies. I am proud to say that I am adjusting, and I've accepted the fact...
Writing Like a Scientist: Launching a Scientist’s Notebook
When I transitioned from 18 years as a primary teacher to a 4th grade classroom, I started thinking about how I could use the same successful strategies for launching writing...
