Category Archives: ELA

3 Things You Should Know About the Science of Reading

Listen to the podcast. Teaching reading is rocket science. Louisa Moats Yeah, no kidding…the “correct way” to teach reading has long been debated, and it seems like it is becoming a hot topic in the educational community once again. When I was in college, I was once told that education is like a pendulum, swingingContinue reading “3 Things You Should Know About the Science of Reading”

5 Literacy Activities for the First Week of School

Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development… Kofi Annon As many of you know, I am a literacy mentor along with being a classroom teacher. The quote above stresses the importance ofContinue reading “5 Literacy Activities for the First Week of School”

Creative Teaching: An Introduction to Project-Based Learning

What we learn to do, we learn by doing. Thomas Jefferson As one of our founding fathers stated so long ago, in order to truly learn a new skill, we must use it. Now, in the educational world, this does not mean doing more practice problems. It also does not mean more homework. What itContinue reading “Creative Teaching: An Introduction to Project-Based Learning”

Depth and Complexity Icons: Where Book Clubs Meet Advanced Learning

Listen to the podcast episode. Good teaching is good teaching. -unknown source Early on in my career, I had a principal that really inspired me to be the best teacher I could be. When we used to chat about educational philosophies and teaching practices, she would always end the conversation by saying, “Good teaching isContinue reading “Depth and Complexity Icons: Where Book Clubs Meet Advanced Learning”

Flip It: How Can a flipped classroom improve student engagement?

Listen to the podcast. Are you looking to improve student engagement during your differentiated lessons? Would you like to prioritize higher-order thinking skills while meeting the needs of every learner in your class? Then, I suggest you flip your classroom! Flipped learning has been around for almost two decades, though it has gained popularity overContinue reading “Flip It: How Can a flipped classroom improve student engagement?”

Differentiated Literacy Centers: A Primary Teacher’s Guide

Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible. -Barack Obama Listen to the podcast episode. Today, we are here to talk about two of my favorite subjects…literacy and differentiation. As the quote above so eloquently reminds us, literacy is really the gateway to all other learning. In the primary grades, we knowContinue reading “Differentiated Literacy Centers: A Primary Teacher’s Guide”

Picture Books: A Window into the World of SEL

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Vivian Greene Although SEL, or social-emotional learning, has been around for decades, it has really made headlines in the world of education since the pandemic. We as educators must explicitly teach students how to manage their emotions. Being ableContinue reading “Picture Books: A Window into the World of SEL”

Facilitating Elementary Book Club Discussion Meetings in 3 Easy Steps

Listen to the podcast episode. In past blog posts, we have discussed the benefits of Reading Workshop, 5 easy ways to launch Reading Workshop, and how to start Book Clubs with your elementary students. In this post, we are going to chat about how to help your students run successful book club discussions. I knowContinue reading “Facilitating Elementary Book Club Discussion Meetings in 3 Easy Steps”

Reading Workshop: An Introduction to Book Clubs for Elementary Students

Listen to the podcast episode. Now that you have learned the benefits of Reading Workshop, as well as 5 easy ways to launch Reading Workshop, you are ready to dive into the world of Book Clubs. Book Clubs are a great way to build classroom community, encourage collaboration, and improve reading comprehension. This concept fitsContinue reading “Reading Workshop: An Introduction to Book Clubs for Elementary Students”

Launch Reading Workshop in 5 Easy Steps

Listen to the podcast episode. Reading Workshop…we love it and sometimes hate it…As teachers, we know that students need to be reading in order to improve their literacy. We also know the catchy phrase, “the more you read, the more you know…” and so on. However, for many teachers, the thought of tackling Reading WorkshopContinue reading “Launch Reading Workshop in 5 Easy Steps”