Read. Analyze. Emulate.

From the desk of Alice… In case you missed it, Kelly Gallagher was in town this week and did a workshop related to reading and writing.  I love it when we are able to bring high quality educators and authors to the area so I can learn from them.  Kelly had many useful tips for…

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Getting Your Child to Read During Summer Vacation

From the desk of Carol C… Last weekend I asked several parents what they did to encourage their children to read outside of school, especially during the summer.  Some told me their children were always engaged with reading.  Others gave me some practical ideas that worked for them.  Here are the tips that brought the…

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Strategy v. Skills

 From the Desk of Hope… This strategy and that strategy. What makes this one better than the next? Strategy. Skill.  I need clarification. As I am out in schools coaching teachers with literacy instruction, I am often approached about confusions with the difference between teaching reading skills and reading strategies. P. David Pearson writes about…

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Whole Class Novels

From the desk of Carol C… Read an education journal or a book about teaching reading comprehension (no matter the grade level), you will find a myriad of strategies to use with your students.  You’ll, also, find a difference of opinion on whether to teach these strategies using the same novel for your entire class…

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Why Picture Books Matter

From the desk of Carol C… Let me start off by saying that I love picture books…not all of them mind you but a vast majority of them.  I’ve always loved them, so a few years ago I became concerned after an article in the New York Times reported that the sale of picture books…

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Comprehension 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…

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Reading Comprehension Strategies

From the desk of Carol C… Recently I worked with a bright middle school child who needed some support with reading and writing.  We were working on what I thought was a difficult poem, but it was a suggested exemplar from the Common Core for the grade below this child’s.  At first I thought my…

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The 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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Shouldn't They Already Know How to Read This?

From the desk of Alice… I am fortunate to be able to work in middle and high school classrooms as part of my weekly work.  The classes are always full of energy and there is rarely a dull moment.  When I am in these classes, my role is to support the literacy development of the…

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The Gift of Reading

From the desk of Alice… In this first year of Common Core, I am seeing and hearing many stressed educators trying to make sense of what they need to be doing.  Rest assured, one thing we need to continue to do is encourage a love of learning as we dip into this new territory in…

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