Ms. Vigna
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This past Tuesday, the LPS literacy coaches led teachers in grades 2-5 in a morning of PD on writing about reading, and it was my favorite PD ever! As always, we used the Workshop Model structure, so that teachers had the most time to explore their choice of resources. So after a twenty minute minilesson…
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A quick search for “toolkits” in the Units of Study Facebook groups will yield dozens of posts with requests for and pictures of various toolkits. They are certainly a hot topic. However, I haven’t seen many that focus on writing about reading, a component of balanced literacy that students are expected to do throughout the…
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Nancie Atwell at Literacy for All 2018. Note the overhead projector. 😉 There’s nothing quite like meeting an literacy idol. I’ve loved Nancie Atwell’s ideas and school since I read In the Middle as part of my writing methods class in grade school. I’ve practically been counting the days until LFA 2018 since I saw…
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Last weekend, six teachers joined me on a whirlwind trip to New York City for a day of learning at Teachers College. The hour-long workshops were jam-packed with ideas and inspiration, some easy to implement immediately and others more big picture inspiration. However, the day started with a somber, but powerful keynote address by children’s…
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On Saturday, some LPS teachers are heading to the Teachers College Reading Writing Project’s Saturday Reunion. Central Office GENEROUSLY funded a cushy bus ride for us to go to NYC for a whirlwind, brain-busting day of learning with Lucy Calkins and her staff developers. I can’t wait to get my learn on. Don’t worry–I’ll share…
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Y’all know how much I love the Fountas and Pinnell Literacy Continuum! If my office was on fire, this would be the first professional resource I’d rescue. So much support to make my teaching as responsive and strategic as possible. I have big plans to encourage the use of this book, so we just got…
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My book talk vs. student book talk There is nothing that gets students reading more than book talks! I used to have students write their book talks out on 5×8 inch index cards, but over the years, I’ve come to realize that I love the natural, off-the-cuff book talks more. They’re more authentic, personal, and…
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This past Wednesday, my husband, oldest son, brother, sister-in-law, and good friend all met at the Lyric Theatre in New York City to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, all thanks to my cooperating teacher from my days as a student teacher. It was magically extraordinary. I wept during the bows because I didn’t…
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Phase 1 of Center’s new Reading Lounge is open for business! Check the Google Calendar to find an available time to bring your class. Don’t forget to bring your book, too. Happy reading! Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment: Time to revisit Tony Stead’s wise words.…
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For a literacy coach, the beginning of the school year can feel a bit off. We love our teachers and students, but we want classroom teachers to have time to get to their new kiddos, so we take a temporary hands-off approach leaving us in offices to tend to necessary administrivia. When we finally return…
A SEA OF TALK 