Category Archives: Teaching Tips

5 Ways AI Can Go from Scary to Helpful

AI will not replace humans, but those who use AI will replace those who don’t. -Ginni Rometti The Digital Elephant in the Room I realize that AI is a bit of a hot topic, and we all have mixed feelings about it. I would like to start by addressing the so-called “digital elephant in theContinue reading “5 Ways AI Can Go from Scary to Helpful”

How to Create a Digital Escape Room for Your Class Party

Teamwork makes the dream work. An oldie but a goodie… As teachers, we know that a huge part of our job is to teach our students life skills, such as teamwork, collaboration, compassion, perseverance, and so much more. In previous posts, I shared how to use picture books to teach these skills, as well asContinue reading “How to Create a Digital Escape Room for Your Class Party”

Intervention 101: How to Teach in Small Groups

Intervention should be a bridge, not a destination. -Doug Fisher One common misconception about intervention is that students who require it will always require it. That is simply not true. It is a bridge to reach grade level, not in a subject, but a specific standard. I would encourage you to shift you mindset fromContinue reading “Intervention 101: How to Teach in Small Groups”

Got Data? Now What?! The Pain Points of Intervention

We know as educators how important it is to reteach, yet intervention time seems to be the hardest time of day to plan. As a literacy and math coach, I have had several discussion with teachers on this very subject. Here are the common pain points surrounding intervention: If you find yourself asking any ofContinue reading “Got Data? Now What?! The Pain Points of Intervention”

From Passive to Active: 3 Student Engagement Strategies You’ll Love

Engagement happens when students feel safe, valued, and challenged at the right level. -Carol Ann Tomlinson That’s a big ask…How can we make our classroom environment safe and welcoming all while differentiating? It starts with classroom setup and classroom management. In my last post, we tackled how to create such environment by considering traffic flow,Continue reading “From Passive to Active: 3 Student Engagement Strategies You’ll Love”

3 Ways to Make Phonics Fun and Manageable

Listen to the podcast episode. Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn. -O. Fred Donaldson I am a firm believer that children learn through play. I also whole-heartedly believe that learning is and should be fun!!! Now, does this mean that I believe children need to be “entertained”Continue reading “3 Ways to Make Phonics Fun and Manageable”

Phonics 101: How to Teach Phonics in 5 Steps

Equity in education begins with good phonics instruction in the early grades; it doesn’t end there, but it begins there. Emily Hanford I cannot stress enough the importance of phonics instruction. This should be the bread and butter of education in the primary grades. Without a solid foundation of both phonological awareness and phonics, studentsContinue reading “Phonics 101: How to Teach Phonics in 5 Steps”

Three Literacy Assessments You Need to Target the Science of Reading

The start of the school year is both exciting and chaotic…when it comes to the back to school season, there is never a shortage of skills to teach. SEL (social-emotional learning), character traits, literacy skills, and the science of reading…the list goes on and on. One task that must not be forgotten during these firstContinue reading “Three Literacy Assessments You Need to Target the Science of Reading”

The Science of Reading from Day 1: How to Include Literacy Practices into Your Back to School Plans

Listen to the podcast. Aww…back to school…the smell of sharpened pencils, the excitement of new books, the smiling faces of your new classroom family…there is something very special about the start of a brand new school year. Although I truly love back to school season (despite mourning the loss of my summer break), it canContinue reading “The Science of Reading from Day 1: How to Include Literacy Practices into Your Back to School Plans”

From Elkonin to Phonics: Bridging the Gap from Phonemic Awareness to Phonics

When it comes to early literacy, letter sounds, or phonemes, reign supreme, but what happens afterward? How do we connect the phonemic awareness we so strategically built to phonics instruction? Well, the answer to that question is Elkonin boxes, which are sometimes referred to as sound boxes. In my last post, we discussed the differencesContinue reading “From Elkonin to Phonics: Bridging the Gap from Phonemic Awareness to Phonics”