Are you familiar with the book series The Imaginary Veterinary? I’m only learning about the books now, and I’ve just added them to my list of read-soon books! I’ve been told that these books, in which veterinarians are heroes to animals everywhere—especially mythical, special-needs animals—are stuffed with adventure and high jinks. The chapter books are…
Language Arts
For the Love of Dictionaries
As I write this blog post, it is Dictionary Day (October 16). Now, as a writer, I love both words and dictionaries, as well as the magical ways in which words can be sequenced to convey meaning, tone, and point of view. I could have just said syntax, but that word doesn’t pack the weight…
Comic Relief
Hold on to your plan books, teachers—today is National Comic Book Day! Does anyone besides me have fond memories of Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead? For a fun change of pace, why not invite students to present today’s narrative writing assignment or journaling activity in comic book format? Characters, a setting, a problem, a solution,…
The Error of Our Ways
We are not perfect. But we admit our mistakes. As a teacher, you likely do the same thing on (hopefully rare) occasions. What is the worst or most embarrassing mistake you’ve ever admitted to your class?
Speaking to the Class
I don’t know why, but I am a big fan of the oral presentation. When I was a kid, I hated them, at first. Standing in front of all my friends to talk about something? Ugh. No, thanks! Or at least that’s what I thought. Despite clear memories of being underprepared and nervous with nearly…
History Without Standards
I went looking for a different kind of standard. We have the Common Core State Standards, which cover mathematics and language arts. We also have the Next Generation Science Standards, already adopted by six states. But what about history standards? (And the arts? And civics? And common sense?) What I found was the National Center…
A School Year in Review
Let’s review, shall we? During the last school year, I touched on a wide range of subjects, both serious and not-so-much. On a few of them, I received many comments. On many of them, I received none. Good or bad, I think some of them are worth revisiting. And the passage of time may mean…
Common Core Outcomes Giveaway
Your time at the end of the school year is valuable. So this will be a short and, hopefully, sweet blog post. Roughly 97 ideas crossed paths in my brain at one point this morning (not unusual, really), and I was left with the following questions that I want to ask you: Did you incorporate…
It Was Black and White and Read All Over
Newspapers. You may have heard of them. You may remember them. Some of you may still receive them at your home every day. On television and in the movies, they’re something dad reads every morning over breakfast while the family buzzes around him, or on the subway to work as he is jostled and pickpocketed….
Enjoying Children’s Book Week
Yesterday morning (May 13), the sun rose on silent wings, spreading its golden blanket across a land renewed. Renewed by what? Renewed by the fact that Children’s Book Week had descended upon us in the night. Yes, this is Children’s Book Week (CBW), one of the longest-running literacy initiatives in the country. Established in 1919,…