To boil “theme” down into a testable statement is to compress the wild, wonderful world of literature into a parking meter. This is far less than useful to our students, especially in our fraught and confusing times – and it is far less than they deserve, writes teacher Dina Strasser.
When teachers apply “translanguaging” in class, write Larry Ferlazzo and Katie Hull Sypnieski, they’re using a student’s home language as a scaffold to help them achieve English language acquisition and to learn academic content they might not be able to access yet in English.
We can build math confidence in intermediate students, writes 5th grade teacher Kathie Palmieri. It’s a gradual process that requires patience, encouragement, a supportive environment, and effective teaching strategies that break down complex concepts and foster a growth mindset.
Arab American Heritage Month / Resources
by Susan Curtis · Published 03/22/2025 · Last modified 04/14/2025
During Arab American Heritage Month students explore the diversity within the Arab community, its members’ contributions to the United States, and the discrimination many Arab Americans have faced in the 21st century. This resource collection can help with the exploration.
A Sentence a Day is a powerful, engaging resource for writing instruction that goes beyond typical grammar and sentence-writing exercises. The 20-minute mini-lessons help students develop stronger writing skills with clarity, precision, and creativity, says Kathie Palmieri.
Communication, adaptability, and problem-solving are among the “soft” social-emotional skills that are behind-the-scenes champs of the learning process. Literacy interventionist Kelly Owens shares 10 ways she is weaving the “intangibles” employers prize into existing lessons.
By revealing and humanizing stories from the past, historical fiction fosters curiosity, inspires empathy, stimulates critical thinking, and helps develop understanding of complex issues. Kasey Short shares questions, activities and titles to help students benefit from the genre.
Working with kids in the middle grades has never been harder. We can’t do it alone. Building trust between parents and teachers is crucial, writes middle level leader Jody Passanisi. “When there’s trust, we can work together to support kids through challenges and successes.”
In Teaching Reading Across the Day, Jennifer Serravallo’s blend of theory, research and engaging, explicit practice offers a roadmap for creating a classroom where reading is a central, dynamic component of the learning experience across subject areas, writes Melinda Stewart.
When students learn to both regulate their emotions and apply executive function strategies, they become more engaged learners who are better at managing stress, staying focused, and solving problems. Marilee Sprenger shows how SEL and EF work together in various subject areas.
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