writing
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Bite-Sized PD for Secondary ELA
My department is tiny. There are only ten of us for grades 6-12. We meet pretty regularly though and I love it. Every time that we meet, we do a little bite-sized PD organized by one of us. This month is my turn to present and I’m really excited about. I’m leading a quick 15–20 Continue reading
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Writing to Boost Reading Comprehension
When we think about the Science of Reading, writing doesn’t always come to mind first. But the truth is, writing plays a powerful role in strengthening students’ comprehension—especially when aligned to the same levels we address in Scarborough’s Reading Rope: word recognition and language comprehension. Scarborough’s Reading Rope reminds us that reading comprehension is a Continue reading
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Top Paragraph Activities for Engaging Students and Building Comprehension
We’re almost at the end of this blog series! We’ve discussed word level comprehension, sentence level decoding and now we’re looking at whole paragraphs. Understanding how paragraphs, or small parts of a text, work together is essential for reading comprehension. Strong topic sentences, logical paragraph order, and effective transition words guide readers through an author’s Continue reading
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Teaching Sentence-Level Decoding in the Context of Texts: Engaging Activities for Middle and High School Teachers
When teaching middle and high school students, one of the most crucial skills for reading comprehension… but one that gets eliminated or skimmed over waaaaaaay toooooooo often, is sentence-level decoding. Usually, when we hear the word decoding, we automatically think of decoding words and assume that it is an elementary level skill that we don’t Continue reading
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It seems too good to be true.
Or maybe it’s just too overwhelming. And I understand both of those sentiments. Just because something is on sale doesn’t mean it’s worth your time, your money, or your lesson plans. I also know that it is pretty much impossible to really preview what you’re getting when you are deciding which one to purchase. I’ve Continue reading
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Countdown to Kickoff – Ten Touchdown Worthy Football Lesson Plans
Are you ready to bring the excitement of football season into your ELA classroom? To capitalize on the hype with your students, check out these ten football lesson plans designed to engage them while building critical reading, writing, and analytical skills. These football lesson plans are perfect for ELA teachers looking to tap into the Continue reading
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Engage Deeper with Nonfiction Texts Using Notice and Note Signposts
The “Notice and Note” signposts for nonfiction, developed by Kylene Beers and Robert Probst, are a set of strategies designed to help students engage more deeply with the texts that they read. These signposts highlight key elements and moments in a text that can trigger deeper thinking and comprehension. By identifying and discussing these signposts, Continue reading
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Integrating Grammar with Literature: The Outsiders Guide
In order to fully comprehend any piece of literature, students need more than just an understanding of plot, characters, and themes—they must also have a solid grasp of grammar and syntax. Grammar is the foundation that allows students to analyze how sentences are structured, how ideas are connected, and how language works to create meaning. Continue reading
