There is a lot of energy in November. The end of the year is coming, which means that the holidays are around the corner – and that includes spending more time with family and friends and embracing the season. There is a lot for both children and adults to look forward to during these lastContinue reading “Setting Goals: Teaching Students to Set Reading & Writing Goals”
Tag Archives: teaching
Four Essential Reasons to Include Morning Messages Into Your Teaching
I love Morning Messages! It is a teaching tool that helps set the tone for the day and welcomes the students into the classroom. It also helps establish the routine with the students. Morning Messages are messages or notes that are written to the students. Often they are written by the classroom teacher, but studentsContinue reading “Four Essential Reasons to Include Morning Messages Into Your Teaching”
The Importance of Building Relationships with Colleagues
Friendships are important. Work is more enjoyable when you like the people who you are working with. Work is more fun and enjoyable when you have positive and trusting relationships with your colleagues. You will be more excited and enthusiastic to go to work, if you enjoy being with the people who you work andContinue reading “The Importance of Building Relationships with Colleagues”
Classroom Solutions: Solving Problems as They Arise in the Literacy Classroom
Today’s post is a question that I recently received. A teacher writes: I feel like all of the joy has been sucked out of teaching this year due to the restrictions and the increased emphasis on safety. For example, I feel like I am required to have the students wash their hands constantly over teachingContinue reading “Classroom Solutions: Solving Problems as They Arise in the Literacy Classroom”
The Connections Between Skills and Strategies
It’s about that time of the semester when I am asked two questions fairly frequently – “What is the difference between a skill and a strategy?” and “Where do we find literacy strategies to teach?” Both are common questions that I am asked by my students who are preservice teachers, particularly as they are beginningContinue reading “The Connections Between Skills and Strategies”
Making Time for Longer Stretches of Work!
September has been a particularly hectic month for many people, myself included. Like many people, I have been balancing remote teaching (and all the prep work and grading that comes with it) professional writing, and many, many Zoom meetings. Last week, I was reviewing my September calendar and I realized that the majority of myContinue reading “Making Time for Longer Stretches of Work!”
Everyday, Getting Better at Getting Better
I started teaching last week. And, this fall I am teaching over Zoom. My first class did not go as it normally does – the students did not walk into the classroom, find a table with a familiar face, sit down and begin catching up before class. I was not able to move the studentsContinue reading “Everyday, Getting Better at Getting Better”
The Literacy Teacher’s Life 