Pharrell Williams, has been around for quite a while seeking his fame in music, yet it wasn’t until his recent hit song “Happy,” that Pharrell became a household name. When interviewed and asked what he thought of his long awaited rise to fame, Pharrell stated that he used to write songs that lacked purpose. He decided that […]
Literacy
Posted inHigh School, Literacy, Opinion
Sharing a Blessing in Teaching
Do you know what it means by giving/receiving a “Blessing”? This was a new concept to me when I heard this phrase a few years ago, but I have since come to understand the importance of its meaning. What is a blessing? It’s approval, it’s unconditional love, it’s showing someone that you do not necessarily approve […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Using Reading Journals For Reluctant Readers
I have several reluctant readers in my class. And when I say reluctant, I mean pulling-teeth-digging-in-heels-won’t-read-unless-they-are-required-to reluctant readers. And even then it’s still difficult for them. They understand the importance of reading for information and meaning, but more often than not comprehension is lost in translation due to several of them struggling with dyslexia. So […]
Posted inFeatured, Literacy, Opinion
15 Novels to Read Aloud
Some people think when kids can read for themselves they don’t need to be read aloud to. I could not agree less. I read novels to my second graders daily. In my classroom, there were moments when we just couldn’t settle. I would call everyone to the rug and pick up our novel. The class […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
22 Perfect Picture Books I Love to Read and Teach
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] The best, best, best part of any day was reading aloud to my class. I had hundreds of favorite books: poetry, fiction chapter books (a.k.a. novels), and picture books, both fiction […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Reverse Poetry
I stumbled upon “Mirror Mirror” and “Follow Follow” in the Scholastic book order this past month. Being a lover of fairy tales I added them to my cart. I was happily surprised and amazed as I read these reversible verse poems. We had viewed one in church, but I did not realize it was a […]
Posted inFeatured, Literacy, Parents
The 5 Things Every Parent Can Do to Help their Child Become a Better Reader in Elementary
At the beginning of the year, I found a simple and truly wonderful idea for my Open House/Meet the Teacher day. I set about putting it into place: a parent wish jar. All it really is are slips of paper that parents can fill out with their wish for their child. I figured these parental […]
Posted inFine Arts, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
April is Poetry Month: "Look in Thy Heart and Write!"
April is Poetry Month. What should you do about this? Take advice from Sir Philip Sidney and “Look in thy heart and write.” Sidney composed “An Apology for Poetry” (Defence of Poesie) in 1575, and in this essay he maintains poetry combines the liveliness of history with philosophy; this combination is more effective than either history or philosophy in inspiring readers. According to Sidney, poetry […]