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The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy July 5, 2008 Travels The great thing about summer for so many educators is that it does give us a little time to pause, renew, and get to all those tasks that remind us why we love our jobs. The fresh smell of a new book, the slow twirl around an empty classroom, thinking of all the possibilities for redecorating, bumping into a former student at the grocery store and seeing how they have grown as learners (and people!)...we need those moments, and summer can provide so many of them. . . . more Managing Book Boxes (Organizing Book Boxes Video Series) In this first video in a month-long series, Joan Moser (of "The Sisters") explains three strategies she uses to help students pick book 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 If You Like Captain Underpants: Related Books for Students (BOOKLIST) I have found that there is often one book that hooks a child on reading. Children may know how to read other books, they read other books...but they aren't hooked. Then they read a book or series that they fall in love with and they can't stop reading! It is what we hope will happen for all of our students. I always feel extra lucky when kids have fallen in love with a book in a series. I know that when this happens, they are likely to read all of the books in the series without stopping, and they are set for awhile in their reading lives. . . . more Books We Love: Building a Reading Community As the year comes to an end it feels natural to celebrate the books we've loved. In previous years, I have invited my students to list their most favorite books on a form. They fill the page pretty easily just writing down names of titles that were on the shelf that day or ones that I had recently read. It started to bother me that this "list" turned out feeling like a worksheet they just wanted to finish. This year I tried some new strategies that I felt would help my readers spend time with the books they have loved and think about why they loved these books. . . . more Old Elm Speaks: Connecting Poetry, Observation, and Reading (VIDEO) 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 The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy June 14, 2008 Summer As I type these words, the school year is winding down in the U.S. One of the great misconceptions about teachers and summer is that we have the next couple months off. Whether paid or not, we know we're still at work. But there's no doubt either that after all the storm clouds in schools - the budget cuts, the testing mania, the leaky roofs, the continual noise and push for the next big thing - there is something wonderful about the summer season. . . . more Talking About Synthesis: Metaphors from 2nd Graders (VIDEO) 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 Making Time for Literacy Chit-Chat to Support Book Choice I have come to know lots of my friends' children from quick conversations on the telephone. When I call to chat with a friend, usually one of the children in the house answers the phone. For those friends who I call several times a week, this adds up to lots of very short conversations with these children over years and years. Even though I only have very short conversations with these children, I have so many of them over time that they add up and I come to know them well. . . . more Kindergarten Room Tour (VIDEO) In this room tour, Maureen Knostman of Dublin, Ohio shares literacy areas in her kindergarten classroom. . . . more Just Because It's Skinny, Doesn't Mean It's Easy: Matching Books to Transitional Readers in Grades 2-4 I buy a LOT of books for my classroom library. But, there are also many books that I won't buy! My husband has a lot of trouble believing I reject many books when he sees our bills from the local children's bookstore, yet I know that I am very picky about the books that I add to my classroom library. Lately I have been on the lookout for new chapter books for transitional readers. No matter which grade I teach, I know I will have at least a handful of children at the transitional stage of reading in my class. . . . more Music for Literacy Leaders It's remarkable what music can do to lift the mood in a professional development workshop, get kids happily moving between activities in a classroom, or spark reflection among colleagues. Once you begin to listen to songs with an ear toward professional uses, you'll soon see surprising connections everywhere. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy May 24, 2008 The Myth of Multitasking Recently I read about a woman who was so alarmed at her absentmindedness she went to the doctor for neurological tests. She'd misplaced her cellphone, and finally found it in the freezer. The woman was relieved to learn there was nothing wrong - we all get more distracted as we age. If I was her doctor and it was this time of year, I might begin by asking the patient if she was a teacher. Because it seems like we all suffer from trying to do too many things at once in late May. . . . more Resource Round-Up: Tips for Saving Time From many tasks accomplished, we asked our Choice Literacy contributors to share just one - the way they were able to save time this year. What follows is a compilation of their best advice in different realms of literacy leadership. Perhaps there is a nugget in here that will help you prioritize and plan in the coming months.< . