Every principal has dealt with unhappy or angry parents and guardians. Many family members simply have a concern and want to share it with someone they believe can resolve the problem. Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn offer ways to calm waters and get to solutions.
Teacher Marketplaces / Teaching with a View
by Brent Gilson · Published 10/30/2019 · Last modified 02/12/2021
Online teacher marketplaces may seem harmless, but when sellers offer materials that violate copyrights and ignore intellectual property rights of original creators, they set a poor example for kids and the profession, says teacher Brent Gilson, a “reformed” TPT vendor.
Assessing ELs / The Unstoppable ML Teacher
by Valentina Gonzalez · Published 10/27/2019 · Last modified 12/14/2019
Teachers need to learn what our students know and understand, but assessment can be difficult if language is a barrier for English learners. EL specialist Valentina Gonzalez offers tips to recognize unconscious bias, support learning with formative assessment, and more.
Close Reading the Media / Political Ads
by Frank Baker · Published 10/21/2019 · Last modified 11/14/2019
We know political advertising persuades and influences. When we use campaign ads in instruction and guide students through the analysis and deconstruction process, writes media literacy expert Frank Baker, we’re helping them become better critical thinkers and viewers.
International Mindedness / Wide Open Learning
by Megan Kelly · Published 10/20/2019 · Last modified 11/24/2019
When Megan Kelly asked her students to paste sticky notes on a world map to show the setting of YA novels they were reading for pleasure, she quickly saw she needed to diversify her classroom library. See her list of 19 recommended “adds” and share your own favorites!
Who needs Working Hard, Working Happy? Happy teachers! They will feel validated when they recognize many favorite practices. Unhappy teachers! They can nurture a culture of joy in their classrooms with the practical strategies Rita Platt offers, writes Anne Anderson.
To ensure all your students benefit from frequent reading conferences, it’s important to keep them short, focused and effective. Author and literacy consultant Jen Serravallo shares 7 tips for being efficient with your time without sacrificing impact or feeling rushed.
Notice and Note / Teaching with a View
by Brent Gilson · Published 10/02/2019 · Last modified 01/19/2024
The Notice and Note reading strategies “changed my life as an educator,” writes Brent Gilson in a post he unabashedly describes as a “love letter” to Kylene Beers and Bob Probst. You’ll understand his passion when you learn how he integrates the 6 Signposts into lessons.
ELs are capable of doing the same kind of thinking that non-ELs can do. They might just have to temporarily show their understanding differently than their peers do. EL teacher Tan Huyhn shows how teachers can focus on the ELs’ thinking and differentiate everything else.
Class environment, student attitude toward writing, student choice, and teachers who write with kids are overarching themes that help to make Welcome to Writing Workshop a good resource for creating a productive writing program, says 5th grade teacher Kathleen Palmieri.
