Content Category: Choice Literacy
Results
November 17, 2023: Supporting Writers
The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new. ― Socrates What's Different in Post-Pandemic Classrooms? Name seven...
Minilessons and Writing Instruction
“Writers, it's time to set yourselves up for writing workshop!” As the children bustled around the room, I voiced-over the routines I was noticing writers engaging in or hoping they...
Plagued by Plagiarism
Like a stereotypical Gen Xer, I definitely experienced hands-off parenting as a child. My parents didn't hover over my homework time or build my model of a California mission for...
November 10, 2023: Beat Overwhelm!
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. ― Margaret Mead Thrive Together Here are some...
Dealing with Overwhelm
When school started in August, teachers returned to the building as always with big plans for all the amazing things they were going to do with their students. They were...
November 3, 2023: Reading Instruction
Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better. ― Maya Angelou Constantly Learning This week's issue shares the latest thinking about reading...
Three Archetypes as Advocates for the Science of Reading
My goal when navigating professional conversations around the science of reading is not to try to change people’s minds. They often have too many sunk costs in a limited view...
October 20, 2023: Tools to Empower Engagement
It's best to have your tools with you. If you don't, you're apt to find something you didn't expect and get discouraged. —Stephen King The Power of Tools Recently I...
Creating a Teacher Notetaking System
Sometimes I feel like our reading intervention room should have a revolving door rather than the typical classroom door on hinges. So many kids pass through that door each day....
Anchor Charts: A Tool for Every Classroom
I gather students in our meeting area and begin our minilesson on character development. I remind students that today we are looking at how authors reveal characters to us and...
October 13, 2023: Listening To and Hearing Students
Invisible threads are the strongest ties. —Friedrich Nietzsche You Belong! On a whim, I decided to try out an idea to connect instructional coaches. I was driven by my passion...
October 6, 2023: Building Identity
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. —Ralph Waldo Emerson Deepen Your Understanding Did you read the opening...
Using Self-Portraits as an Assessment Tool for Early Writers
“Becca, you have the data you need for your first writing small groups before the school year even starts.” I scrunched my brow while I processed what my friend Katie...
Fostering Math Identities with Picture Books
As the new school year began, I started setting up my classroom and gathering books I might read while thinking about launching each of my workshops. There were books about...
Developing and Listening to Your Inner Voice During Minilessons
Twenty-five five-year-old kids sit on the multicolored rug staring up at me…ME! I stare back and can’t help but let my mind wander to the thoughts swirling around in my...
September 29, 2023: Craft Moves
Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass. —Anton Chekhov Work the Words I used to think writing well was a talent—and...
September 22, 2023: AI and Literacy Instruction
I'm actually a bit of a technophobe, which surprises people. I like to stay unplugged as much as possible. —Sal Kahn AI and Literacy Instruction.j Everyone seems to be talking...
September 15, 2023: Writing Is Necessary
The most important things are the hardest to say. —Stephen King Writing Is Necessary Something strange has been brewing within me, and it's making me a little unsettled. I've been...
The Art of Noticing: Have Your Students Played with Language Today?
for anyone trying to discern what to do with their life: PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU PAY ATTENTION TO. that’s pretty much all the info u need. —Amy Krouse Rosenthal,...
Author Moves: More Than “Lots of Detail”
I always love getting recommendations from students—books, poems, essays, whatever they have been enjoying. I always knew it was going to be a good day when students met me at...
September 8, 2023: Nuances of Teaching Readers Part 2
Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge. —Charles Darwin A World Full of Nuances I am enamored with spiderwebs. The way the light silk is spun from one side...
