Teaching
The Dilemma of Guided Reading and the Rest of the Class
“But what is the rest of the class doing?” This is the question teachers often ask themselves when they begin to think about implementing guided reading. The answers or lack thereof are what make many shy away from implementing it because for guided reading to be effective, the rest of the class must be involved…
Read MoreSparking Comprehension
“To learn to read is to light a fire, every syllable that is spelled is a spark.” – Victor Hugo There is such a poetic beauty to Hugo’s words and I so wish to fan those flames in my young readers. This is my goal during guided reading –…
Read MoreThe Galatea Effect
“Set your classroom expectations high, the higher the better. Expect the most fantastic things to happen, not in the future, but right now!” – Robert John Meehan Have you ever heard of the Galatea Effect? It is the phenomenon by which people with high expectations are led to high levels of achievement and performance.…
Read MoreGuided Reading – Cornerstone of Balanced Literacy
“I read like the ink from the book is oxygen and I’m gasping for breath.” – unknown As I stumbled upon this quote, the dendrites started firing in my brain. This is how I want my kindergartners to feel about reading. When our children find success as readers, they find joy in reading. The problem is…
Read MoreThe Next Step Forward in Guided Reading
ERG is excited to announce our next professional learning event! The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading March 19, 2018 8:30 – 3:30 Does your guided reading instruction need a refresher? K-8 teachers are invited to dig deeper into guided reading and take the next step forward to pinpoint instruction that supports every…
Read MoreThe Joy of the Positive Word
The days of summer are filled with joy, but joy can be short-lived when something as simple as a negative word comes your way. Everything immediately changes because a bomb was dropped on your psyche. It rolls around in your mind like a cyclone destroying the positive thoughts that had once taken center stage.…
Read MoreAgain
“Again!” He pushes the book back into my hands. “Again, Ms. Sylvan, AGAIN!” We’ve read this one four times already today. “We’ve read this one so many times! Would you like to pick a different one this time?” “NO! THIS ONE! AGAIN!” Again. This one. Nothing else will do. If you work with…
Read MoreBounce Back
“Blessed are the hearts that can bend, for they can never be broken.” – Albert Camus Have you ever heard the story about the old donkey and the well? Once an old donkey fell into a well. He cried and cried until the farmer heard him and came running. The farmer couldn’t figure out…
Read MoreHow To Start Summer
Having to tell someone how to actually start a season may seem odd, but if you know educators, then you might know someone who needs this advice. We are in schools at least 9 months of the year, and at the end it is sometimes hard to say goodbye to our school year selves. In…
Read MoreI Feel Your Pain
“Empathy is about finding echoes of another person in yourself.” – Mohsin Hamid Have you ever been outside with your students and all of a sudden you see a rogue kickball come flying by? You automatically cringe and feel the pain of the child who was boinked on the head with the flying sphere.…
Read More