4/23/2018
Assign Student Researchers as Teachers

Adapted from  Energize Research Reading and Writing  by Christopher Lehman. What do great nonfiction writers—people such as Carl Sagan, Stephen Hawking, and Seymour Simon—have in common? It is... more

4/20/2018
Establish Relevance for Stem Instruction

Adapted from  STEM Lesson Essentials ,  by Jo Anne Vasquez, Cary Sneider, and Michael Comer.   It is not always apparent to students how or when new learning will be applicable. An interdisciplinary... more

4/19/2018
Determining Student Reading Habits

Adapted from  180 Days   by Kelly Gallagher and Penny Kittle.   In our first round of reading conferences, we focus on getting to know our students’ reading habits. We are always pleased when we... more

4/18/2018
See the Importance of Getting Words on a Page

Excerpted from  Read Write Teach  by Linda Rief.   Given choices, kids will write about things they care deeply about. You should allow them those choices, but not in a void. Many kids need something... more

4/17/2018
Discover Powerful Close Reading Instruction

Adapted from  Falling in Love with Close Reading  by Christopher Lehman & Kate Roberts. Close reading is something you should teach students to do, rather than something you just do to them. Close... more

4/16/2018
Honor Students’ Natural Curiosities

Adapted from  Upstanders   by Harvey “Smokey” Daniels & Sara Ahmed. Mini-inquiries are short investigations of simple topics posed by either kids or teachers. They typically take from a few minutes... more

4/13/2018
Construct Powerful Interpretations by Teaching Students How to Journey Through the Process

Adapted from  Teaching Interpretation  by Sonja Cherry-Paul and Dana Johansen.   To demystify the process of interpretation for teachers and students, try using an interpretation framework: 1.... more