Kids on the Cusp / Teaching writing
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 11/05/2014 · Last modified 11/29/2019
Leaping into writing with students can be almost as thrilling as sky-diving, says Mary Tarashuk, who has now tried both. Here she describes how she is modeling “the writer as reader” with her 4th graders and shares their organizer for narrative writing.
For ELA teacher Cheryl Mizerny, the most effective learning strategy often begins with students working collaboratively in small groups. Mizerny shows how this works during a Grammar, Usage & Mechanics lesson and another on the characteristics of personal narrative.
Want to improve relationships between families and school? Teachers benefit when learning is reinforced and supported from home. Consultant Barbara Blackburn has tips on how to PAIR with parents and avoid school-side mistakes that weaken engagement.
Common Core / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 10/26/2014 · Last modified 12/10/2019
Teachers in every subject and type of classroom can tailor Common Core instruction to individual student needs using the Universal Design for Learning strategies, says instructional coach Elizabeth Stein, who provides a wealth of helpful resources.
This Halloween, don’t miss 4th grade teacher Mary Tarashuk’s self-assessment of how she managed learning on a delightfully creepy day. First presented a year ago, still just as funny. “It’s not all about sugar, but sugar anticipation is in the air.”
Literacy expert Laura Robb offers her research-based argument for refocusing American school reform on strategies to strengthen support for teachers and promote opportunities for all children to become creative, divergent thinkers and problem solvers.
Administrative Overload / Kids on the Cusp
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 10/08/2014 · Last modified 11/30/2019
Mary Tarashuk fantasizes about a reality TV show that features education policy makers who must survive for a month as classroom teachers without drowning in the paperwork or getting voted off the island by a misguided performance evaluation system.
Brief yet thought provoking, Short on Time is a worthwhile read for leadership teams, says principal Joseph D’Amato. Readers will find suggestions for managing priorities, maximizing learning, and growing through collaboration – plus a helpful list of action steps.
Amber Chandler has participated on both sides of the Parent Teacher Conference. Here she offers novice teachers five strategies they can use to establish productive relationships, address parent concerns, and find ways to help parents “do something” for their children.
Reading Intervention Teachers / Working Draft
by Kevin Hodgson · Published 09/24/2014 · Last modified 11/13/2019
ELA teacher Kevin Hodgson finds himself teamed in a PLC with reading interventionists and quickly sees how vastly different their work with students is from his own. He’s developing a new respect for these specialists’ knowledge and unique challenges.
