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4 Interactive Writing Activities That Can Serve As Relief From Testing

High stakes assessments are coming to an end. This time period provides the perfect opportunity to introduce a few interactive writing activities in the classroom that can...

Chalk Talk Thinking Routine; A Professional Development Series

Today I’m continuing the Professional Development series about how principals, school leaders, and teachers can implement thinking routines in schools. This article outlines...

5 Reasons You Are A Successful Teacher!

I've been thinking a lot about the feeling of failure. I am both a mentor to four new teachers this year and a close friend to my fellow English teachers who surround me on...

Game

Rainbows & Rainclouds Phonics Game

Grades K–3

Kit

<em>Vocab Gal's Favorite Test Prep Resources</em> Kit image

Vocab Gal's Favorite Test Prep Resources Kit

Grades 3–12+

Interactive Read Aloud Lesson Plan Template: Brothers at Bat by Audrey Vernick

Interactive read alouds are an important component of a balanced literacy classroom. Research proves the value of reading aloud to students of all ages, and shows that...

The Top Three Reasons for Teaching Vocabulary Words

What keeps you passionate about teaching vocabulary words to students? Here are three reasons why you can be proud and passionate about teaching vocabulary in the classroom! ...

Hold a Student Showcase to Celebrate Their Writing, Grades K–8

After spending a school year working passionately on developing your students' writing skills, there is no better way to show off their writing talents than with a showcase....

Learning and Literacy Centers: An Effective Instructional Model for Meeting the Needs of All Students

Today I'm excited to have Dr. Katherine McKnight sharing her expertise on implementing Literacy Centers into classroom instruction. Give my guest blogger a warm welcome! When...

A Videogame-Inspired Classroom Vocabulary Game!

Many students love paying video games. As a teacher, I’ve heard countless conversations about which video games are the most fun to play, what gaming console is the most...

“The Isle of the Lost” – Compare and Contrast Characters Activity

A unit that focuses on studying characters is one of my favorites. I enjoying teaching characters because it always seems to build my students’ love for reading. This year...

Think–Puzzle–Explore Visible Thinking Routine; A Professional Development Series

Attention all principals and teachers! Today is the third post in my ongoing professional development series that highlights the 'thinking routines' from the book Making...

SBAC Sample Questions for the English Language Arts/Literacy Sections

Last spring, my students took the SBAC (Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium) for the first time. To prepare my students for this rigorous assessment I researched any and...

Interactive Read Aloud Lesson Plan Template: Separate Is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh