Mentor texts can be a powerful cross-curricular teaching tool to engage students in reading while teaching them about the world around them. Mentor texts can empower students to learn about different people, cultures, or topics they might not otherwise experience. They can also teach students to empathize with others. This is why I created mentor text units. They are designed to help students think critically about the world while actively
Whether you use Seesaw regularly or are new to the platform, sharing a purchased resource may get a little confusing. Here’s a step by step on how to get it done. Purchasing a Resource for Seesaw Before you purchase a resource for use in Seesaw, make sure you have an account in the platform. Each purchased resource is already part of the seller’s Seesaw Activity Library under their own Seesaw
Getting a good substitute teacher is hard. And getting a good sub to come back can be even more difficult – especially with the COVID-19 pandemic. But there are things you can do to increase the likelihood that your sub will be successful, which will make you, your students, and the sub happy. Best of all, the sub will want to come back next time you need one – which
Most primary teachers know and utilize guided reading in their classrooms on a regular basis; however, in my experience, upper elementary teachers didn’t always see the value or find the time to implement this important practice into their own routines. Who can blame them? With standardized testing and demands from administration, it is hard to weed through the requirements to determine how to best use your time and resources to
Teaching Guided Reading Guided reading: You either love it and teach it with fidelity, or you find it a waste of time. No matter what you think of it, the reality is guided reading time is incredibly valuable, and you should protect this chunk of time each day. Here are a few strategies that will help you get the most out of your guided reading instruction. What is Guided Reading
You either love teaching writing or hate teaching writing. I know in my beginning years of teaching, I despised teaching writing. It was probably because I wasn’t confident about my writing skills. I was never actually taught how to write. We were expected to just write! Teachers would say, “write a story” or “write a report.” Sometimes we would have to practice responding to a prompt to practice before standardized
Here is a list of my favorite books to use as mentor texts for teaching writing and writer’s workshop. I selected these texts based on my own experiences teaching writing in the classroom and to intentionally incorporate diversity. NOTE: The links below are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Narrative Mentor Texts to Spark Ideas Narrative Mentor Texts to Teach Craft and Structure Persuasive
My virtual field trips have quickly become one of my most popular resources. It is no wonder teachers and students want fun and safe ways to learn virtually. Now you can take your students to Disney, see how chocolate is made, or even visit Mexico City for Day of the Dead. Using these resources in your classroom is a perfect way to engage students and have some fun. Here are
Everybody needs a break from time to time. And that includes your students. Here are some easy ideas for brain breaks that work for classroom and distance learning. What are Brain Breaks? Break breaks are short mental breaks that help students stay focused. Typically, brain breaks help students move or engage in discussions to help them re-energize and refocus. Why are Brain Breaks Important? Research shows that regular breaks throughout
One of the big questions I heard from teachers last spring when COVID initially impacted schools was “How am I going to grade my students?” Many teachers were worried that “if students aren’t held accountable for their work, will they be motivated to complete it?” With many schools doing distance learning or a combination of classroom and distance learning, and with the ongoing uncertainty of what this school year may
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