Ever read your students’ writing and see words that you’ve already covered misspelled? In fact, those words are on the word wall and students can easily look up to spell them correctly. So why don’t they?? This may be because often a word wall is just (dare I say it?) CLASS DECOR to kids. They don’t refer to it, or… Read More
5-Minute Sight Word Game
You finished a lesson early, now what?! I know, that very rarely happens. But, indulge me for a minute. So, you have an extra 5 minutes before you have to get ready for lunch/ music/ PE… Hmmm, what can you do? There’s not enough time to read a book or have kids write in a journal. So you pause. Harp starts… Read More
5 Ways to Teach Sight Words with Movement
Sight word fluency is so important, yet many kids struggle to build and retain a strong sight word vocabulary, despite a variety of approaches. Today, I want to share with you some really great tips on helping your students to master sight words! Have you tried incorporating movement into your sight word instruction? Movement is scientifically proven to be linked with… Read More
Word Study Strategies
Have you ever had a student ace a spelling test, but misspell those same words the very next week? This happens all too frequently, and the reason may be the focus of spelling instruction. In traditional spelling, students are given a list of words to practice throughout the week. They’re tested on those words at the end of the week. The focus… Read More
Motivating Reluctant Learners
Johnny looooved math. He’d come every day to our math lesson with enthusiasm, ready to take on any numerical challenges I had for him.Then it would be reading time. Johnny’s face and demeanor immediately changed. He pretended to look for his reader’s notebook in his desk, then went to the bathroom for 10 minutes, followed by a trip to the water… Read More
Mini-Lessons for Mañana Iguana
I love when I find a great book that I can use for multiple Writer’s Workshop mini-lessons! Mañana Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul is one of these books. It’s a version of The Little Red Hen with a Mexican twist. The main character is an iguana and she wants to throw a fiesta, but the Conejo, Tortuga, and Culebra (Rabbit,… Read More
End of Year Class Management: Engaged till the Last Day!
Are your kids extra fidgety, tattly, or just not putting any effort into their work anymore? The energy of summer approaching can make end of year class management challenging at times. Some can’t wait for it, and some don’t want it to come. Well, I want to share what I do every year that can help you maintain (or regain)… Read More