Content Category: Choice Literacy
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From a Blank Canvas to a Community Space
For my first teaching job, I was hired three days before the beginning of school. With boundless enthusiasm, I eagerly purchased decorations at the local teacher store and spent the...
July 28, 2023: Reaching Readers
Summer has a flavor like no other. Always fresh and simmered in sunshine. —Oprah Winfrey Grab a Cold Drink Do you have a favorite summer drink? Maybe it is sun...
Creating Learning Progressions with Students
It’s November, and routines have been established in reading workshop. Teachers have spent time getting to know their students as readers and supporting their readers during book shopping to ensure...
Getting Ready to Read
“Okay and lastly, what genre is this book?” I ask. If you have administered an oral reading assessment to kids in your class or school, you too have asked this...
July 21, 2023: Routines for Readers
The more I practice, the luckier I get. —Gary Player Daily Practice When I was a kid, I took piano lessons. My teacher, Mrs. McGarvey, believed practice was the key...
Emoji Book Talks
Throughout the year, I do book talks and my middle school students share book talks with the whole class. On Friday, my middle school classes visit our school library, where...
Middle School Reading Routines
“Open your writer’s notebook to the back page. We’re going to set up a page that will be important to keeping our independent reading life active—our Books on Deck list.”...
July 14, 2023: Encouraging Independence
There is more to life than increasing its speed. —Mahatma Gandhi Validation=Fast Connection My son Jordan is a speed demon. Not only does he drive at dangerous speeds, but he...
Managing Your Students’ Independent Work During Guided Reading
“I know how to teach guided reading,” a second-grade veteran teacher commented to me. “It’s keeping the other students occupied that gets in the way.” We all know the numerous...
Small-Group Conversations About Independent Reading
Before the pandemic and before I had my own classroom, I worked as an instructional coach. I worked with and admired a fabulous teacher who made hot chocolate for students...
June 16, 2023: Independence in Writers
Be infinitely flexible and constantly amazed. —Jason Kravitz The Tension of Holding Space I've been trying to become more flexible. Every morning for more than three months, I've been stretching...
Developing Independent Writers
When I first started teaching (and for more years than I'd like to admit), this is what it sounded like when it was time for independent writing time to begin:...
Encouraging Agency
One of the refrains I think people in my district will remember me for is that you never want to teach a child that the only way they can write...
June 9, 2023: Graphic Novels
I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn't say any other way—things I had no words for. —Georgia O'Keeffe The Magic of Image Last week...
Learning from Our Favorite Illustrators
Last year our first-grade team was brainstorming ideas for a short unit of study for writing workshop. Usually if we find ourselves with a week or two between units, we...
Writing Graphic Novels
After an opinion essay unit followed by a text-heavy information writing unit, fourth-grade students were ready for a change of pace and a change of genres for many reasons. We...
Graphic Engagement
Earlier this year, I found myself in the midst of a fourth-grade class, most of whom were reading at or above grade level. They enjoyed reading and devoured books one...
June 2, 2023: Uplifting Student Voices
Life is not for the faint of heart. —Natasha Lyonne Commencement My son Jordan graduated high school last week. I was invited to present him his diploma because of my...
May 26, 2023: Extending Empathy
I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance...
The Language We Use and How It Strengthens Understanding
What works for small things, works for big ones. —Lauren Wolk, Echo Mountain, p. 184 I am married to a high school physics teacher, and during the virtual-teaching days of...
What’s Your Point of View?
Michael De La Pena presented at Bank Street College’s Teaching Kindergarten Conference. He started by asking, “What’s your point of view?” He paused, then continued, “We always go into a...