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy May 17, 2008 Alerting the Media News releases follow a basic, simple formula - once you master it, you can easily crank out a notice on an upcoming event. We know many of you are in the midst of end-of-year celebrations. If your school year is finished, you may be reflecting on what events might be repeated next year. As you plan to welcome families and community members to your school, don't forget to alert the media. The goodwill from positive notices on local broadcasts and in the newspaper can do a world of good when programs are being cut during lean budget times. . . . more Novels in Verse (BOOKLIST) This year several of my students got hooked on novels in verse. A novel in verse is a short novel that is told in a series of poems or verses. The books have become popular quite quickly - I have students who have read every novel in verse that is available in the classroom. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy May 10, 2008 Writing and Reading the Walls What a roller coaster this time of year can be for literacy leaders - moving from joy in documenting all that has been accomplished, to despair at low test scores, to amazement at how quickly the year has flown by. If the close of your school year seems to be careening out of control, we've got a terrific feature for you. . . . more Getting the Most Out of New Picture Books Most of the books I read aloud to my students are books that I know they will pick up and want to read on their own. I often feel like a book salesperson - finding, marketing and selling books I know will fit their reading needs. The Pigeon books are an easy sell because the author uses about 10 words or less on each page, focuses on repetition and high frequency words, and sprinkles humor throughout. Willems also incorporates various types of punctuation in his books (which is great for fluency practice). These characteristics allow younger readers to have success reading and rereading something other than a guided reading book independently. . . . more Read Our Walls: Bridging Professional Development and Student Achievement How do we connect professional development to student learning? Does it really matter that teachers change instructional practices if we can't demonstrate student achievement? These questions have been haunting me all year. . . . more What Happens Next I found my notes for "What Happens Next" in the notebook I took in January to Poetry Week in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. There, I escaped the deepening light of winter back home to rise each day at Hotel Posada de las Monjas, settle my chair in a rooftop niche in this former convent to write and study. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy May 3, 2008 Picture Perfect Last week our family had our annual vacation at the Outer Banks in North Carolina. We've stayed at the same beach house every spring for 12 years, and no matter what the weather holds, we always have a wonderful time. But for all our enjoyment each year, I've longed for one thing - to see the wild ponies which are supposed to haunt the beaches, but never show up on our stretch of sand. . . . more Reflections on Our Year of Read Aloud (BOOKLIST) Read aloud is a key time in reading workshop with my grades 3 and 4 students. We all sit in a circle on the floor, coming together as a community to share a book. Since each book takes approximately a month to read, I have to choose wisely. I have to know my students well, and choose books that will help move us forward as readers. . . . more 5th Grade Room Tour (VIDEO) 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 Going from the Known to the Unknown: Vacation Reflections on Fluency Then while sitting by the pool it dawned on me. I know and preach the good word all of the time that reading is all about making meaning. Reading is all about going from the known to the unknown, using strategies to figure out new, unfamiliar words, using the context and visual clues to help make meaning. But it has been a long time since I was in a situation where I truly had to use all of those strategies so diligently. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy April 26, 2008 Author Visits One of my most vivid memories from high school is the day an exotic woman hauling a massive file folder whisked into my sophomore English class. She was a poet, and she spent a week with us, throwing out poem after poem to read, savor, and discuss heatedly. And then we wrote. And wrote. I trace my lifelong love of writing back to that writer's visit, part of the state Poets in the Schools Program. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy April 19, 2008 Gearing Up for Summer Reading Last year when I published our "get ready for summer" newsletter in May, I got a few gentle notes from subscribers in the south letting me know I was too late - school was already out or nearly out in their region. It's hard up here in Maine to imagine summer in April, when we still have a bit of snow on the ground. Yet it's already time to prepare students for their weeks away from us, especially if we want them to get in a mindset of looking forward to thoughtful reading and writing during those lazy, restful days ahead. . . . more Books to Get Us Ready for Summer Vacation When spring finally arrives, I am always excited to find books that make the transition to summer seem so much quicker for my students and me. This year, I have found some great books to help me lose myself in the world of summer. These books are in a variety of genres that are great to read all year, but they are a special treat when summer is just around the corner. . . . more Inspiration from Author Visits: Tips and Web Resources The fifth and sixth grade students at my school were fortunate to be visited by author Stacy Hillmer. Stacy is the author of five published stories and one book, An Armadillo on My Pillow. What makes this book and Stacy so special is that Stacy is a product of our school district, and she used the talents of students from her elementary school for the illustrations. