What is Shared Reading?

As literacy instructors, we aim for the reading and writing instruction we provide to fit together in a way that makes sense and that allows for each to compliment the other. Deeper and lasting learning occurs when reading and writing are integrated in this way. We hope that while reading nonfiction texts with depth and curiosity that we can also be writing to capture our re...

Imagine you have been handed a 1,000 piece puzzle… in a plastic bag. There is no helpful picture on the outside of the box to provide vision for how these pieces fit together. You start fumbling, trying to remember the few puzzle strategies you know. It all results in feeling frustrated, defeated, and ready to give up. You don’t have enough to go on.

When we provide explicit grammar instruction (pu...

Often in the beginning of the year  we are tirelessly working on routines and structures that will help students develop independence, and while yes independence is certainly important, there might be just as much value in nurturing interdependence too. 

In the Zanders' book,The Art of Possibility they describe this in such a way that exudes deep rooted potential. The book suggests that we loo...

People (and even some animals!) have used the stars as a navigation tool since prehistoric times. Likewise, in the modern world of education, with complex networks of mandates, standards, and curriculum, educators still know the wisdom of being guided by the stars—students— and using students’ strengths and interests (in conjunction with standards and district curriculum) to navigate each year of...

Language is art. Grammar is meant to be playful and empowering. These are my core beliefs but once upon a time, I believed—and taught!—that there was an absolute right and wrong, and I bet I even wielded a red pen to “correct” mistakes on students’ papers. I figured that only published authors get to break the rules because they “earn that right.” 

But, over the years, I began to have doubts about...

I have a confession to make. Sometimes it was easier to take cover in the classroom than it was to assume the role of an informal leader. I used my position as a teacher to excuse my inaction.  I told myself that it wasn’t my responsibility. It wasn’t my place. It wouldn’t be well received.

I crafted a vision of a leader as someone in a formal position. Someone who had the power to make large-scale...

Over the past two decades we’ve been developing our tools as teachers of independent readers. We use them in classroom demonstrations all of the time and teachers usually respond by saying, “Where did you get those tools? I need them!” We smile and respond, “We made them.” 

We are thrilled to announce that we made you a set too. 

Our latest professional resource is called Teacher’s Toolkit for Indep...

I am constantly amazed by how people view middle schoolers. When I meet people and it comes up that I am a teacher, the response often starts with an Awww, that must be a challenging job, and then turns to a dramatic “Why on earth would you want to...?”  when I tell them I teach in a middle school. No matter how passionately I explain how much I love this age of learners and that these students su...

Photo credit: Belle Co

Inside every writing conference, I have a favorite moment. It lives in those few seconds right after I’ve given feedback, and I watch as it registers in a series of expressions that crosses the child’s face like sun rays breaking through clouds. There is a moment of surprise, followed by the smile that says, “You get me.” In that space of human connection, my heart surges. I...

(Pixabay: Mabel Amber)

In my last blog (here) I shared my own slightly scandalous journey of being a young teacher trying to find meaningful methods for teaching the language standards in ways that stoked student transfer. Now, let’s take a journey together, and invite students along. Here are two easy routes that help learners get out of landlocked, passive stances about word learning and into sai...