Albert Einstein said, "If I can't picture it, I can't understand it." The videos at Choice Literacy are designed to help teachers picture what happens when best practices in literacy meet the reality of busy, noisy, and diverse classrooms. All footage is filmed using state-of-the-art cameras and sound equipment by an experienced professional crew of videographers, sound technicians, and editors. We are committed to capturing accomplished teachers working with students within normal literacy routines and schedules - no staged lessons for the cameras, and no scripts.

Over the next year, videos will be added to the site featuring teachers in writing conferences with young English language learners, mentors working with new teachers to design literacy curricula, teachers assessing students, writing unit design and implementation, and reading comprehension lessons with guided practice. All videos are in Flash format, optimized for viewing on computers with high-speed internet access. If you are having trouble viewing a video, you can download a free Flash player for your computer here:

http://www.adobe.com/downloads/#players

[Many videos featured on this site are available for purchase as part of our DVD Workshop Kits, designed for use in professional development settings with full-color viewing guides. For more information, click here.]

Grade Level Team Meeting: Test Preparation (VIDEO) In this video of a third-grade team meeting, literacy coaches Janet Scott and Gail Boushey help third-grade teachers think through what is going well with test preparation, and what might be adapted before the tests begin in a few weeks. The teachers make many connections between the literacy required for both math and reading examinations . . . more Small Group After Demonstration Lesson (VIDEO) Clare Landrigan In this small group after a demonstration lesson in a 5th grade classroom, Clare Landrigan talks through strategies for inferring the meaning of new words while reading. . . . more Conferring About Character Traits (VIDEO) In this conference from a fifth-grade classroom, Clare Landrigan meets with a student to reinforce learning from a whole-class lesson on inferring and character traits. Clare helps the student pull specific evidence from the text to make inferences about a character and track changes. . . . more Demonstration Lesson: Inferring Character Traits (VIDEO) In this demonstration lesson from a 5th grade classroom, Clare Landrigan leads students through a reading and discussion of inference and character development. . . . more Nonfiction Word Hunt Part I (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson adapts an idea from Sharon Taberski to build word study into nonfiction reading time with her grades 3-4 students. . . . more First Grade Small Group: Chunking (VIDEO) n this small group from Courtney Tomfohr's first-grade classroom, students work on their chunking skills. Courtney begins the lesson with a whiteboard, moves to authentic text, and gives children a chance to practice with books at their independent levels from their reading tubs. . . . more Helping Young Readers Become Independent: The "Next-Read" Stack and Peer Groups (VIDEOS) Franki Sibberson I find next-read book stacks to be critical for students in the transitional years of reading. Many young readers are just beginning to read books that take longer than one sitting to complete. The choice becomes overwhelming. I have used Ziploc bags, boxes and other containers to help students be intentional about their next-read stacks. I find when students have a place to stack those books that they want to read in the future, they spend less time wandering around the bookshelves. They begin to live their daily lives as readers, always looking for new books to read in the future. . . . more Finding Words: Linking Community and Classrooms (VIDEO) In this four-minute video, Principal Karen Szymusiak and 3rd Grade Teacher/Literacy Coach Pam Hahlen do a quick word search activity using dictionaries donated to the classroom by a local service club. . . . more 5th Grade Word Study Homework: Root Words (VIDEO) In this five-minute video, Karen Terlecky leads her 5th grade students through a discussion of their word study homework. Students had an assignment of looking for words that include the "cycl" root. . . . more Envisioning Writing: Wow Words and Mental Images with 1st Graders (VIDEO) Katie DiCesare In this minilesson, Katie DiCesare uses the book My Cat Copies Me to help her first-grade students "envision" their writing drafts. The lesson focuses on creating mental images to conjure stronger verbs and adjectives while writing. . . . more "If You Like Matt Christopher" Student Book Share (VIDEO) In this video from Franki Sibberson's grades 3-4 classroom, boys share books that are similar to ones written by Matt Christopher. Franki explains how the group came about, as well as the value of these peer-led small groups. . . . more Many