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy April 12, 2008 Time for Conversations This past week the Choice Literacy video crew was filming at a school in Dublin, Ohio, where Principal Karen Szymusiak has built a wonderful learning community among the teachers. I asked Karen to define the most important thing she does as a principal to support literacy, and she replied, "I give teachers time for conversations. I know everything is rushed, and we're expected to do so much, and that's why it's my job to carve out opportunities for everyone to chat with each other about literacy in an unhurried way." That's exactly what we saw in our two days at the school - lots of thoughtful, comfortable, and honest conversations about how children learn to read and write. . . . more Kindergarten Literacy (RESOURCE ROUND-UP) We've gathered together a number of resources published over the last two years at the site that can help kindergarten teachers develop their literacy curriculum. . . . more If Boot Camp Was Standards-Based As I move into my fourth month of fitness boot camp, I can't help but reflect on my time there so far. The initial shock to my body is past, and I now find getting up at 4:45 every morning a bit less daunting. . . . more Swimming and Learning The other day while I was swimming laps, I started thinking about Franki's boot camp article. Her experience at boot camp gave her new insight into her teaching of struggling readers. What could my mile swim reveal to me about my teaching? . . . more Free Rice: Tools for Web-Based Vocabulary Learning This is not a trick question: When is a multiple choice vocabulary test fun and motivating? The answer: A multiple choice vocabulary test is fun when it is a game on the computer that gives you harder words when you get one right and easier words when you miss one. It is a game that donates rice to the world's hungry every time you get a definition right. It's called Free Rice, and if you haven't played yet, go now and give it a try. We'll talk about classroom applications when you get back. . . . more Preschool Letter Detectives "What is a letter? A mystery." Five-year-old Gabe's response to my question stunned me. I realized from listening and observing his teacher Melissa's gentle nudging and guiding that letters are at the heart of what's being studied by these wonderful preschool students. It was obvious that letters are a primary source of meaning making for these students. . . . more Coaching in Kindergarten: Conferring (VIDEO) 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) 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 The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy March 29, 2008 Literacy Spring Cleaning So how clean is your staff refrigerator this time of year? Are there piles of paper in the work room that make you a little crazy, or coffee cups in the sink that seem to multiple overnight? No one would ever accuse me of being a tiday person, yet I find myself every spring rolling up my sleeves and cleaning out piles of clutter and dust bunnies like all those normal neat people. There is just something about this season that inspires a fresh start every year, no matter our natural inclinations. . . . more 1st Grade Room Tour (VIDEO) In this video tour of her 1st grade classroom, Katie DiCesare highlights the many areas of the room used to support literacy, including wall displays. . . . more What's the Most Beautiful Thing You Know About . . .? We've been meeting each week this spring with a group of teachers pre-K through grade 12, all of us exploring literacy teaching in our classrooms around our teacher research questions. We've all been looking closely at one student in our class that we are intrigued or wondering about. This study group activity helped us look closely at our case studies with fresh eyes. . . . more Multicultural Books for Beginning Readers "Why isn't there an African American Henry and Mudge?" asked a teacher in the audience of a session on multicultural children's literature. I reminded her of a previous slide stating that only .03% of all of children's books published during the previous year featured African Americans. She retorted, "Well, at least 50 of them should have been the 'Henry-and-Mudge-Frog-and-Toad' kind of books. Children who are just starting to read need to have books about their own kind of experiences. . . . more Middle School Library Makeover: Stacks & Recap (VIDEO) 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 Getting Started with Sentence Observations If you watched the recent video clip posted on Choice Literacy of a sentence observation in my classroom, you may have noted the sophisticated language and discussion strategies of the students. My students did not start the year with nearly that level of complexity in their language and attention to detail Getting to that point has been a year-long work in progress. In this article, I'll chronicle how we reached the point by mid-winter where students are comfortable and adept at analyzing the structure, vocabulary, and writer's craft in model sentences. . . . more Cozy Seating for Literacy Learning One thing we've learned is that the seats we are comfortable in as adults aren't always the same as our young students' preferences. Some like to sit at tables, but just as many prefer backless seating on the floor, a pile of pillows, or even a perch on a stool. