Teaching and learning in grades 4-8

The Messy Business of Gradual Release (GRR)

Letting Go Is Messy will explore ins and outs of gradually releasing responsibility. Join literacy coaches Sunday Cummins and Julie Webb as they blog about strategies to help teachers make the critical decisions necessary to nurture each student’s sense of agency and identity.

Empowering Our Kids to Motivate Themselves

Because motivation is intrinsic, the two words Debbie Silver finds essential are ‘Empower Them.’ The teaching coach and bestselling author shares ways to help students grow into self-directed learners, using constructive feedback as the tool to help them see their growth.

Reclaiming the Power of Writer’s Notebooks

A writer’s notebook is a place to write down what you notice and don’t want to forget; a place to record your ideas and reactions to things. Most of all, it’s a place for students to take what they’ve learned in class and make it their own. It’s a place to live like a writer.

Center Your Students with Literacy Workshop

From a drawing to a book, Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Tucker trace a 5th grader’s growing creativity, curiosity and individuality. Discover their innovative ways to streamline literacy instruction while offering students opportunities to follow individualized learning paths.

Reimagining Teaching as We Lead Literate Lives

In her book Stephanie Affinito brings together the importance of reflection and the need to examine our classroom practices. She provides a framework for celebrating our reading and writing lives and offers ways we can help our students develop these habits for themselves.