Languages, Many Texts: Book Time in Preschool (VIDEO) In this brief video, Melissa Kolb explains "Book Time" in her preschool class. It's a time when many volunteers read books informally to small groups of children in their home languages. . . . more Making Predictions and Finding Evidence in Text (VIDEO) In this video from a fifth-grade small group, Clare Landrigan talks with students about making predictions and finding evidence in text. . . . more Weekend Headlines: Whole Class Share (VIDEO) Katie Doherty In this final installment of a three-part video series, Katie Doherty and her sixth-grade students continue the Weekend Headlines activity. The activity ends with a whole-class sharing and discussion of student writing. . . . more Weekend Headlines: Peer Response (VIDEO) Katie Doherty In this second part of a three-part video series, Katie Doherty and her sixth grade students continue the Weekend Headlines activity. In this installment, Katie sets up a peer response procedure with students. . . . more Weekend Headlines: Introduction (VIDEO) Katie Doherty In this first of a three-part video series, Katie Doherty and her sixth grade students begin the Weekend Headlines activity. Each Monday, students listen to Katie share some of the headlines from the local newspaper, and then they share their "headlines" from the big events that happened to each of them over the weekend. These personal headlines provide a natural starting point for writing, peer response, and revision. . . . more From Reading Response to Draft (VIDEO) In this quick conference from a 4th grade classroom, Aimee Buckner listens as Summer explains how a question from the book Would You? Could You? inspired her to create a list. Aimee talks with her about moving from the reading response journal with this brainstorm to a draft in writer's workshop. . . . more Staying Focused in Literacy Workshops (VIDEO) Clare Landrigan In this video, Clare Landrigan meets with a group of 5th graders to talk about what's going well in literacy workshops, and to set individual goals. Stamina is an issue many of the students are dealing with, so many of the goals involve strategies for staying focused while reading and writing. . . . more Running and Reading Logs Part II (VIDEO) Clare Landrigan In this second video in a two-part series, Clare Landrigan meets with a group of 4th graders to talk about reading logs and goals. In this excerpt, Clare confers with students over their logs and debriefs with their teacher. . . . more Running and Reading Logs (VIDEO) Clare Landrigan In this first video in a two-part series, Clare Landrigan meets with a group of 4th graders to talk about reading logs and goals. In this excerpt, Clare uses the analogy of how runners use logs to chart progress and set goals. . . . more Setting Reading Goals (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson I find it's important for students to set long-term goals periodically throughout the year. In this video, students are thinking about their long-term nonfiction reading goals. We do this at the end of a whole-class share session, so students can hear the thinking of their peers. . . . more Meeting Area Makeover (VIDEO) Are your meeting area wall displays too cluttered? "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help a 3rd grade teacher rethink her wall displays and meeting area in this ten minute video . . . more Morning Meeting in Kindergarten (VIDEO) In this video, Danielle French leads her kindergarten students in Waterville, Maine during morning meeting. After the meeting, Danielle talks with "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) about the value of this daily routine. . . . more Big Books and Charts Organizer (VIDEO) Joan Moser In this two-minute video, Joan shares a simple tool teachers can create for their classrooms to keep Big Books, charts, and laminated large materials organized. . . . more Organizing for Independence: From Cubbies to Social Groups (VIDEO) Joan Moser In this brief video, Joan Moser talks about how she organizes student materials in "social groups" to avoid the use of desks or cubbies in her classroom. . . . more Bookroom Makeover in the Midst (VIDEO) In this video tour, Jessica Ardelea and Josie Stewart talk about the renovations in progress in bookrooms at their school in Dublin, Ohio. The goal is to make it easier for students and teachers to access the texts they need, as well as create spaces for professional conversations among teachers. . . . more Keeping the M (VIDEO) Melissa Kolb In an age of standardization, when even preschoolers are expected to perform flawlessly on literacy tests such as letter naming and recognition, it is important for early childhood teachers to stand firm in the belief that each child learns uniquely and individually. This is an ideal I strive to live by as I work with youngsters. Our Head Start classroom includes children who range in age from three to five, and who speak a variety of