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy March 15, 2008 What's Hot and What's Not The International Reading Association has published their annual spring list of "What's Hot and What's Not" in literacy education. It's always intriguing to look at the list, and compare it to previous years. The big news this year is that phonics instruction has dropped off the list for the first time in the history of the survey. . . . more Study Groups, Instant Messaging, and Writing I am so out of the loop or should I say SITD (Still In The Dark) when it comes to IM (Instant Messaging). As I sit and write, I even have a cheat sheet next to me of the "Top 50 Most Commonly Used Text Terms." This list was slipped into my mailbox by a young teacher after our last study group, when she realized just how clueless I was about the language of IM. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy March 8, 2008 Making Dreams Come True Years ago I forced myself to visit a financial planner, because I knew financial planning wasn't my strength. I saw the visit as similar to going to the dentist for a root canal - not a service I could perform myself, and certainly something I didn't look forward to. I told Mike the first time we met, "I'm not really sure why I'm here, because I love to work so I can't ever imagine retiring." His reply: "Financial planning isn't really about retiring. It's about making your dreams come true." . . . 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 Teaching Economics with Children's Literature When I began teaching, I taught my first seven years at an alternative public school. A focus for our school was to use children's literature across the curriculum to help foster integration. We had no textbooks, and found children's literature was filled with all the language, images, and content we needed for teaching reading and writing. . . . more Rethinking a Study of Nonfiction Writing I have always done a study of nonfiction as part of our year in writing workshop. This study of nonfiction writing seems critical for students in the upper elementary grades, because we know that they will need good nonfiction writing skills throughout their schooling and lives. In our district, writing literary nonfiction is a focus unit for our fourth graders . . . more More Teaching Metaphors Recently there have been a slew of articles published at Choice Literacy focused on teaching metaphors. Bread-baking, wood-working, and piano playing were all conversation starters, drawing out-of-school passions into our understanding of our teaching lives. I continual to draw parallels between my learning and that of students and colleagues. Specifically, I have been paying attention to what literacy lessons I can learn when I approach something that is difficult for me. . . . 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) 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 Letters in the Middle School Classroom After I had moved Marissa to a new seat in the classroom for the third day in a row, she finally stopped talking during my mini-lesson, and I saw her bent over her binder scribbling something furiously. The rest of the class was working on writing, and I tried to casually wander over to her. The words "third period is GAY" glared out at me. I sat beside her and attempted to talk, and ended up with a muttered apology regarding her offensive language. However, I realized we weren't making much progress, in part because I could tell we were both still seething. The bell rang soon after, and I spent the rest of the day telling myself I was the Worst Teacher Ever. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy March 1, 2008 Talking Too Much This week I rounded up suggestions from Choice Literacy contributors about the best ways to deal with colleagues who talk too much in professional settings. I received almost two dozen ideas, with quite a bit of variety in them. The range of suggestions shows what a big problem peers who talk too much can be in schools - if there was one thing that worked all the time, we'd certainly be using it to rein in the overtalkers. . . . more Conversation Turns: Recordkeeping and Analysis Tool One of the best ways I've found to deal with colleagues or students who talk too much during group discussions is to give them a task. I've found keeping a record of the conversation to be useful - not only for dealing with the problem of fair distribution of talk, but for tracking and assessing the quality of our conversations. . . . more 4th Grade Room Tour (VIDEO) 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) 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 Literacy Coach Confidential: My Colleague Talks Too Much! I lead professional development workshops and study groups at my school, and we have a new faculty member who is such a talker -- she's pleasant and bright, but so dominant I've begun to dread our faculty meetings. Attendance is down this year at study groups (they are voluntary, not required), and I know the lack of balance in conversations is a big part of it. Do you have any tactful suggestions of ways to get her to listen more and talk less? . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy February 23, 2008 Life in Six Words or Less Are you looking for a fun icebreaker activity for a staff meeting, or a way to mix it up in writing workshop with students during the winter doldrums? How about one-sentence life stories? . . . 