Dear Teachers, This series of four blogs started with one of my colleagues asking me how to get everything done in a given year. In other words, her Scope and Sequence (S&S) was so packed, she felt she had …
Dear Dr. Louis, Our district is considering summer reading. What is your opinion? Delainey Dear Delainey: One answer: the best of times; the worst of times. I say that because summer reading and any outside reading requirement can be …
I am wondering about the Dialectical Journal form. My students complete dialectical journals as we read our novels, but I love this form that you attached . . . we do them in a journal notebook in class. Now that …
Dear Dr. Louis, I need your insight and expertise. As so much continues to shift and change in our district, we have had more and more questions around all things English Language Arts (ELA) and literacy. Some folks believe that …
Dear Dr. Louis, “Quick question — I was just reviewing my notes from the webinars and remember that at one point, an online dictionary/thesaurus was referenced for the term ‘left out’ that helped students consider word choice that held the …
Dear Teachers, Today is the fourth blog in a four-part series called “Hitting on All-Cylinders” (HOAC). The series began with one of my colleagues asking me how to get everything done in a given year. In other words, her Scope and Sequence (S&S) …
Dear Dr. D’, “Our Scope and Sequence is huge, and I do not know how to get everything done and include the Jane Schaffer Writing Program, too. Help!! I’m drowning!” Lisa Dear Lisa, Most teachers feel the same as …
I like to begin teaching archetypes with the fairy tale. One of my favorite fairy tales is “Sleeping Beauty.” At the beginning of this popular fairy tale, the reader is introduced to the King and the Queen. To begin, a teacher …
Getting to know your students is paramount in your year being a successful one. That’s one of the reasons why the Diagnostic Essay is important that first week. Pretty soon, you’ll discover who your kids “really” are, and some or …
Dear Dr. D’, My 10th grade American Literature students just don’t get it. I mean, when they are reading a fictional piece or a non-fictional piece, they don’t know how to infer. They don’t know how to look deeper into …