Every January or February, I enjoy teaching my students about Chinese New Year, otherwise known as Spring Festival. According to the Chinese zodiac calendar, 2023 is the Year...
“Reading and writing go hand-in-hand,” is a phrase my students hear me constantly saying. “Good writers are usually avid readers,” is another of my favorite phrases. In this...
In this article, you'll find free resources that will assist you in assessing the reading levels of elementary students at the beginning of the school year and throughout the...
Do you want to bring a 21st century classroom design into your classroom? This post will assist you in setting up a literacy-rich environment in a 21st century classroom and...
In preparation for the Common Core State Standards I did a lot of research, and I started with the CCSS website. I found this overview of the CCSS to be very important... ...
One skill my students seem to struggle with across grade levels is comparing and contrasting texts. In honor of Presidents' Day, I use the following compare and contrast...
I love historical fiction! In my opinion, it is the genre that gives the gift of both fiction and nonfiction reading. Today I am sharing a free printable character...
National Tell a Story Day is celebrated on April 27th. This is a day for people to get together to tell all kinds of different stories. These stories can be about anything –...
Recently I've had a lot of teachers come to me asking about standardized test preparation. While I hope the majority of my instruction prepares my kids for our standardized...
The methodology that I use to teach reading is "Balanced Literacy." Many of my blog posts refer to "Balanced Literacy" as I share units, lessons, and activities. Balanced...
I love to share books that get even the most reluctant reader to start reading. Outside of sharing my recommendations with colleagues, I've also dedicated numerous blog...
Attention all principals and teachers! Today I'm highlighting another 'thinking routine' from the book Making Thinking Visible: How to Promote Engagement, Understanding and...