Learning
An Interview with Kindergarteners
This interview took place in 2013 with Alice’s (then) six-year old twins, Miller and Lillian, soon after they started Kindergarten. Why do you have to go to school? Miller: To learn. Lillian: Because our moms and dads are at work and we won’t have anywhere to stay so we go to school to learn. What…
Read MoreWhy You Need to Stop Overdosing on Whole Group
Most of us that were educated since the 1970’s (yes, I am that old!) remember sitting in a classroom with the teacher at the board (with chalk), and we dutifully followed along page-by-page, problem-by-problem. We can also remember classrooms where we really didn’t follow along…we passed notes, doodled, and talked. Times in classrooms have not…
Read MoreMythbusters: Differentiation Edition
With so many resources available for differentiation, why do we still struggle with implementing the ideas? We all tend to agree that one size fits all is not what works in our classrooms, and we also agree that we want to grow each and every student the best way we know how. So what gives?…
Read MoreMath Talk
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I presented my kindergartners with an interesting math challenge this week. After dividing the young mathematicians into small groups, each team was presented with several problems to solve. Here was their first scenario: You are now party planners with an important task. Each team of planners…
Read MorePower of Language
“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” – Ludwig Wittenstein From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . When we are equipped with capable language skills, we possess the power to communicate. I know – power is a strong word (no pun intended), but here are a few of its synonyms: capable, competent, dynamic,…
Read MoreBreathe In – Breathe Out
“Reading is like breathing in. Writing is like breathing out.” – Pam Allyn From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “If you can say it, you can write it. If you can write it, you can read it.” I don’t know who first uttered those words, but they have become a mantra in…
Read MoreRetelling – Another Tool for the Reader's Toolbox
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . Each day we are on a quest – a quest to build readers. We want our growing learners to know that reading is so much more than simply calling words with lyrical expression. The purpose of reading is to gain meaning and a strategic way to…
Read MoreAre You a Logophile?
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I am a logophile – a lover of words. I marvel at those who possess the quick verbal gifts of wit and wisdom. Alas, as much as I love words, I am not one with that lyrical gift. That’s why I love to soak in the literary…
Read MoreA Tool for Your Comprehension Toolbox
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “If the motorcycle was huge, it was nothing to the man sitting astride it. He was twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed . . .” Can’t you…
Read MoreModeling Questioning – Building Understanding
“Without questions, there is no learning.” – W. Edwards Deming Strolling through a book store examining the covers of picture books gives me great pleasure. As a visual learner – the pictures do paint thousands of words – and they also spark a little self-talk. Would this be a good fit book for my kindergartners? Can…
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