languages. All of our children come from a background of poverty, and many have a range of identified disabilities. To teach them successfully, it is necessary to teach them individually. Sometimes, this means that I have to resist the pressure to push children toward production of perfect outcomes. The leading edge of learning for a child can be the feeling of success they achieve when they are engaged in a literacy process, whether or not the outcome of that process is technically correct. . . . more Teaching Inferring with Picture Books: Partner Shares after Read Aloud (VIDEO) When my students are given the opportunity to share their thinking after a read aloud it does several things for their learning. First and foremost, kids listen to each other. They would much rather hear the opinions of their friends and peers than those of their teacher! Allowing them time to chit chat about their thinking and share their own ideas, and yes, sometimes stories, allows them to open up and form a real community of learners. . . . more Teaching Inferring with Picture Books Part II: Partner Shares When my sixth-grade students are given the opportunity to share their thinking after a read aloud it does several things for their learning. First and foremost, kids listen to each other. They would much rather hear the opinions of their friends and peers than those of their teacher! Allowing students time to chit chat about their thinking and share their own ideas, and yes, sometimes stories, allows them to open up and form a real community of learners. . . . more Inferring Read Aloud Part I (VIDEO) Katie Doherty Using picture books to teach strategy instruction is not only popular; it works. When my 6th graders see me pull out a picture book during the first week of school and "make" them hunker down on the floor, I hear a lot of groans. This is not a "middle school" thing to do. When I hear these groans I simply tell them the Truth According to Doherty: picture books are meant to be seen. That can't happen if 32 students are spread throughout the room at all angles. In my experience they get over their "picture books are soooo 5th grade" preconceptions fairly quickly as they settle down and all of a sudden start to genuinely enjoy the books we read together. . . . more Conferring Close-Up: Test-Taking Strategies Part II (VIDEO) Andrea Smith Workshop teachers provide time and opportunities for listening to classmates' questions and comments. Sentence Observations, a common word study practice, routinely turns students into language detectives, readers studying the work of writers, asking how and why strong writers grab our attention with their craft. The routines of sharing questions and sentence observations can also help students prepare for tests. Just as students studied a variety of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry throughout the year, test questions can also be studied examples of text. . . . more Data Cards: Assessment Profiles at a Glance (VIDEO) "Data Cards" are ingeniously designed to allow an entire grade-level team to look at the reading levels of all students in the grade. In this four-minute video, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) explain how they work. . . . more Catching Up with Anna (VIDEO) Katie Doherty Because reader's workshop and book clubs are such a big part of my reading curriculum, it is crucial that kids keep up with the work. In order to do that, they need to be in school. It is near impossible to make up reader's workshop time or a missed book club meeting on your own. . . . more Test-Taking Skills: Reading Strategies for Word Problems - Part I (VIDEO) Andrea Smith If I've learned anything from the past 22 years of teaching, I know how valuable children's playground philosophies are for dealing with the confusing world created by adults. As a teacher I think of these words as I've come to terms with the country's fascination and obsession with academic testing. I have officially decided that childhood rule #3 helps me maintain sanity when confronted with the complex dilemmas presented by testing - you are not the boss of me. . . . more Case Studies in Professional Learning Communities (VIDEO) Karen Szymusiak In this brief video, Literacy Coach Pam Hahlen and Principal Karen Szymusiak meet with two teachers in a professional learning community group to discuss ongoing case studies. The meeting takes place in early April, and the group has met regularly over the same children all year long. Karen explains how the case study groups work, and the value of the collaboration among teachers and specialists. . . . more Talking About Tests (VIDEO) For several years, I have been spending about a month before state testing on a test-taking genre in reading. It works like any other genre study, allowing students to learn strategies for comprehending the genre. So much of the work is in helping students use the strategies they have learned throughout the year while they