Why You Need to Stop Overdosing on Whole Group

Most of us that were educated since the 1970’s (yes, I am that old!) remember sitting in a classroom with the teacher at the board (with chalk), and we dutifully followed along page-by-page, problem-by-problem. We can also remember classrooms where we really didn’t follow along…we passed notes, doodled, and talked. Times in classrooms have not…

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Math Talk

From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I presented my kindergartners with an interesting math challenge this week. After dividing the young mathematicians into small groups, each team was presented with several problems to solve. Here was their first scenario: You are now party planners with an important task. Each team of planners…

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Breathe In – Breathe Out

“Reading is like breathing in. Writing is like breathing out.”   – Pam Allyn From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “If you can say it, you can write it. If you can write it, you can read it.”   I don’t know who first uttered those words, but they have become a mantra in…

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Retelling – Another Tool for the Reader's Toolbox

From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . Each day we are on a quest – a quest to build readers.  We want our growing learners to know that reading is so much more than simply calling words with lyrical expression.  The purpose of reading is to gain meaning and a strategic way to…

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Are You a Logophile?

From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I am a logophile – a lover of words. I marvel at those who possess the quick verbal gifts of wit and wisdom. Alas, as much as I love words, I am not one with that lyrical gift. That’s why I love to soak in the literary…

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A Tool for Your Comprehension Toolbox

      From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “If the motorcycle was huge, it was nothing to the man sitting astride it. He was twice as tall as a normal man and at least five times as wide. He looked simply too big to be allowed . . .”   Can’t you…

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Modeling Questioning – Building Understanding

“Without questions, there is no learning.” – W. Edwards Deming Strolling through a book store examining the covers of picture books gives me great pleasure.  As a visual learner – the pictures do paint thousands of words – and they also spark a little self-talk.  Would this be a good fit book for my kindergartners?  Can…

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Snow Day Joy

  Children have built in radar when it comes to snow.  Just the mention of that frosty “S-word” seems to create an energetic burst to bodies and brains.  Actually, I have to admit that I am still filled with joy when I hear the words “snow day” too.  So, let’s channel that flurry of excitement…

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The Reading Journey

“Everyone is a reader…Some just haven’t found their best route yet.” – unknown During a recent reading association meeting I was met with some interesting reading statistics:  “Reading scientists” predict that 95% of students can be taught to read accurately and fluently.  If this is true, how do we help our struggling readers in their journey to becoming successful…

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