Content Category: Choice Literacy
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Informational Poetry
A primary teacher, deep into an informational writing unit, wondered how to bring new enthusiasm into the unit. These primary students loved the poetry and songs that were often embedded...
March 22, 2024: Content Literacy
If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb. ―Old Folklore Saying Notice the Changes There's a joke in Indiana that if you don't like...
Writing About Reading
On and off during my career I’ve had students write me letters about their reading. I get really excited to start. I make a plan and implement it well for...
Morning Message 5 — Meaning and Content Connections
The day I posted this morning message, the room was buzzing. Kids walking in the door were beckoned by those already gathered around the morning message. Snippets of their conversation...
March 15, 2024: Differentiation
Strength lies in differences, not in similarities. ―Stephen R. Covey The Beauty of Different Needs Fair is a place you go, not something that happens in this house. That is one...
Morning Message 4: Application and Differentiation
The scene playing out around the morning message as students trickle in is a familiar one. “Try it, Kento! See this? Say /g/, /l/… like that. You try it.” Naomi...
March 8, 2024: Word Study
At the end of the day, if I can say I had fun, it was a good day. ―Simone Biles Fun with Words When Andy and I were babysitting our...
Morning Message 3: Word Study and Conventions
One day last week as we gathered to read the morning message, hands waved and eager voices jumped right in. “I see the!” “Me too—and in!” “What does that big...
March 1, 2024: Thinking Ahead to National Poetry Month
Poetry is a way of taking life by the throat. ―Robert Frost Get Ready Now How do you feel about poetry? Is it your best friend, your go-to companion when...
Morning Message 2: Routine and Community
Stop by my room any morning and you’ll see the same thing. Students trickle in from the bus and the car line, some stopping at the cafeteria for breakfast, others...
Step Into Poetry: Building a Poetry-Conscious Classroom
Poetry has been a part of my life since I was a little girl listening to my mother and father recite poetry. I loved the sound of the words and...
Ways to Celebrate National Poetry Month
Poetry is something that has grown on me over the years. In high school, I didn’t get much exposure to it beyond a poem or two that I might have...
February 24, 2024: Firming Up Routines
There is magic in the old and magic in the new. The trick is to successfully combine the two. ―Adrienne Posey An Ordinary Day to Start New I used to...
Weaving Words Throughout the School Year
Some words feel wonderful in your mouth: benevolent, pashmina, Constantinople. They roll right off one’s tongue and into one’s imagination. Words hold meaning and are the building blocks of all...
Empowering Students Through Thinking Routines
A quote I return to time and time again comes from Dr. Seuss’ Hooray for Diffendoofer Day. In a motivational speech to her students as they prepare to take an...
Morning Message Series: When and How
There is magic in the old and magic in the new. The trick is to successfully combine the two. —Adrienne Posey “There is magic in the old…” That’s why I...
February 16, 2024: The Tough Ones
The unfortunate, yet truly exciting thing about your life, is that there is no core curriculum. The entire place is an elective. ―Jon Stewart The Tough Ones My son Sam...
Developing Reader Identities: It Is More Than Magic
It was the last Monday of kindergarten…You can imagine the level of exhaustion I was feeling as I did lunch count and attendance for the 171st time that year. (And...
February 9, 2024: Speaking and Listening
Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. ―Stephen Covey How Was Your Day? A friend joined just the three of...
Using Drama Games to Approach Difficult Conversations
Let’s be frank: Talking about race and racism in the classroom can be scary. As a white teacher, I have at times felt that I wasn’t qualified enough to teach...
Big, Loud, and Slow: Six Strategies for Better Public Speaking
The first thing I noticed when I woke up on March 1, 2023, was that I wasn't able to articulate what I wanted to say. It was like the left...
