Choice Lit Topic: Struggling and Striving Learners
It’s hard work, it matters . . . and nothing brings more joy than reaching a child who is struggling. The problem is each of these students presents a unique array of challenges and needs that don’t allow for a uniform approach. Here are the stories from our contributors of their breakthrough moments, one child at a time.
Results
Using Shared Writing to Build Argument Skills
Belinda was feeling rather discouraged. She had just finished reading drafts of her students’ argumentative writing. After several minilessons and conferences, most of her fourth graders were still not supporting...
Shared Reading in the Intermediate Grades
I know what you’re thinking when you hear the words shared reading. Kindergartners are sitting “criss-cross applesauce” on a colorful ABC rug in front of a big book version of...
Embracing the Growth Mindset with Audiobooks
Have you ever been at a school or community event where kids are challenged to three-legged races or water balloon tosses? And then all of a sudden they announce a...
Just-Right Poetry and Individualizing Instruction
One of the challenges of teaching is finding the right books and materials to address specific instructional goals. Once teachers have found the perfect book to help their students understand...
Supporting the Transition to Middle School: An Elementary Teacher’s Perspective
As the month of May rolls around and our state testing is completed, my focus shifts to our district’s required database for my fifth graders as they transition to three...
Reading as Reward
Many years ago, a wise friend advised me, “You should always reward children with what you want them to value.” When we reward a child with candy or toys, it...
The Joys and Challenges of Co-Teaching
As I began working on my schedule for this year, it seemed like I was missing something. Looking it over and thinking about each class, specials, and planning time, I...
Interactive Read Alouds to Support Struggling Readers
Do you remember using a kickboard when you were learning how to swim? The kickboard kept you afloat and allowed you to concentrate on your kicking. You didn’t have to...
Reaching Evan with Read Alouds in the Intermediate Grades
Evan’s face is intent, full of excitement and engagement. We are in the middle of reading aloud the book Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt as a class, and...
Never Say Never: Motivation to Read from an Unlikely Source
Second grader Joe struts into my intervention room wearing a football jersey and a bored look. The only spark I get is when he talks about Michael Vick and the...
Book Matchmaker: “Cool” Books for a Struggling Second Grader
Peggy asked me to help her find books for a second grader. The student is struggling, but still wants to read the kinds of books her friends are...
Helping Young Readers Become Independent
Primary grade children must develop the strategies they will need to learn how words work, to read for understanding, and to make sense of different text structures and genres. Finding...
Guiding a Struggling Middle School Book Club
What do you do about those book clubs that just don't jell in your middle school classroom? Katie Doherty demonstrates how she guides a struggling group of sixth graders, helping...
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...
Spring Slump
Here we are in the longest stretch of no breaks in the school year, and I feel as though I have hit a brick wall. I teach in a special...
Classroom Gifts from Carlos: Helping Young Students Learn Academic Language and Routines
Many students in Melissa's Head Start classroom discover academic language for the first time here. One of these students is Carlos. Quick to smile and make a joke, Carlos enjoys...
New Fiction for Boys (BOOKLIST)
As an older but fairly typical boy reader I tend to gravitate toward three types of fiction. Mysteries, humorous realistic fiction and anything that has fast-paced action (with lead protagonists...
Catching Struggling Readers Before They Fall with Pat Johnson and Katie Keier (PODCAST)
Pat Johnson and Katie Keier are the authors of Catching Readers Before They Fall. In this podcast, Franki Sibberson chats with Pat and Katie about their latest thinking on teaching strategies...
Motive, Means, and Opportunity
I'm on trial for my latest offense. I'll confess -- I did it. And I'll do it again and again -- even if I get caught. I can't stop myself....
Books Struggling Readers Can and Will Want to Read: Building the Classroom Library
Cleaning up the room after school, I noticed Sammy's reading bag under the table. I've been finding his reading intervention bag left on his hook lately, and have been wondering...
How to Look at Student Work
"And there she goes . . ." My daughter, Ahna, is officially a bike rider. I'm sentimental about it because she's the last Rader kid to learn. What's unique about...
