Back to school time is full of fun, excitement, and nerves for students, parents and teachers. We all get a little bit of the jitters! The beginning of the year is a wonderful time to establish warm and connected relationships with the families of your students. I was surprised to recently read in a social media group I am part of that teachers were encouraging each other to have the least amount of communication as possible with parents because it was easier. I was so disheartened, but I just know if teachers and parents both want the best for children, […]
21 Basic Literacy Terms Every Teacher Needs to Know : Free Printable Guide
With the rise of the Science of Reading and the increased testing in many states for new teachers, reading terminology is as important as ever. These important words are like a vocabulary bank for teachers and the knowledge and use of them can help you to: *Communicate effectively with colleagues about students and programs *Identify components of your literacy instruction *Report on student progress and goals on reports, 504s & IEPs *Understand the research surrounding early literacy *Help you to pass tests for educators Here are 21 Literacy Based Terms You Should Know If you want a handy dandy printable […]
How to Plan for Small Group Reading Instruction : An Easy to Follow Formula
At the start of the school year there seem to be so many assessments. It feels like a relief when your students are ready for small group instruction. I remember my very first year teaching wondering what in the world I was supposed to do during that time. My school district used a guided reading approach, but I noticed that many teachers spent an entire session doing picture walks and guessing about what was happening in the story. I also noticed that there was very little phonics instruction during the reading process. I had a feeling I could organize my […]