Content Category: Choice Literacy
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Teacher Language and Listening with Ellin Keene (PODCAST)
Ellin Keene is the author or coauthor of many books for literacy educators, including the classic Mosaic of Thought. She has spent much time in the past four years developing...
Why Read? – A Question to End the School Year
After Memorial Day, I always feel a slight sense of euphoria, but also one of dread. My school year ends in mid-June, and while I love summer vacation, the perfectionist...
Voila! Best Writing and Entry Slips in Second Grade
The word voila in French literally means "see there." Linda Karamatic put time and reflection into creating a binder, or "voila book," that will ease bulging writing workshop folders and...
Second-Grade Team Meeting: Helping Students Choose Books Independently
In this five-minute excerpt from a second-grade team meeting, Principal Karen Szymusiak sits in on a discussion about the challenges of helping young readers learn to pick appropriate books independently....
A Seating Arrangement that Empowers: The Conversation Circle
How many of you have tried to lead a writing or reading share time with elementary students who'd rather chat with a friend about recess, or hide under the easel...
Unpacking the Common Core Standards: Compare and Contrast Nonfiction
Informational texts will become more and more important as states move toward implementing the Common Core. Looking carefully at the nonfiction standards is essential for teaching well. As teachers, we...
How Do We Know Small-Group Instruction is Effective?
An interesting question to pose is: Do beliefs change behavior or does behavior change beliefs? Many people think the former: that beliefs change behavior, which is why so many new...
Scaring Up Better Narratives Part 3
Aimee Buckner leads a lesson on brainstorming topics in writer's notebooks using the mentor text Some Things Are Scary. In this final installment of a three-part series, Aimee continues to...
Grades K-2 Fluency Lesson
In this video from a K-2 multiage classroom, Joan Moser and Gail Boushey ("The Sisters") present a fluency lesson to the whole class.
Conferring with Tweens: Nastia
Katie Doherty confers with Nastia, a 6th grade English language learner who is working on her inferring skills:
Oral Language and Understanding with Ellin Keene (PODCAST)
Ellin Keene is the author or coauthor of many books for literacy educators, including the classic Mosaic of Thought. She has spent much time in the past four years developing...
Books that Make Kids Squeal
When kindergarten teacher Michelle Martinez read my article, "Books that Touch the Heart," she wasn't impressed. While she personally enjoys a good cry over a book, the list did not...
Main Ideas, Summaries, and Notes in a Reading Conference
In this conference with a fourth grader, Aimee Buckner tackles text choice, notes, and main ideas all in less than five minutes. You'll notice teachers observing in the background; the...
On Their Own (Almost): Coaching and Classroom Demonstrations Mid-Year
In this video filmed in mid-January, Jennifer Allen observes new teacher Jessica, and explains how she struggles to redefine her role in the classroom.
Launching a Book Club in 4th Grade
In this video from Andrea Smith's 4th grade classroom, students get organized for a small group author study of Andrew Clements. Watch how Andrea listens carefully to get a sense...
Evocative Coaching in Action (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Bob Tschannen-Moran uses the strategy of imaginative listening to process an unsettling interaction Heather Rader had with a colleague. Heather: Well, your model, your four-step dance,...
The Power of Games for 21st Century Learners
When we think of 21st Century skills for students, our thoughts often go immediately to technology. Although our school has many technology tools, we know that these important skills are...
Lifting the Quality of Student Reading Letters with Quotes
If you're looking for a way to perk up student reading journals, try a lesson on adding quotes. Katie Doherty demonstrates for her middle school students how quotes can lift...
Book Matchmaker: Texts for an Advanced First Grader
Joan is a first-grade teacher who has one reader in mind - a student who is reading well above grade-level expectations (a level 44 on the Developmental Reading...
Common Core Conversations: Using Evidence From Text
"I suggest the crime was committed in the lounge by Mr. Green with the wrench." Can you prove the suggestion false? Ah-ha, you happen to have a Clue card representing...
What Can You Learn from Slice of Life Writing?
Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. —Jim Ryun Writing on a regular basis is a tough habit to develop. There are many things vying...
