This is an excerpt from an article by Tim Shanahan . Dr. Shanahan is an internationally recognized professor of urban education and reading researcher who has extensive experience with children in inner-city schools and children with special needs. Read his blog Shanahan on Literacy. 1. Teaching reading will only help. Sometimes, parents are told early…
Category: Teaching and Learning
Poetry Thoughts: What Do Students Think?
Welcome to this new series. Poetry thoughts will have excerpts, revisions and ideas from and about my dissertation. Let’s begin with an excerpt: CHAPTER I THE RESEARCH OBJECTIVE Mother’s Day My beautiful mother’s face Flowery perfume on her skin Laughter and happiness Fresh baked cookies made just for her My mom’s warm hug brings me…
First Little Readers Parent Pack: Guided Reading Level A: 25 Irresistible Books That Are Just the Right Level for Beginning Readers
Today’s educators seek to provide an evidence-based, balanced early literacy program that includes a strong foundation in word study strategies, including phonemic awareness and phonics. At the same time, they understand the ultimate goal of early literacy instruction is to provide young children with a solid foundation toward competent readers and writers, capable of comprehending…
How to Write a Descriptive Essay
What is a descriptive essay? The descriptive essay is a genre of essay that asks the student to describe something—object, person, place, experience, emotion, situation, etc., according to Purdue University. Create reader interest with a catchy introduction, reads page 167 of Writing With Power by Perfection Learning. The text suggests that you try out several…
Why Understanding Student Trauma is More Important Than Teaching “Grit”
I was reminded of this conversation during a recent presentation by Tyrone C. Howard on how student culture affects learning. Howard, the associate dean for equity and inclusion at UCLA, provided a reality check to the heavy investment in skills such as grit that might help more students succeed. … writes Aisha Sultan in the…
Deepening Connections with Young Readers Online
by Michael Strickland Deepening my connection with students and creating community is a topic to which I give a lot of thought. Unlike face-to-face classrooms, online classrooms have greater potential to feel cold mechanical. That is why I spend Initiating and encouraging discussions. I make frequent use of the chatbox to encourage participation, much like…
A Violent Time in the Fight for Civil Rights
“For readers new to the subject, the biographies will be a vivid, informative introduction, but even those who have some familiarity with the landmark events will learn much more here. . . . A penetrating look at elemental national history.” –Booklist How were you taught the Civil Rights movement? Teachers, how do you teach it?…
Teaching English Language Learners: Across the Content Areas
English language learners (ELLs) often face the difficult challenge of learning both a new language and new subject matter at the same time. In Teaching English Language Learners Across the Content Areas, Judie Haynes and Debbie Zacarian offer strategies, tools, and tips that teachers can use to help ELLs at all levels flourish in mainstream…
VIDEO: Learn to Publish for Kids with “Writing for Children, Season One”
Using colorful graphics, clear explanations and examples, and plenty of humor, the mysteries of writing unfold in Writing for Children. From brainstorming to proofreading, viewers will discover how good writing makes words work! Grades K-4. Click here to watch the video. Here are some further ideas. Writing for children means thinking about your own past,…
Strategies for Teaching Reading
How can you prepare every student for reading success?Reading strategies are explicit, planned actions that help translate the printed word into sounds and meaning. Reading skills benefit every kind of student, but they are essential for emerging readers, struggling readers, English Language Learners, and students with learning challenges, according to Reading Horizons. Here are some of…
Young People's Pavilion 