are reading a test. I used to believe that this would happen naturally but have learned that students need explicit work in the area. . . . more Sports Writing Group Discussion (VIDEO) As part of our nonfiction writing study, many of the students in the class began to write about sports. Every year that I've taught in any grade, students enjoy writing about sports. It is always difficult to teach this writing style, because students write mostly play-by-play writing of the games they've played or watched. . . . more Learning with Graphica: Debrief (VIDEO) This is the final video of a four-part series on using graphica in a 4th grade classroom. In this installment, Sarah Thibault debriefs with literacy coach Jennifer Allen (on the right) and principal Harriet Trafford (on the left) about the lesson and the students' ongoing learning from graphica. . . . more Learning with Graphica: Class Discussion (VIDEO) This is the third of a four-part video series on using graphica in a 4th grade classroom. In this installment Sarah Thibault confers with students during writer's workshop as they brainstorm character traits. Students will be creating their own comic books, after extensive preparation and multiple reading and writing activities. . . . more 5th Grade Room Tour - Part II (VIDEO) In this eight-minute video, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) show the many creative and low-cost ways a colleague displays books and materials to build interest in literacy. This is the second in a two-part series. . . . more Learning with Graphica: Conferring with Students (VIDEO) This is the second of a four-part video series on using graphica in a 4th grade classroom. In this installment Sarah Thibault confers with students during writer's workshop as they brainstorm character traits. Students will be creating their own comic books, after extensive preparation and multiple reading and writing activities. . . . more 1st Grade Room Tour (VIDEO) In this four-minute video, Kelly Yahr introduces viewers to her 1st grade classroom. Kelly emphasizes how much ownership students have of wall displays and the library, especially through their writing and lettering of materials. . . . more Learning from Graphica: Introducing the Activity (VIDEO) In this lesson from a 4th grade classroom, Sarah Thibault introduces students to a writing activity. Students will be creating their own comic books, after extensive preparation and experience with graphica. . . . more Drawing to Learn: Conferring with Kyle (VIDEO) Ruth Shagoury In this conference with six-year-old Kyle, Ruth Shagoury listens to him explain the stories and meaning behind his drawings during writer's workshop. Kyle's first language is Vietnamese, though English is also spoken in the home. . . . more From Questions to Drafts (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner In this first of a two-part video series, Aimee Buckner shares the mentor text Could You? Would You? with her 4th grade students. Aimee explains how questions are a springboard to interesting writing topics, and models connections she makes to the text. . . . more Teaching Rereading Strategies Through Read Aloud (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner leads a 4th grade class read aloud of Goblins in the Castle, focused on rereading skills. . . . more Teaching Rereading During Class Read Alouds (VIDEO) I teach my 4th graders the power of rereading using the mentor text Goblins in the Castle by Bruce Coville. In this video, you can see we use rereading as a way into richer discussions of characters in the text. . . . more 5th Grade Strategy Group on Summarizing (VIDEO) In this strategy group, Karen Terlecky brings together three of her 5th graders to reread a nonfiction article shared in the whole group. They discuss main ideas, and do a writing activity together to build summarizing skills. . . . more Are Your Flexible Groups Flexible? (CHOICE LITERACY CLUSTER) The purpose of this cluster is to help teachers see new possibilities for small-group instruction. Rather than merely pulling students by level for guided reading groups, this cluster provides alternative strategies for organizing groups. Through short articles and video examples, participants will be able to talk to colleagues about rethinking grouping practices. . . . more Student Reading Interview: Assessing Ana (VIDEO) Karen Szymusiak In this first video in a two-part series, Principal Karen Szymusiak interviews Ana, a second grader, to learn more about her strengths and needs as a reader. In next week's installment, Karen will share her findings with Ana's teacher. . . . more Animals for Literacy: 4th Grade Room Tour (VIDEO) Andrea Smith In this five-minute video, 4th grade teacher Andrea Smith from Dublin, Ohio shows how she builds a classroom community and much of her literacy curriculum from the care and study of unusual pets. . . . more Main Ideas in Nonfiction (VIDEO) Karen Terlecky In this whole-class