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 Assessing Spelling in Writing Workshop Part 3: Embedding Instruction I recently came up with a form that would help me record information about my students and how they are spelling high frequency words, sounds and patterns in words. This form has helped me discover patterns I am noticing in individuals, groups of students, and my class as a whole. In this third part of my series on using this new assessment form, I'll explain how I am using the information I have gathered about my students to help me plan for instruction. My goal is to embed spelling instruction and address specific spelling confusions students have within reading and writing workshop routines already in place in my classroom. . . . more On the Lookout: Considering Study Group Topics for Next Year You may be thinking that we are in the arctic freeze of winter (at least we are in Maine), so how could I possibly be thinking of study groups for next year? I agree that it is too early to set up study groups for the 2008/2009 year, but it is never too early to be scoping out and sifting through the latest resources. . . . more Connecting Language and Hope: A Study Group Activity For the past three months, a group of teachers and I have been exploring words in our classrooms. To help us clarify how language affects us, some teachers listened to the language of their students in both academic and social situations. Other teachers studied their own spoken language as an entrance into the words of the classroom. . . . more Forming Teams to Help Struggling Readers: A Pilot Project (TEMPLATES) For a teacher, a struggling learner makes you feel like you are planning a solo assault on Mt. Everest. Working with at-risk students is layered with complicated challenges that are beyond our control. Watching a child who is unsuccessful year after year leaves you pausing like a climber clinging to the side of a boulder questioning every move and hand hold. This child consumes your professional conversations with your closest colleagues. We all know the scenario as you pass one another in the hall: "How is ___ doing? What are you thinking about as you watch him read?" . . . more Listing Strategy: Conferring (VIDEO) 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 The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy February 9, 2008 What It's Like Years ago, a teaching colleague described her most challenging high school English class - filled with moody students who could carry on delightful conversations or be mulishly silent depending o . . . more Root Metaphors for Teaching: Learning from our Passions To me, "breaking bread" together is the essence of community. The genuine conversations, the fond chat, the playful banter, that occur as people talk and eat seem to create different bonds. I love the word "companion" because it derives from the phrase "com pan" or "with bread," reflecting how we become friends as we share simple food together. When I'm baking bread or cooking for my students or family, I purposely slow down, and I'm very mindful and intentional about my creations. But until now, I haven't used the baking itself as a metaphor for my teaching. What skills and insights can I bring to my teaching that derive from the world of cooking? . . . more Teaching Themes Through Keywords I have a friend who is a whiz at online dating. It turns out, you can go to these various websites and put in a 'keyword' and out pops Romeo! So if you love to read, you type in the word read or books and a catalog of men who actually claim to read pops up. Interesting. . . . more Assessing Spelling in Writing Workshop Part 2: Noticing Patterns in Individuals, Small Groups and the Whole Group Regie's insight into assessment has raised questions in my own teaching about spelling and word study. Recently, I created a form that would help me assess spelling within authentic writing. I created this form in response to questions like . . . how can looking at student's authentic writing help me further their learning of words? How can I assess what high frequency words they are using successfully or confusing in their writing? How can I monitor where to go next by looking at word parts and sounds in words? By using this form, I was able to collect specific information about each of the writers in my room. As I looked at the assessments, I began to see patterns in my writers. Here is what I noticed . . . more Ode to a Sweet Snowy Day for Two One evening W. D. Snodgrass, now in his eighties and living in San Miguel, took the stage at the Bellas Artes, a governmental cultural center. At one point he invited his wife Kathy to join him in a reading for two voices. She bounced up the stairs and took her place beside him. They smiled at each other and corrected their stances so that their feet were firm, their bodies tilted slightly toward one another, their heads just near enough to catch each other's energy, not to invade. They adjusted their books to the light and placed their hands gently to support the page. He nodded. Ready. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy February 2, 2008 The Great Equalizer Short text has always been the great equalizer in reading and writing workshops. Brief passages of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry can be read by a class together in just a few minutes, or read aloud so that even students who struggle with decoding have the same access to the text as their classmates. Short texts build classroom community, because the passages shared over time become anchors or touchstones for learning that can be returned to again and again. . . . 