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…
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…
10 Benefits of the Interactive Read Aloud
Ah, the interactive read aloud. It’s often one of the things we all remember most about our own elementary school days. And they overflow with teaching possibilities. In her book…
Why Wordless Books are Full of Powerful Teaching Possibilities
I love a good book picture, maybe even more than most people. They are beautiful for teaching! The words evoke such strong images, feelings, and mood. Whether learning about the…
Accessible Text Made Easy
Here’s a conundrum. It’s pretty common to have a huge range of student need in every classroom. There are kids who don’t or just barely speak English, kids who might…