Have you avoided poetry as a teacher as much as possible? Does your class groan when you say it's the next unit? Does poetry make you or your students feel uncomfortable or less confident? Poetry can be really fun! I hope at least one of these 10 ideas helps you embrace it!
When 5th grade students are reading at a primary level or a 7th grader is still at a 3rd or 4th grade level, it can be hard to make sure they're engaged in what they're reading and don't feel embarrassed by the books they hold in class. I'm sharing why I believe you should let students reach for texts that are out of their instructional level. There are benefits to this for them, books you can use that will be less of a stretch, and other strategies you can use to support them in their reading growth and identity as a reader.
Do you struggle finding age appropriate books that are still accessible based on the reading level of your struggling readers? These recommendations should give you lots of ideas for which books to press into your students' hands!
I took awhile to get on the graphic novel train, but I'm on it now! I had no idea there were many quality, nonfiction graphic novels out there, so I want to share 15 I've enjoyed - both informational and biographical. I'll take more recommendations!
I love teaching with a workshop model, and I love teaching in small groups. Stations are so much fun to me. I love feeling like the class is shifting in time and being productive. I wanted this virtually, too, but how? I knew what I needed to get started. Here are some ideas for how to get going and what kids can be doing while you're with small groups. I'd love to know how it's going for you, too.
If you're like me, you're teaching online, and breakout rooms are one of the few things that make my online classroom feel real and interactive. Here are 7 ways I'm using this tool and 9 recommendations for gradual release.
One of the first things I wanted kids to have at home while teaching virtually was whiteboards, so I was psyched when my administration planned to make sure every kid got one in their "to go" kit to take home. I love using them in class, and kids love working with them. While whiteboards can of course be used as a replacement for paper, here are 10 specific ways to utilize them.
I love having kids reflect in journals on paper and take notes in notebooks; however, I've enjoyed using Google Slides as digital reader's notebooks. Read here to get a set of slides you can adapt and use for free.
Currently, my 2019-20 classroom of 27 spans K-9th grade reading levels. In this post, I share my plan for different levels of readers, structures that guide my planning, and the importance of flexibility in meeting student needs.
Charmed by Challenge 