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 Middle School Readers at Mid-Year (SURVEY TEMPLATE) It is like clockwork that at this point in the school year I start to have a mid-year crisis of sorts. I freak out. I think about how much time has gone by and how much more my kids need to learn. I start to think of all the instructional time I have wasted and really start to wonder "have my students learned anything at all this year?!" This year, as I was contemplating what has been taught, and where to take my reading instruction, what I was really wondering is what my students have gained so far this year. Are they more competent readers? Do they know what strategies to use when they get stuck? Are they taking anything away from the lessons I teach? And most importantly, do they enjoy reading more? I was feeling unsure. . . . more Mentor Texts and Teacher Modeling: The Listing Strategy (VIDEO) 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 The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy January 26, 2008 The Elevator Pitch We're in the midst of budget season in schools, as administrators crunch numbers and everyone makes funding requests that will start cycling their way through committees and school boards. If your position or a favorite literacy project may end up in the red zone for possible elimination, it might be time to craft an "elevator pitch." . . . more Beyond Matt Christopher (BOOKLIST) Thank goodness for Matt Christopher! I can't imagine how many boys are avid readers because of his books. Every year, I have readers, mostly boys, who become obsessed with reading the great sports novels by this author. Over the last several years, I have tried to find books by other authors that these same readers could enjoy--books to stretch their lives as readers, building on their love of sports reading. I have watched these readers over the years, and eventually, they decide to move on from Matt Christopher. But they never give up Matt Christopher completely. Instead, they read sports books in other genres and by other authors, always going back to a Matt Christoper title now and then. . . . more Assessing Spelling in Writing Workshops Part 1: Thinking through the Assessment My mind has been circling the issue of spelling and word study this year. Specifically, I wonder how I can look at my students' writing to help me further their learning of words? How can I assess what high frequency words they are spelling correctly? How can I monitor where to go next with looking at word parts and sounds in words? After lugging home 22 bright red and overflowing writing workshop folders with two months' worth of student writing in them over holiday break, the folders just sat in a pile. Instead of diving in their stories, I knew I needed to have some organizational tool that could help me record and look back at individual spelling successes and confusions. . . . more Finding the Hook: Using Newspapers to Connect to High School Texts One of our struggles has been to make explicit connections from the classroom curriculum themes and topics to the contemporary world and what interests our students. I decided to organize a workshop for the teachers to do some curriculum planning together, helping each other search for those links and make real connections for our students. . . . 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 Rethinking Writing Centers - Winter Follow-Up During the 2006-2007 school year, I began a conversation with the literacy coaches in our network about classroom writing centers. I had noticed that most students were distracted by all of the "cool tools" in the writing centers and were doing very little, if any, actual writing. After a couple of brainstorming sessions with the coaches, we settled upon a two-pronged approach. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy January 19, 2008 Learning From Struggles We're two weeks into the new year - did you resolve to lose weight or exercise more? How is that working out for you? In The Daily 5, Gail Boushey shares the story of meeting with a trainer for the first time after the birth of her daughter in order to lose weight and get into better shape. The trainer immediately put Gail on a treadmill at a fast pace and left Gail alone. After 10 minutes, Gail found herself gasping for breath, unable to continue. She quietly exited the gym, never to return again to meet with that trainer. . . . more Middle School Classroom Makeover Part III (VIDEO) 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 Teaching Economics Through Children's Literature When I began teaching, I taught my first seven years at an alternative public school. A focus for our school was to use children's literature across the curriculum to help foster integration. We had no textbooks, and found children's literature was filled with all the language, images, and content we needed for teaching reading and writing. . . . more Fitness Boot Camp Helps Me Understand Struggling Readers Reflecting on the first week of fitness boot camp, I am realizing some things about how and when reading workshop works for all students--especially for those who struggle. I have been more patient with some of my students' behaviors during this time as I reflect on my own feelings and behaviors in the midst of boot camp. Here is what I've learned that I hope impacts the way I teach my own students. . . . more Cartwheels, Backward Rolls, and Literacy Coaching Just as in gymnastics, the new teachers that I work with have needed less direct support from me over time. I find that I am still providing teachers in their third and fourth year of teaching with support - it just looks different than it did during that crucial first year. I am no longer in many of their classrooms on a weekly basis, nor do we have set meeting dates. As a literacy leader, I try to be there when they need me, but also give them space to grow as individuals. . . . more Team Sharing of Writing Curriculum Innovations (TEMPLATE) Literacy coaches know that the most successful staff