Content Category: Choice Literacy
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SPREAD: Teaching and a Balanced Life
Franklin planners. To do lists. Electronic calendars. Books describing how to delegate . . . or prioritize . . . or simplify abound. I have tried most of them, inching...
Grateful Journals
The sun was up, but the TV was on. In our house there was a strict rule: When the sun was up, anything with a screen had to be off....
Word Nerds
Write down a synonym for the following words or use them in a sentence if you can: 1. girn 2. fug 3. hircine 4. yerd 5. sesamoid Did you try...
Books and Organization of the Classroom Library (Classroom Design Series Part 4)
The collection of books you see here was started in July of 1994, the month I began setting up my very first classroom. It’s been over 20 years since I...
The Big Fresh June 29, 2013 It Just Takes Time
Time is the longest distance between two places. Tennessee Williams I recently had the good fortune of becoming a second-time mom. When other parents ask me how things are...
Adding to a Word Wall in Kindergarten
Mandy Robek prepares students for adding to the word wall in kindergarten.
The Big Fresh June 22, 2013 Cues, Rewards, and Habits
Habits are at first cobwebs, and then cables. Spanish Proverb I visited Shari Frost in Chicago last month, and we discussed writing projects over a meal at one of...
Recommendations for Summer Reading Fun: Early Reader Chapter Books for Boys
Boys who are just getting into early reader chapter books have lots to choose from. We’ve listed some of our favorite books with boys at the center by well-known and...
Reflecting All Year Long
Reflection is important to me, especially at the end of another school year. I am gathering stacks of professional books –- some to read, some to reread, as I plan...
Recommendations for Summer Reading Fun: Comics and Graphic Novels for Early Readers
Kids LOVE graphic novels! What’s not to love? Pictures, details, and interesting stories to pore over, and now there are so many that have the added attraction of good stories...
The Big Fresh June 15, 2013 Plans and Reality
There is nothing more satisfying than having plans. Lalita...
Conferring with Ben
Franki Sibberson confers with Ben, a fourth-grade writer trying to figure out the best audience for his writing when technology presents many options.
Values and Design (Classroom Design Series Part 2)
Second only to the quality of the teacher, classroom environment is the most influential factor to student success. Eric Jensen, Environments for Learning This is a photograph taken this year...
Literacy in the Music Room: A Sequence of Lessons
Many people speak of the connection that can be made between music and mathematics, and music is sometimes used to reinforce math concepts. As a longtime music lover, I’ve found...
Recommendations for Summer Reading Fun: Classic Books for Early Readers
For book lovers, summer is a an idyllic time for reading, a chance to dip into those books we’ve been itching to crack open, or revisit special books from our...
Decoding and Meaning: Conferring in 4th Grade
Tony Keefer confers with Amanda, a fourth grader who comprehends texts well, but struggles at times with fluency, decoding, and book selection.
Starting with Why (Classroom Design Series Part 1)
Several years ago, I came upon Simon Sinek’s book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. I bought it immediately, and not because it was the...
Staying Connected with Students All Summer Long
To say the last days of school are my favorite days would be a bit of a stretch. It's not the crazy end of year events, the incredible buzz of...
The Big Fresh June 8, 2013 A Sense of Place
You can fall in love at first sight with a place as with a person. Alec Waugh Last month I visited Deb Gaby, an instructional coach in northern Indiana....
The Cure for Senioritis? Poetry!
Teaching seniors at the end of the year is always a challenge. The other day, I actually heard one student say to another, “Why would I bother learning anything now?”...
Conferring with Pierce
Franki Sibberson confers with Pierce, and in this three minute conference tackles audience, integrating visuals with blog posts, and teaching new skills to others.