lesson, fifth-grade teacher Karen Terlecky and her students consider how main ideas work in nonfiction texts. The lesson includes reading and discussion of a short text from National Geographic. . . . more The Pensieve: Organizing a Conferring Notebook (VIDEO) The "pensieve" is the conferring notebook that Joan Moser and Gail Boushey ("The Sisters") have developed for their work with children. In this four-minute video, Joan explains how the notebook is organized, and shares how different sections are used daily in the classroom. . . . more Old Elm Speaks Day 2, Part II: Connecting Poetry, Observation, and Writing (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner In this third part of a three-part video series, Aimee Buckner shows how observation skills, poetry, and reading instruction come together with the mentor text Old Elm Speaks by Kristin O'Connell George. In this excerpt, students share what they wrote after reading the book and completing some observations. This is an excellent back-to-school literacy sequence, since the observation element of the instruction is a terrific excuse to take the class outdoors for writing sketches. . . . more Old Elm Speaks Day 2: Connecting Poetry, Observation, and Reading (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner In this second part of a three-part video series, Aimee Buckner shows how observation skills, poetry, and reading instruction come together with the mentor text Old Elm Speaks by Kristin O'Connell George. In this excerpt, students share what they read and wrote after reading the book and completing some observations. This is an excellent back-to-school literacy sequence, since the observation element of the instruction is a terrific excuse to take the class outdoors for writing sketches. . . . more Book Boxes Nuts and Bolts (Organizing Book Boxes Video Series) Joan Moser In this third video in a month-long series, Joan Moser (of "The Sisters") tackles the issue of what types of books and what levels are appropriate for student book boxes. This video is part of an ongoing series on organizing and managing individual student book boxes. . . . more Differentiating Book Boxes (Organizing Book Boxes Video Series) Joan Moser In this second video in a month-long series, Joan Moser (of "The Sisters") explains how she differentiates the content of book boxes for students with different skills and needs. . . . more Managing Book Boxes (Organizing Book Boxes Video Series) Joan Moser In this first video in a month-long series, Joan Moser (of "The Sisters") explains three strategies she uses to help students pick books for their book boxes. In the coming weeks, Joan will explain how she and her students use the book boxes daily during literacy workshops. . . . more Old Elm Speaks: Connecting Poetry, Observation, and Reading (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner In this first of a three-part video series, Aimee Buckner shows how observation skills, poetry, and reading instruction come together with the mentor text Old Elm Speaks by Kristin O'Connell George. In this excerpt, Aimee introduces the text and guides students as they begin exploring it together. This is an excellent back-to-school literacy sequence, since the observation element of the instruction is a terrific excuse to take the class outdoors for writing sketches. . . . more Talking About Synthesis: Metaphors from 2nd Graders (VIDEO) Karen Szymusiak and Lauren Scott In this six-minute video, Lauren Scott's 2nd graders brainstorm different metaphors for the synthesis process in reading while their principal, Karen Szymusiak, listens and responds. After the students leave, Lauren and Karen chat about how the classroom environment supports sophisticated discussions of learning. . . . more Kindergarten Room Tour (VIDEO) Maureen Knostman In this room tour, Maureen Knostman of Dublin, Ohio shares literacy areas in her kindergarten classroom. . . . more Literacy Chats: An Open Discussion Format (VIDEO) Pam Hahlen In my school, the teachers have monthly literacy chats to discuss current trends and issues that arise in our classrooms. These are informal discussions designed to help us build a supportive community as we all work to improve the ways we teach reading and writing. Our focus for this school year for all groups was to look at the workshop model in our literacy programs, with an emphasis on reading workshop. . . . more 5th Grade Room Tour (VIDEO) Karen Terlecky Karen Terlecky's classroom tour focuses on the anchor charts and wall displays she uses to promote literacy with her 5th grade students. Two of the books Karen discusses that have influenced her literacy wall displays are Max Brand's Word Savvy and Mechanically Inclined by Jeff Anderson. . . . more Coaching in Kindergarten: Conferring (VIDEO) Joan Moser What's in a name? For kindergartner Maria, it's the start of learning how letters and sounds work. In this coaching session, Joan Moser of "The