Reading Motivation Matters [But Is Often Ignored]
The resurgence of the science of reading as a movement has brought forth some very important reminders. Some of those reminders are seen everywhere, like the importance of teaching phonics…
Peer Feedback Made Easy: Boost Writing Quality and Lighten Your Load
Conferring with students during writing is a critical piece of strong writing instruction. As Susan Brookhart says in her book How to Give Effective Feedback to Your Students, “Feedback can…
Sound Walls in the Classroom: A Popular Misstep?
Sound walls are cumbersome and impractical. They are not worth the wall space they take up.
Breaking Down Author’s Purpose: It’s Not as Easy as PIE
It’s time to talk about pie. Not the calorie-laden deliciousness that I will be serving (and eating) on Thanksgiving, but PIE, as in author’s purpose. Let’s talk about why the…
Step Back to Improve Independent Writing
There are so many reasons our kids don’t want to write. At the foundational level, when handwriting and spelling skills are weak, kids’ ability and confidence in writing will be…