Content Category: Choice Literacy
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Alert! Mistakes in Progress
As we sang our class song, I realized I had made a mistake on the chart paper in one part of the first verse. When we finished singing, I said,...
Overcoming Challenges in Writing Workshop with Trauma-Informed Practices
I was in a first-grade classroom during a writing workshop. There was a student, Gerald. The teacher told me, “He only copies text. I’ve never seen anything like it. He...
May 19, 2023: Celebrations
Let's Connect For those of you who don't know, my husband and I have adopted four children. Our youngest was with us first, being adopted at birth in 2006. Then...
May 12, 2023: Opinion Writing
When in doubt, overdress. —Vivienne Westwood Plenty of Time? My son Jordan is a senior, and on the Wednesday before prom he received a manila envelope in the mail. "What's...
QuickTake: Grading Student Writing
Ruth Ayres shares a process for grading student writing that improves efficiency and accuracy.
Young Author Celebrations
As an instructional coach for an elementary school, I've learned that some of my favorite events to plan are the young author celebrations. Each year I can’t wait to create...
It’s Time to Admire: Sharing in the Beauty of Students’ Writing
I admire anyone that has the guts to write anything. E. B. White “What is this young writer doing?" I asked encouragingly to the team of teachers gathered around for...
May 5, 2023: Our Youngest Readers
I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better. —Maya Angelou The Many Nuances of Learning For those of you who don't...
Opinion Writing in Primary Grades: Layers of Support
The Struggle Is Real I’m going to be completely honest. I used to find myself groaning every year when it was time to plan our opinion writing unit. Although my...
Taking a Stance: Supporting Opinions in Primary Writers
When young writers are given an opportunity to share their opinions, the world becomes a better place. The opinions of young writers span from the perils of tripping over misplaced...
Eight Phonemic Awareness Activities for Morning Meeting
“Hello, Zo-e,” I said to a kindergarten student as the other four students followed along. They had their hands under their chins, counting how many times their chins dropped. “That’s...
Energizing Early Readers: The Classroom Library as a Co-Teacher (Booklist)
One of the best parts of teaching first grade is being there for The Moment—having a front-row seat as one by one, kids realize that the skills they have developed...
Five Ways to Teach Fluency
“The…” I tap my pen on my lap underneath the table. “...man…” I wiggle my feet in my boots. “...walked…” I doodle in the margin. Christopher’s slow, labored reading fills...
April 28, 2023: Family Connections
Mistakes are a fact of life. It is the response to the error that counts. —Nikki Giovanni An Apology and Thoughts About Mistakes First, I want to offer an apology...
Rethinking Parent-Teacher Conferences: Centering the Humanity of Students in All Discourses
As an educator who teaches and learns alongside multilingual learners, I have always shared spaces with classroom teachers during parent-teacher conferences. I’d sit alongside the teacher, and together, we would...
Six Tips to Plan a Family Literacy Night
“I would love to plan a family literacy night,” my school’s librarian, Annmarie, exclaimed, after I casually mentioned the idea one afternoon last spring. “I’ve wanted to for years but...
April 21, 2023: Slow Down and Listen
A lot of people are so used to just seeing the outcome of the work. They never see the side of the work you go through to produce the outcome....
QuickTake: Choice in Making Plans for Writing
Ruth Ayres shares the importance of giving students choice when planning their writing projects.
Questioning My Belief in the Need for Silence
Here’s a belief I used to practice… “Writers need quiet spaces to write, so we need to be quiet during writing workshop.” Yes, this is a statement that I have...
Slow Down to Meet the Needs of All Learners
I've been reading Street Data by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan, as well as listening to the accompanying podcast. This book and podcast are about gathering and using the kind...
April 14, 2023: The Beauty and Brilliance of Students
Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. —Howard Thurman I...
