Exciting lesson ideas, classroom strategies, book lists, videos, and reproducibles in a daily blog by teachers

Alycia

I live in

New York

I teach

3rd grade

I am

an almost-digital-native and Ms. Frizzle wannabe

Here are my most recent blog posts:

9 Lessons From the Director’s Chair
Tie-Dyeing Keepsake T-Shirts the Clean and Easy Way
Teacher Appreciation by the Book
Browse all my posts

Tiffani

I live in

California

I teach

Kindergarten

I am

an alphabet singing and storybook reading enthusiast

Here are my most recent blog posts:

Summer Learning For Students and Teachers
5 Steps to Organizing Your Classroom Library
Tips for Packing Up the Classroom for the Summer
Browse all my posts

Christy

I live in

New York

I teach

K-5

I am

a proud supporter of American public education and a tech integrationist

Here are my most recent blog posts:

Five Responses to Critics of Summer Break
6 Addictive Apps for Summer Reading and Writing
Picture Books for America's Favorite Pastime
Browse all my posts

Beth

I live in

Michigan

I teach

3rd grade

I am

an enthusiastic teacher and techie, and a mom of three boys

Here are my most recent blog posts:

Identifying Themes in Literature During IDR
Finding Themes in Literature
End Reading Workshop With Home Reading Instructions
Browse all my posts

Genia

I live in

Michigan

I teach

3rd grade

I am

seriously addicted to all things technology in my teaching

Here are my most recent blog posts:

Create an Impressive Class Website in Under an Hour
5 Ways to Keep Your Students Writing All Summer Long
Quick and Easy Thank-You Gifts for Classroom Volunteers
Browse all my posts

Julie

I live in

Texas

I teach

PreK-5th

I am

a Literacy Coach, and lover of picture books

Here are my most recent blog posts:

How Do You Measure a Year?
Our Book of the Month Program: Why it Really Matters
Real-Life Learning: A Primary Study of Life Cycles
Browse all my posts

Shari

I live in

Kansas

I teach

2nd grade

I am

an inquiring investigator of… my students’ brains, of course

Here are my most recent blog posts:

Authentic Learning: Engaging Students Through the Arts
Authentic Learning: Keeping It Real
Successful Planning for Authentic Learning
Browse all my posts
2

Student Independence and the Power of Prompting

By Julie Ballew on February 11, 2013

Pushing for independence can be messy, but it's definitely worth it! In this post, I'll share the benefits seen in one kindergarten class.

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11

Using Read-Aloud Discussions to Strengthen Book Club Muscles

By Julie Ballew on February 4, 2013

This week, I’m happy to share a read-aloud strategy that several of the 3rd grade teachers in my building are using to make their book...

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0

Book Clubs in the Upper Grades

By Julie Ballew on January 28, 2013

This week, I sat in on several book club meetings in Tami Heese’s 5th grade class, and I saw some excellent thinking and learning happening.

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0

Young People, Big Dreams

By Julie Ballew on January 21, 2013

While learning about Martin Luther King Jr., this class of 2nd graders took time to think about their own dreams for the world. Their...

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4

Planning Small Moment Stories

By Julie Ballew on January 14, 2013

This week, 1st graders in my building are beginning to write “small moment” stories. I visited Melanie Brock’s class as they learned a new...

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2

Using All Five Senses to Write About Strong Feelings

By Julie Ballew on January 7, 2013

Fourth graders at my school are beginning a unit on writing poetry this week. To prepare her students, Mrs. Hales led them through writing...

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2

Revising Realistic Fiction with Writing Partners

By Julie Ballew on December 17, 2012

Revision can be done in a number of ways. This post highlights how students in Ms. May’s 3rd grade class work together to revise their...

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6

Launching Book Clubs With Young Readers: What I’ve Learned So Far

By Julie Ballew on December 10, 2012

Because all of my experience with book clubs comes from my years in a 3rd grade classroom, I have been spending time with younger students...

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6

Connecting Home and School with a Reading Cafe

By Julie Ballew on December 3, 2012

In an effort to build bridges between learning in school and at home, our Title I school offers monthly opportunities for parents to come...

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