This chart was created when working with eighth graders. Students were preparing to take a state exam and needed to respond to an isolated writing prompt. Many of the students had great points to support their claims, but lacked organization and elaboration. Why a Bookmark? This chart is called a bookmark because after instruction I always type up smaller versions… Read more →
I have not kept up my end of the bargain to blog more! I have been busy in classrooms and finishing my latest book. This book is so special to me that it has been all consuming. I want to thank all of the teachers across the nation who have let me come into their classrooms, train them, and learn… Read more →
This fun chart can be the foundation for students in each grade level. The anchor standard explicitly states that students should analyze how and why individuals, events, and ideas develop and interact over the course of a text. At first glance this seems simple. The problem is that, after reading a text, many students struggle to even define or classify… Read more →
Yesterday, I posted about the different types of text features that students will explore under standard 5. Today, I want to share a lesson that I like to do when digging a bit deeper into text structures with elementary school students. I hope it is useful! As always, I have included the anchor chart that we made with this lesson…. Read more →
Hi guys! I am finally here in Nevada for NCTE’s annual conference. It is a busy place, with a lot going on. My session is actually a featured session. It is called Twitter and Social Media for Igniting Professional Learning Connections. You can read about the session by clicking here: You can also search the program from this same link… Read more →
As I plan to teach a new class in the fall, Multicultural Literature, I have been assessing the available resources as I develop my syllabus. I have to admit the pickings are slim–or so I thought. With the adoption of the Common Core Standards, there is a greater emphasis on informational and nonfiction writings. The amount of literature that explores… Read more →
So, you are ready to take the dive into the online media world? Maybe you are a journalism adviser, a teacher looking to communicate with your own blog, or just managing your club or associations web site. Either way, you have done your research and know that Word Press is the only way to go. Now that you are up… Read more →
On Monday, April 25, Storify was officially launched. Storify is a platform that let users grab social media content from different places and weave into a new piece, with the media highlighted within the body of the new text. In Beta for several very public months, the launch was well received. Storify Collects Strands of News on the Social WebSAN… Read more →
