Content Category: Choice Literacy
Results
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...
Off the Beaten Professional Development Path: What I Learned from the Teachers as Writers Group
It's a Saturday and I'm pressing the norms chart up on the window of a sunlit room in a popular local coffeehouse. Two teachers are here early and smile a...
Nonfiction Favorites for Boys (BOOKLIST)
Since I am a ten-year-old trapped in a grown man's body, many of the books I read for kids seem to be targeted for prepubescent males. You know the type...
The Power of Checklists in Primary Literacy Workshops
We had the pleasure of hearing Atul Gawande speak recently at a local event. He is a bestselling author and surgeon who writes about how to get things right. He...
Lesson Structure: Building a Strong Foundation
The experts will tell you, "Add sand to water, but not water to sand," when building structures on the beach. You must have a strong foundation for a sculpture that...
More Thoughtful Test Preparation: A Conversation with Patrick Allen (PODCAST)
Patrick Allen is the coauthor of the book Put Thinking to the Test. In the book, Patrick and his colleagues from the Public Education and Business Coalition in Denver, Colorado describe...
Donalyn Miller on Engaging Readers (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Franki Sibberson chats with Donalyn Miller about how she defines "engaged" reading, and the teacher's role in motivating readers. A full transcript of the podcast is available...
Patrick Carman on Books and Multimedia (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Franki Sibberson chats with Patrick Carman about multimedia books and the challenges of teaching and learning in an age with so many media distractions. You can visit...
Readers’ Theater Revisited
Years ago, my students and I spent about a month in the spring writing plays in small groups, creating costumes, practicing parts and performing for parents. I felt the need...
Putting the “Mini” Back in Minilessons
Recently I watched a very engaging lesson. The teacher started the lesson by reading aloud a short story about a trip to the beach. Then she projected some photos on...
Whole-Group Share Sessions in Literacy Workshops: Essential Elements
We survey teachers periodically to help us reflect on our professional development sessions, and plan next steps for our coaching. Recently, we have noticed a pattern in the reflections of...
Digital Reading: Another Facet of a Classroom Library
My students enjoy a variety of digital resources in their learning lives, and are exploring digital books and resources for reading workshop and independent reading at home. As we looked...
Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan on Assessments, Data, and Balance (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan, the founders of Teachers for Teachers, talk with Franki Sibberson about data. The challenge for teachers and schools is grappling with the...
Writing Drafts and Stamina
It was the beginning of triathlon training season. As I slipped into the pool, I was trying to remind myself of what I knew. Stroke, stroke, stroke, breathe left. Stroke,...
Connecting Yoga and Character Traits in Literature Study
"Sat Nam!" the voices shouted at 8:15 a.m. right before they headed down the hall on their way to start their day at school. I had just finished my Monday...
Keeping Students Front and Center
The other day I had a phone conference with teachers in a graduate course. They asked insightful and thought provoking questions around the challenges of working as a literacy coach....
Producing Instead of Consuming: Using iPads Wisely with Students
There was a recent New York Times article with the title "Math that Moves: Schools Embrace the iPad". It was a small piece about how several school districts across the country are buying...
Simplexity: Finding Your Focus
Simplexity - Finding the smallest number of high-leverage, easy to understand actions that unleash stunningly powerful consequences. Michael Fullan, in Motion Leadership As I approached 279 Newbury Street in Boston, I...
Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan on Getting the Most Out of Grade-Level Team Meetings (PODCAST)
In this podcast, Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan, the founders of Teachers for Teachers, talk with Franki Sibberson about how to link grade level team meetings with student achievement, and...
Ready for Guided Reading? A Second Look
Once you've written something, it is out there - forever. Thankfully, we keep growing and changing. We gain more insights, experience, and knowledge. But sometimes this makes us wish that...
High School Students Take on a Reader’s Bill of Rights
I've got the best job in the world; I get paid to talk about books and maps and history and philosophy and yes, even grammar and punctuation. Now, lest you...