Sisters" helps Daniel understand how to use a child's name as a beginning point for teaching letters and sounds. . . . more 1st Grade Room Tour Part II (VIDEO) Katie DiCesare In Part II of her classroom video tour, Katie DiCesare presents more of the book arrangements and wall displays in her 1st grade classroom that support literacy learning. . . . more Middle School Library Makeover: Stacks & Recap (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) collaborate with a middle school librarian, principal, and team of students to makeover the school library. In this final segment of the series, they redo the stacks and meeting area, and then talk with students about the transformation of the entire library. . . . more Middle School Library Makeover Part I (VIDEO) In this first of a two-part video series, "The Sisters" (Joan Moser and Gail Boushey) work with students, a librarian, and a principal to makeover a middle-school library. This first installment features the creation of a "cozy area" and new book browsing displays. . . . more 4th Grade Small Group - Writing Paragraphs (VIDEO) In this six-minute video, Aimee Buckner uses a mentor text to demonstrate how writers construct lively nonfiction paragraphs. The small group has been pulled together because the students need more practice in adding details to their writing. . . . more 5th Grade Sentence Observation (VIDEO) Karen Terlecky This past summer, I spent a lot of time thinking about all the components of my writing workshop. I intended to make it a focus of study for myself throughout the school year. One of the areas I specifically wanted to look at was the most effective way to teach the grammar and mechanics I am required to cover by both state standards and district targets. . . . more 4th Grade Room Tour (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner In this video tour of her 4th grade classroom, Aimee Buckner highlights how she arranges books, charts, and other resources to support the reading and writing of her students. . . . more First Grade Guided Writing Group: Targeting Common Spelling Needs (VIDEO) Katie DiCesare In this video of a first-grade guided writing group, Katie DiCesare works with three girls on spelling confusions that have emerged in their writing. By grouping the students together, she is able to use her time well in addressing common needs among students. . . . more Conferring with Emily: Moving from Questions to Content (VIDEO) In this conference with six-year-old Emily, Ruth Shagoury looks for a way into a conversation by using Emily's drawings, previous writing, and interests. Emily's first language is Hmong, and she is experimenting with Chinese characters in her writing. . . . more Listing Strategy: Conferring (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner In this second of a two-part video series, Aimee Buckner confers with students after teaching a minilesson on the listing strategy using the book This is the Tree. You'll notice that the students are writing in many different genres as part of writing workshop, and are in different phases of the drafting process as Aimee assists them. . . . more Moving into "Big Fat Chapter Books": Conferring with Elyse (VIDEO) In this conference with seven-year-old Elyse, Joan Moser helps her set a reading goal that will help her move into "big fat picture books." In the debrief with Gail Boushey, Joan talks about the importance of knowing a reader's history and how teachers can use that to motivate the child. . . . more Mentor Texts and Teacher Modeling: The Listing Strategy (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner In this video from her 4th grade classroom Aimee Buckner teaches the "listing" strategy using the book This is the Tree as a mentor text. Aimee talks about mentor texts, using her own writing as a model, and the needs of intermediate readers and writers during the lesson and interview. . . . more Conferring with Eddie (VIDEO) Eddie is a six-year-old student who speaks Cantonese as his first language. In this conference with Ruth Shagoury, there is little English spoken, and yet there is much communication through gestures and shared history. . . . more Middle School Classroom Makeover Part III (VIDEO) The Sisters Have you ever been assigned a classroom with no storage cabinets or cupboards? In the final section of their video series on a middle school classroom makeover, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help seventh-grade teacher Erin reorganize and declutter her built-in bookshelves and talk through storage issues . . . more Middle School Classroom Makeover Part I (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) In this first of a three-part video series, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help 7th grade teacher Erin declutter and rearrange her classroom. . . . more Rule of 3, Part II: Mini-Group After Whole-Class Lesson (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner The "Rule