Authentic Learning
One Little Way to Enlarge Your Child's World
From the desk of Leigh Ann… “There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all.” ~ Jacqueline Kennedy Research has shown that one of the most important things a parent can do to help instill a love of learning in their child is to read to…
Read More5 Reasons to Reduce Standardized Testing
From the desk of Hope… 5 Reasons to Reduce Standardized Testing 1. Learners need a substantial amount time to practice and apply the content in which they are learning. The young man learning to be a postal worker spends most of his time sorting mail and rehearsing his mail route to get ready for his…
Read MoreTeacher Brain
From the desk of Hope… It is hard to turn this teacher brain of mine off. During my beach vacation this year we settled into a nice routine of late afternoon beach time. Having 17 people in our group, the day time routine was chaotic with people having different interests; some playing golf, some…
Read MoreTeaching the Reader
From the desk of Karen… Educators talk a lot about shifts these days: changing outdated teaching habits, aligning our work with brain research, learning to make our teaching stronger. Well, this is a major, earthquake-shattering shift for many. “I am not simply teaching the reading; I am teaching the reader.” ~Kelly Gallagher Teaching the reading…
Read MoreSeize the Opportunity
From the desk of Carol C… You have the opportunity to go to Hawaii, and everything for you is free. Would you take it? What about Paris, London, Rome, or southern Germany free of charge? Pearl Harbor, the Louvre, Tower of London, or Bavaria. Of course you would. It would be the opportunity of a…
Read MoreWhere Did You Get Your Eyes?
From the desk of Hope… I was in a kindergarten classroom last week and a student came up to me and asked, “Where did you get your eyes?” Hmmm. I wasn’t quite sure how to answer but it didn’t matter because she was quickly shooed off to do her seat work. She promptly got busy…
Read MoreLose Weight Fast
From the desk of Alice… There is an advertisement in one of my favorite magazines that suggests you can lose weight fast “and safely” by replacing all your meals for an entire week with a liquid concoction. Hmmm- I don’t think replacing my meals for a week with just liquid sounds safe. It is not…
Read MoreYou Practice and You Get Better
From the desk of Hope… You Practice and You Get Better (Dedicated to all my mentors along the way in my teaching career. You know who you are.) Simple words. But words that are saturated with a life time of wisdom. You practice and you get better. When you were frustrated and and didn’t know…
Read MoreComprehension Issue or Assignment Issue?
From the desk of Hope… I write this blog as a question hoping to get some interaction and feedback from you. Recently I’ve had three parents approach me about “issues” their children are having with reading comprehension. Before I go into the “issues” I would like to describe these children to you as I know…
Read MoreThe Anti-Workbook Classroom
From the desk of Alice… I recently had a conversation with someone about instruction in the elementary school. In that particular school system, a program is in place that requires reading workbooks for Kindergarten students. If this happens to be the case in your school or system, I am so sorry. Having our youngest learners…
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