Content Category: Choice Literacy
Results
Better Student-Led Literature Discussions
A good discussion increases the dimensions of everyone who takes part. Randolph Bourne “I can’t believe they just left her behind on purpose,” laments Danielle, gripping her book and...
The Big Fresh September 9, 2017 The Penny Project
Just look at us, all of us, quietly doing our thing and trying to matter. The earnestness is inspiring and heartbreaking at the same time. Amy Krouse Rosenthal Amy Krouse...
Quick Vocabulary Practice and Assessment
If I have learned one thing from my students, it’s that any activity, no matter how fun or engaging, quickly turns into drudgery if it is overused. I especially find...
First-Grade Minilesson: Tricky Words
First-grade teacher Bitsy Parks presents a minilesson on figuring out tricky words by recounting a student's strategy from a recent reading conference, using it to begin an anchor chart. ...
Push Pause: Dealing with Failure in the Midst
“Take out your previous argumentative essay.” “The one I passed back last week.” “With the rubric stapled to it.” “I wrote on the rubric with blue ink.” “It should be...
Super Teacher Reading Workshop
In a recent article, Brenda Power encouraged teachers to reconsider workshop routines, to “knock down” what seems to be a “load-bearing wall” of the workshop and then duck. She warned...
The Big Fresh September 2, 2017 Reading the Room
The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said. Peter F. Drucker A few months ago, I attended a job-related conference in California. Eager to keep up...
Better Reading Partner Shares
Katrina Edwards leads a whole-class reading share session where the focus is on how reading partners work together to teach and not tell.
Balancing Reading and Talk
“Will you guys please be quiet and get back to your reading?” I heard myself asking my seventh-grade honors social studies class. It was obvious by their conversation that they...
Writing Share Structures
Can I share today? I want to share. Me too, me too! The clamoring for attention was driving me crazy. Ten minutes into our workshop and students who had barely...
Building a Reflective Community
“So what you’re saying is that this chart isn’t about being right or wrong. It’s about figuring things out,” Tom said, eyeing our newest comprehension chart that I had unveiled...
Planning for Small-Group Word Study
When my children first started playing travel sports, I made many mistakes. I forgot pieces of their uniform, I learned that I should always bring swimwear in case there was...
Sentence Phrase Word: Student Independence for Word Learning
Gazing around our classroom community area, I could see that my fourth graders were ready to begin our third day with our latest read-aloud novel. I spotted Zoe waving her...
Lunchtime Author Discussion Groups
Sophia stands in front of me, panic-stricken. “I need Sisters and it’s not in the bin!” She is holding Raina Telgemeier’s graphic novel Drama in both hands. Sisters is another...
The Big Fresh August 26, 2017 The Relationship Business
I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort, where we overlap. ...
Sharing and Celebrating Summer Reading
We know that summer reading is essential to help prevent summer slippage, and we support students and their families at the end of the year in making summer reading plans...
Fourth-Grade Lunch Fan Club
Gigi McAllister hosts a lunchtime fan club of children who enjoy the work of Kazu Kibuishi, author of the Amulet series. Participation in the group is voluntary.
Lunchtime Storytelling
I was routinely late to my lunchroom duty. The sounds, the smells, the lingering playground arguments, and the too-hard-to-peel-open pudding cups repelled me. Back in September it was enjoyable. I...
The Big Fresh August 19, 2017 The Way Through
Don't go around it -- go through it. Amy Krouse Rosenthal I remember the morning after the Orlando nightclub...
#bookaday in Middle School: Nuts and Bolts
The basic concept of #bookaday at any age is to read one book per day, keep a list of titles, and share often. I decided to try #bookaday in my...
Building Community with a Shared Text
While I was teaching a children’s literature course for future educators at a local college, my adult students were assigned to read a middle grade book, Sunny Side Up by...