of 3" is well-known among writers. From "The Three Little Bears" to sets of three adjectives in descriptions, authors know clusters of three are a powerful tool for creating narrative flow. In this second of a three-part video series, I pull a small group of students for a little extra support right after the whole class lesson. . . . more Rule of 3: Writer's Craft Whole Class Lesson (VIDEO) Aimee Buckner The "Rule of 3" is well-known among writers. From "The Three Little Bears" to sets of three adjectives in descriptions, authors know clusters of three are a powerful tool for creating narrative flow. I always teach my fourth graders about the "Rule of 3" during reading and writing workshops, and almost immediately see improvement in many students' writing. . . . more A Literacy "Playground": Cheryl Cole's Second Grade Classroom (VIDEO TOUR) Aimee Buckner hosts this video tour of Cheryl Cole's second grade classroom. Cheryl shares the many strategies she uses to promote literacy learning in a warm, friendly environment. Aimee notes that the atmosphere is that of a "literacy playground" - fun, but also deeply reflective. . . . more Collaborative Team Meeting: Assessing and Planning Together (VIDEO) Gail Boushey Collaborative team meetings take place every 9-10 days in our schools. In these meetings, teachers from one grade level, literacy coaches, and our principal meet together to discuss individual students, the curriculum, and goals. I want to share video from one team meeting early in the year. In September, three 4th grade teachers, a literacy coach, the principal and I sat down together in a collaborative team meeting to pore over the assessments of students from the previous year, comparing these notes to our ongoing fall assessments of individual students. . . . more Conferring Notebook for Coaches (VIDEO with TEMPLATE) Gail Boushey I am always on the hunt for new ways to reorganize the records I keep as a literacy coach. I want to be sure I have good records of encounters with colleagues, but I don't want to spend more time taking notes than I do collaborating with teachers. Recently I revised my coaching conferring notebook to mirror the notebooks I encourage teachers to use in their own classrooms as they keep track of conferences with students. The video below explains the components of the notebook . . . more From Compliments to Naming the Craft: 5th Grade Writing Workshop Share Session (VIDEO) Jennifer Allen This whole-class share session in Lesley Fowler's 5th grade classroom is the culmination of a nonfiction writing unit. Over the course of the year, we moved from having students compliment their classmates during these share sessions, to writing down specific aspects of the piece they enjoyed or had questions about during the reading. We found adding this brief writing element to the share sessions has made all the difference in helping students connect their writing and that of their peers to the lessons on craft we present throughout the year. . . . more Bookroom Tours - Part I (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) In this three-minute video, The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) take viewers on a tour of an elementary bookroom. The books are arranged by levels, with Joan and Gail sharing simple strategies for checkout and updating bins as new titles are added. . . . more Preparing Walls for Displays (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) In this four-minute video, The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help a new teacher "frame up" an area of the room for future displays of student work, in a way that draws attention away from book bags and other clutter. . . . more Tips for Displaying Student Work (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) In this six-minute video, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help a colleague dress up her displays of student work. The common mistake made by teachers is to display work with standard-size borders, all lined up in a row. Joan and Gail demonstrate how teachers can use techniques that mix up the images visually, promoting more of an art gallery look and feel to wall displays. . . . more Meeting Area Makeover (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) Meeting areas in classrooms serve many purposes - they are gathering places for students and teachers, and they also are key storage areas on the perimeter for student work, materials, and literacy supports like big books or chart stands. In this two-part video, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help first-year teacher Christine reorganize her meeting area so that it is less cluttered and easier for students to access the materials they need...without disrupting lessons. . . . more The Literacy Coach Work Area: Arranging Materials in Cramped Spaces (VIDEO) Gail Boushey Many literacy specialists and coaches find themselves in cramped work spaces when it comes to their