Most teachers agree that the first few weeks of school set the tone for the rest of the school year. Having effective classroom management strategies in place is critical to...
The first week of school is a great time for students to give you some key information about themselves. On the first day, do something to make your class different (see my ...
The start of the school year means 'Open House' is right around the corner. For me, that 45 minute time period always flew by as I tried to summarize everything we would be...
In the small town where I teach, the local paper runs a “Teen of the Week” article about a promising senior every Friday. I am often interviewed as to my thoughts on said...
The best way for me to get to know my individual readers is through my initial reading conferences, which I refer to as "Three Different Books." This conference gives me...
Every year I try to find the best way for my students to organize their reading material. I have tried folders, binders, multiple journals for different purposes, single...
If you are familiar with my blog, you already know that I am a big proponent of Interactive Read Alouds (IRAs). If you are new to my blog, this article will help you...
One of the most exciting parts of the school year occurs at the beginning with classroom setup. Whether you get to work with new materials or you have the opportunity to...
Commas are a common punctuation mark that can spice up any writing.Because there are so many different ways to use commas, students have countless chances to use them...
I got to borrow my dad’s car for one week on vacation and listened to two Sirius radio channels - 90’s on 9 and Pop2K on 10. My son keeps asking me why I’m singing along to...
I remember the days of teaching grammar when students’ eyes glazed over and they checked out of the lesson. While not every day can be filled with the most engaging,...
When writing, clarity is key. It is important for students to understand how the proper use of a pronoun will clarify to readers what noun the writer is talking about. Use...