Content Category: Choice Literacy
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June 7, 2024: Nurture Independence
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. ―Mark Van Doren The Art of Teaching Sometimes I feel like there is a lot of pressure to teach readers...
May 31, 2024: Don’t Miss the Joy
The way to beat distraction is to become captivated by something much bigger and much better, such as purpose and joy. ―Bob Goff Are You Looking for the Good Around...
Eight Tips to Make Virtual Learning Equitable and Accessible for All Students
“Hello, Michael,” I said, as one of my first-grade intervention students appeared in his Zoom box. He wore zip-up Batman PJs, and held a blue Sharpie in his hand. “I’m...
Responding to Appeals for Help
Sloane looked up at me with her big hazel eyes. The colorful headband perched on top of her head wasn’t doing its job, and some of Sloane’s wispy bangs fell...
Purposeful Play
One of my favorite quotes comes from Math for Love’s Dan Finkel: “What books are to reading, play is to mathematics.” To develop a child’s reading habits, we know that...
May 24, 2024: Holiday Reading
Some of your best ideas come when you're on vacation. —Gautam Singhania Holiday Reading It's a holiday weekend here in the United States, which means it is a great time...
May 17, 2024: What Surprises You?
Anyone who is going to be a writer knows enough at 15 to write several novels. ―May Sarton Those Who Surprise Us One of the best things that can happen...
The Power of Story
“Miss Masse,” Philippe said, looking at me with tears streaming down his cheeks. “I waked up on the bus and it was cold and nobody was there, and the door,...
Your Voice Matters
To honor the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., my class read the I Have a Dream speech along with Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop. The picture book version of...
May 10, 2024: Elevate Readers’ Thinking
Many eyes go through the meadow, but few see the flowers in it. ―Ralph Waldo Emerson Watch as Readers Reach New Understandings I am in awe of this week's collection...
Examining Power Dynamics
Now more than ever it is important for teachers to include anti-bias education in our curriculum. Learning for Justice has created a set of Social Justice Standards as a guide...
An Invitation to Elevate Readers’ Thinking Through Conversation
Approach with Curiosity I leaned over to peek at the sticky note jot that launched a book club’s conversation, and I crouched down with curiosity as their talk continued. Their...
Teaching Students to Self-Monitor
“And so the man trapped the bear in the mermaid trap and hostile him up the hill to his shake…” Brody aggressively flipped the page, took a deep breath to...
May 3, 2024: Invaluable Teaching Tools
Spring is a true reconstructionist. ―Henry Timrod Direction Beyond Assessment Data Happy May! Sometimes it is unbelievable to me how quickly time passes. In just a handful of weeks, my...
Fostering a Love of Reading in All Students
“I read all the way to here,” Rebecca exclaimed, showing me the spot in her book. She had just borrowed El Deafo the Friday before. Now, on Monday, she had...
Know/Wonder Chart
Teaching young kids to read is uncomplicated. Please do not misunderstand: Teaching young kids to read is hard, hard work. It takes intentionality, perseverance, systematic planning, knowledge of how the...
April 26, 2024: Vocabulary
When you get into Louisiana, it really is like a different country in a lot of ways. The plants you see are a little different, like the weeping willows and...
Building Vocabulary One Purple Word at a Time
Seek to be the purple thread in the long white gown. —Epictetus I have never been a fan of purple. When I see a rack of clothing items in a...
Let’s Do It Again, Together
It started off strong. Our word-of-the-week vocabulary segment was filling the air daily on our video morning announcements. I was choosing words that coordinated with classroom instruction and words that...
April 19, 2024: Informational Writing
I write to discover what I know. ―Flannery O'Connor Creating Space for Informational Writing I love being a nonfiction writer. It's taken years for me to come to terms with...
Building Bridges (and Confidence): Planning Solid Essays
The morning after a New England snowstorm, I had forgotten I needed gas to get to school. No problem, I thought, as I made a plan for where I would...