desks, storage areas for materials, and meeting rooms for conferring with colleagues. In this four-minute video, Literacy Coach Gail Boushey talks about how she arranges her materials in a limited space, and the benefits of sharing work space with colleagues. . . . more Organizing Reading Area Supplies (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) We design our rooms to support students as they work independently. Often this means areas throughout the room house supplies for literacy - books for independent reading, guided reading, notebooks, and storage bins for students. This time-lapse video provides some tips for reorganizing a small-group reading area that receives a lot of traffic from students. . . . more Spring Cleaning: Decluttering a Storage Area (VIDEO) The Sisters In this time-lapse video, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help second-year teacher Carrie declutter a storage area at the end of the year, talking through decisions of what to keep, what to throw away, and simple tricks for dressing up shelves. . . . more Numbering and Arranging Classroom Library Bins (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) In this video, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) help experienced teacher Kelly create a numbering system for her classroom library. They talk together about strategies for teaching children to become more independent in finding books and maintaining the library. . . . more Reorganizing the Classroom Library (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) In this brief time-lapse video, Gail Boushey and Joan Moser help Carrie, a second-year teacher, begin to organize her classroom library according to themes and traffic patterns in the classroom. . . . more Playing with Group Observations: Reflections on Learning with New Teachers Jennifer Allen The new teacher group is winding down. Our next and last meeting will be in June. Leslie Lloyd, the group's co-leader and I find ourselves constantly reflecting and refining the group as we go along. I find each month we approach some aspect of the group from a slightly different angle. This month Leslie and I played around with the classroom observations. Each month participants talk about the value of being able to observe other teachers and the time taken to debrief as a group. This month we had new teachers Jeni and Jess observe together. . . . more Community Language Board: Building Vocabulary All Year Long (VIDEO) The Sisters (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) The Community Language Board is where the class shares interesting new words from read alouds, sight words, and alternatives to common words in writing. In this video tour, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) talk about how the board changes and evolves over the year, building a sense of community and shared literacy. . . . more Concepts of Print: Conferring with a Kindergartner (VIDEO) In this conference with five-year-old Mariano, Joan Moser (of "The Sisters") assesses his understanding of reading, print, and books at the start of the school year. After the conference, Joan debriefs with Gail Boushey about appropriate next steps for this kindergartner. . . . more The Conferring Notebook: Organizing for Teaching in Workshops (VIDEO with TEMPLATES) In this five-minute video, "The Sisters" (Gail Boushey and Joan Moser) describe how they organize their conferring notebook. The notebook includes a section for each student, as well as grids for organizing flexible reading groups and calendars for scheduling conferences. If you would like to download any of the templates mentioned in the video, they are available just below the video player. . . . more Whole-Class Vocabulary Lesson, Grades K-2 (VIDEO) In this five-minute video, Joan Moser of "The Sisters" teaches a whole-class vocabulary lesson. The focus is on helping students notice interesting words, and make connections between daily read-alouds and word learning. After the lesson, Joan and Gail talk about the place of vocabulary instruction in their literacy workshops. . . . more Using Foam Boards in Writer's Workshop (VIDEO) Franki Sibberson Foam boards are a new teaching tool for me this year in writer's workshop. The idea came from my friend Ann Marie Corgill. She shared this idea with me when she was working at the Manhattan New School in New York City. I've always used a lot of wall space for writer's workshop, and have even gone beyond that to cover closet doors and the door going into the classroom with student work, ideas, and resources. There is never enough room to display or post everything we are working on and everything that might help build the writing community. The foam boards are a way to extend the display space flexibly all year long, and what's great about them is that they are so portable - each one becomes a moving, changing bulletin board tied to literacy topics we are studying and discussing together. . . . more