Ever visit a class or see a peer teach and have a little déjà vu moment? It happens to me a lot as an instructional coach on the PreK-6 campus where I work. It happened recently in a fifth-grade classroom during their book clubs. The teacher, Mr. Duke, reminded students that they had several options …
“Miss, do I have to use my _____________strategy while I’m reading today?” Fill in the blank, dear teacher, because you know you can. Collectively we’ve taught a million and one nifty strategies for kids to use when they read. Our intentions are admirable. We just want the readers in our care to understand what they’re …
We have a wonderful reading interventionist who is out on sick leave until January. I have the privilege of meeting with her groups until she can return. The first group of kindergarten students I meet with every day are new to school in America and they’re learning how to speak English as well as learning …
My last year of high school I graduated early in February so I could join my parents in Great Britain. The freedom I experienced as an eighteen year old traveling around England after dad’s job took our family there for two years changed me. Even now, many decades later, I still find that I am …
I am thrilled today that Carolyn Davis is guest blogging for That Thing You Do! Carolyn and I met on social media first and then I had the pleasure of meeting her in person at a local conference. There was an immediate connection due to Carolyn’s deep love for readers and writers and her passion …
This is a repost of Dr. Mary Howard’s guest post earlier this year. There is much to discuss about RtI and Mary is one of the best to lead that discussion. I’m so honored that Mary shared her thoughts here. Dr. Mary Howard and I have never met in person, but she has had …
We wring our hands and lament that so many of our students are not learning to read and write. We wonder and debate. We study data and brainstorm solutions. We talk and plan and work and stay late and plan some more. I’ve been accused on more than one occasion of offering overly simplistic solutions. …
This is a repost from November 2016 that I’m so excited to share. Jill and Kim are book-pushers and this is the perfect time for anyone who loves kids to catch up on titles for next school year. It’s also time to think ahead about ways to get more titles in front of teachers and …
This is a repost from earlier this year. Kari’s book, Simple Starts, has helped me and so many of the teachers I work with and so it’s absolutely worthy of repeating Kari’s thoughts here on TTYD. Thank you @Kari_Yates. Heartfelt thanks to Kari Yates, author of Simple Starts for sharing in That Thing You Do! …
This is a repost of a piece Tanny McGregor graciously wrote for Collaborate. Innovate. Create. a little over a year ago. Tanny was so kind to mention this to a room full of educators at a recent NCTE affiliate conference in Texas, NTCTELA. It’s a perfect post to revisit. Thank you, my dear friend! I’m …
