I wrote this six part equity series to better understand the inequities surrounding the ways in which we teach and assess reading and writing skills in the United States. I wanted to know more. Not only that, I wanted to find practical solutions for the problems all teachers (not just English teachers) face, such as: A lack of understanding about how to teach reading and writing effectively and with equity in mindThe immense challenge of helping 30+ students with many differing needsStudents … [Read more...] about Rethinking Elementary and Secondary Reading Instruction and Assessment with Equity in Mind
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Rethinking Reading Workshop with Equity in Mind
In this six part series I will outline exactly how I’m rethinking my workshop classroom with an equity lens. Check out part 1 about rethinking writing workshop here. Before getting started with part two about rethinking reading workshop, we need to define workshop and we need to define equity. Here is my very brief definition of both…Workshop- a method of teaching that empowers students to become readers and writers in and outside of the classroom. This method of teaching involves a system … [Read more...] about Rethinking Reading Workshop with Equity in Mind
When you find out you’ve been teaching wrong…
What are best teaching practices? Have you ever questioned your beliefs? When you begin questioning your beliefs, it is referred to as a paradigm shift.Stephen Covey, the author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People describes in detail what a paradigm shift is. In his book, he says...“Belief is another word for paradigm. It's a synonym. Your belief of the way things are”. -Stephen CoveyWe all have many beliefs when it comes to best teaching practices. These beliefs come from the training we’ve … [Read more...] about When you find out you’ve been teaching wrong…
15 Ways to Engage Students in Meaningful Discussions in Person and Online
There are so many discussion tech tools available to teachers these days! Parlay, Jamboard, Back Channel, Voxer and even Google Slides and Docs can be used to facilitate discussions among students virtually. But, what always gets me thinking is...these tools are great, but how do we get students to actually have meaningful conversations with each other? You know what I’m talking about, a real conversation...not the fake kind, where everyone is trying to compete to impress the teacher and … [Read more...] about 15 Ways to Engage Students in Meaningful Discussions in Person and Online
My Best Tips for Managing a Book Club Unit
Managing a book club unit is tough! Some teachers may feel so overwhelmed by all the moving pieces that they avoid book clubs altogether. This is completely understandable. During a book club unit, students are reading different books, analyzing a wide range of literary elements and many discussions are happening all at the same time. Some students may struggle to understand the book, some may zoom past their group and finish their book early. How do we manage all of this? In the latest … [Read more...] about My Best Tips for Managing a Book Club Unit
Whole Class Novels Reading Workshop Style
English teachers struggle to fit it all in. We want to teach the novels we love while also allowing the freedom and choice that reading workshop provides. Can we do both? Yes! Keep reading to find out how... First a bit of background about my interpretation of what reading workshop and whole class novel teaching looks like: A Reading Workshop System Looks Like... If you are implementing reading workshop, students choose the books they want to read the majority of the time. … [Read more...] about Whole Class Novels Reading Workshop Style
A Valentine Freebie: Identify Themes in Literature
Teaching students how to identify themes in literature can be challenging! It takes a lot of abstract thought which students may not even be capable of yet. Why not use the Valentine's Day holiday to your advantage? Often, themes in literature involve relationships, and what better time to reveal this to students than on Valentine's Day?!?! In this lesson students will have the opportunity to discuss their favorite books and movies. Students will then identify the friendships that exist … [Read more...] about A Valentine Freebie: Identify Themes in Literature
How I Teach Reading & Writing Workshop in 54 Minutes
Writing and reading workshop are powerful methods to teach English. But, how can secondary teachers, who have less than an hour with their students, do it all?!?! I think I have found the solution! Here are the two different schedule options depending on if you are in a reading or a writing unit. In this article, I'll walk you through the writing unit schedule. Read about the reading unit schedule here. 10 Minutes: Reading Students walk into the … [Read more...] about How I Teach Reading & Writing Workshop in 54 Minutes