development provides lots of time for colleagues to share their teaching stories, questions, and ideas. Hearing what is happening in the classrooms down the hall or across town is generative--and prompts creative leaps to enliven our own inquiries and curricula. The January doldrums can be swept aside for fresh ideas. . . . more Change Quote Collection If you want to truly understand something, try to change it. Kurt Lewin . . . more Enhance Your Classroom Poetry Collection: Great New Titles I have found that a good poetry collection supports students' literacy in a variety of ways. When shopping, I look for books that have poems that would be fun to read aloud, poems with great language, poems that will allow us to study poet's craft, and more. The fun in poetry shopping is that I am never sure what I might find! Because we read poetry each Friday morning, my students are always excited about new poetry books. Here are some of this year's poetry purchases . . . more Middle School Classroom Makeover Part II (VIDEO) In this second of a three-part series featuring a middle school classroom makeover, The Sisters (Joan Moser and Gail Boushey) help Erin rearrange her classroom library and media cart area to create a more inviting space for her 7th grade students. . . . more Middle School Classroom Makeover Part I (VIDEO) 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 Staying True to Our Beliefs When Working With Struggling Readers and Writers in Grades 3-6 I often find myself wondering how my knowledge about quality reading instruction plays out for my most struggling students. To keep myself true to my beliefs so that these students can make great progress, I think through the four things that hold true for all students and consider how they apply to struggling readers in my grades 3-4 classroom. . . . more I Believe . . . Some Thoughts on Marathons and Sustained Professional Development in Schools I believe that professional learning communities such as teacher study groups are the key to sustainable instructional change. When teachers are given on-going opportunities over time to explore new ideas and time to process thinking among supportive colleagues sustainable change will occur. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy December 15, 2007 Why We Love Lists One of the best gifts you can give the colleagues you assist is advice on what needs to be done, and when, for a big deadline that looms a month or two down the road. Veteran teachers may not need the help, but novice teachers often really appreciate the concrete simplicity of a good checklist. . . . more Wall Displays (PHOTO ESSAY) As the years have passed, we've also tried to make our classrooms more ecologically friendly. Keeping the same background paper and borders throughout the year is much less wasteful than continually changing backgrounds. The eye needs a place to rest when viewing items on the walls, which is another reason to keep backgrounds simple, and to leave space around any items within displays. . . . more Technological Innovations in Books: Good or Bad Idea? "I found the perfect Christmas present for Mom," said my son's voice from the cell phone. My daughter immediately got up and took the cell phone into another room. But not before I heard him say, "It is a way for her to take 200 books with her wherever she goes. It's called a Kindle." Take 200 books with me wherever I go? Why would I ever want to carry around so many books? What could it possibly be -- some kind of monster suitcase on wheels? . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy December 8, 2007 Planning Ahead It has been a wild week of weather for our subscribers in North America. I hope most of our readers in the Pacific Northwest missed the floods, our Midwesterners are de-iced, and here in Northern New England, everyone is dug out from the 18 inches of snow. At this time of year, that amount of snow is so near normal in Maine we'll have trouble remembering it in a few weeks. The storm everyone still talks about, even ten years after it hit, is the Great Ice Storm of January 1998. . . . more The Big Fresh from Choice Literacy December 1, 2007 Listen Up A friend of mine had a problem. She was a principal at a small school ready to hire a new teacher. The hiring committee sent two names to her, each candidate fully qualified for the position. The committee asked her to choose, since the candidates had different strengths that were equally valuable and needed on staff. . . . more Collecting Literacy Stories Icebreaker (PRINT DOWNLOAD) Our literacy teachers have responsibilities for small-group literacy intervention as well as support to teachers through in-class co-teaching/modeling lessons and monthly professional development meetings. You will see that the prompts are structured to touch on many aspects of the role. You can download the template for the activity at this link . . . more Rule of 3, Part II: Mini-Group After Whole-Class Lesson (VIDEO) 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 Creating Structures to Sustain Our Work I wish I could bottle the inspiration I felt after listening to Bruce Morgan, Debbie Miller, and Ellin Keene at a recent NCTE presentation. They spoke about professional learning experiences that are successful and promote sustainability. Bruce and Debbie agreed that in their experience as classroom teachers, the most powerful professional development experiences were those in which they have had opportunities to reflect on and talk about their instructional practices with colleagues. Ellin Keene shared that the professional learning experiences that are most successful have a "spirit of experimentation." . . . more More