I love to read out loud to my students. The problem lies in the fact that I don’t have kindergartners anymore who truly appreciate reading aloud for the simple fact that they are being read to. There is always more ‘stuff’ to do than time to do it in our days in middle elementary, so […]
reading
Posted inParents
A Little Spring in Your Break: Continued Learning Outside of School
Summer is here, and while students are enjoying their time “off,” it’s a great time for parents to instill learning while they are home. Teachers find this time refreshing as they can spend a few moments focusing on themselves and their families. Kids relish the time off to get outside and begin the pre-rumblings of […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Independent Reading Book Choice Questions
Independent reading in our school grades 7-12 means students read books of their own choosing, make recommendations, and keep records of what they read. Because of a illness on my staff, we have a substitute (Natalie) who is an enthusiastic graduate of our high school school with a BS degree in Creative Writing. She has been […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Middle School, Uncategorized
My Son Only Read One Book in Middle School
This morning as I helped my son organize his bookshelf I asked him a question that came over me as I looked over his Diary of a Wimpy Kid series on his shelf, “what books did you enjoy most while in 6th and 7th grade?” He looked up at me like only a middle school […]
Posted inElementary School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
5 Things You Need to Freshen Up in Your Centers this Year
[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 New Year often brings resolutions, starting over, and throwing out the old. Reflection is a powerful tool in classrooms that we often overlook. If you are new to centers, check […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Teaching Inference in Reading
“Since it is a sunny day today, I infer we’ll have recess.” My mouth dropped open in shock. Did this seven year old, first generation Latina really use the word “infer?” It was odd sounding, to be sure, but there it was. I laughed with delight and said we most certainly would have recess. She […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Build Reading Skills with Poetry
On Friday mornings, the lights would go off, quietly chatting, and the class moved to the rug. Each child held a book of poems. They sat in a circle, poems on the floor before them. I would ask a student to start. As he began reading, the child beside him picked up her poem. The […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Opinion, Parents
Tried and True Resources for Curriculum Reinforcement
Over the course of my 18 years of teaching, I’ve seen many trends in skills that aren’t mastered before kids move into the next grade level. I’ve also been in schools where funding is not adequate for curriculum and supplies that are needed. Most of my teaching experience has been with early childhood, Pre-K through […]