In my previous post, I wrote about the importance of fluency instruction and the benefit of explicit teaching of phrases to improve fluency. According to Timothy Rasinski: Reading fluency refers to the ability of readers to read quickly, effortlessly, and efficiently with good, meaningful expression. (The Fluent Reader, Pg. 26) Good readers need to be […]
Book Review
Posted inBook Review, Elementary School, Featured, Kindergarten, Literacy
Just Let Them Read! A Book Review – Part 2
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the highlights from my reading of the beginning of Donalyn Miller’s The Book Whisperer. It has been many years since I have been so touched and so inspired by my professional reading. Throughout the book, two themes emerge: as literacy teachers, we must promote, model, […]
Posted inBook Review, Featured, High School
A New School Year Means Getting Your Game On – A Book Review
When Teaching Gets Tough: Smart Ways to Reclaim Your Game Author: Allen N. Mendler Publisher: ASCD, 2012 [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”] Allen Mendler, the author of Connecting with Students and co-author of Discipline with Dignity […]
Posted inBook Review, Featured
“How to Use Problem-Based Learning in the Classroom” – A Book Review
Book: How to Use Problem-Based Learning in the Classroom Author: Robert Delisle Publisher: ASCD, 1997 [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”] My classroom is an active room full of creative fourth graders. I spend the first month teaching them […]
Posted inBook Review, Technology
“Interactive Whiteboards in the Elementary Classroom” – A Book Review
Book: Interactive Whiteboards in the Elementary Classroom Author: Tony DeMonte Publisher: ISTE, 2013 [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”] Technology is popping up everywhere in our world. My two-year-old grabs my phone and knows the apps he […]
Posted inBook Review, Literacy
Why Independent Reading is so Important – A Book Review
The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child Author: Donalyn Miller Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2009 As with most teachers, summer gives me the chance to finally read the stacks of books that have piled up in every nook and cranny of my house. One of the books I looked forward to reading this summer was The […]
Posted inBook Review, Featured
Authentic Evaluations Will Improve our Profession – A Book Review
Teacher Evaluation That Makes a Difference: A New Model for Teacher Growth and Student Achievement By: Robert J. Marzano and Michael D. Toth Published by ASCD, 2013 [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”] In the last […]
Posted inBook Review, Featured, Opinion
How do Effective Teachers Create a Classroom of Inquiry? – A Book Review
Essential Questions: Opening Doors to Student Understanding By Jay McTighe & Grant Wiggins Published by ASCD, 2013 [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”] I was lucky enough to go through my MAT training (about 10 years ago) […]