online learning

Literacy Links – Volume 104

book list, coaching, literacy links, online learning, professional resources, writing
One of my first Instagram Reels.

I know that Scholastic Book Fairs aren’t equitable and show loads of privilege, but I’m still going to recommend books to my young readers and their families. So I learned how to make Instagram Reels. Whew! I *truly* understood how my grandparents must’ve felt when they learned how to email. It took me DAYS to figure it out, and they are mediocre AT BEST. Still…I can’t wait to use that glitter filter again. All the heart eyes!

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 90

book list, literacy links, online learning, poetry, professional resources, writing
KV Digital Library theatre collection for our new theatre!

Our beloved post office transformed into a theatre recently! To help build students’ background knowledge, we watched a video of a backstage tour of a theatre and I’ve been reading at least one picture book a week about theatre. We’ve been so inspired we even wrote our very first play about our shared reading text, Gossie. I’ll be sure to promote its opening day show! 🙂

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 87

book list, literacy links, online learning, professional resources
*Optional* Choice Board for families and students.

One of the many (endless?) struggles of remote teaching has been how much of my students’ days do I fill with learning? I, of course, want to grow their brains, but I also don’t want them to be in front of a screen *all* day. Another aspect to consider is their families: Some families want more structure and other families want less. I have no clear answer to my problem, but in the meantime, I created an optional choice board that’s going to provide families with optional activities. I tried to create meaningful activities that can work in many contexts, sort of like a center I might have in my classroom in The Before. I hope it’s helpful to those who use it.

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 83

literacy links, online learning, outdoor learning, reading
Part of Lucy Calkins’s message in her closing remarks at last weekend’s Saturday Reunion.

Last weekend I attended the first-ever virtual Saturday Reunion from Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. Lucy Calkins had very powerful closing remarks that landed just right. Teaching is tough in The Now. Our elementary schools are about to bring back K-2 students (mostly) full-time. Lots of changes ahead for everyone that I know we’ll manage. But it’s still a lot to handle. Her message was reassuring: It doesn’t have to be perfect. Just show up. After drying my tears, I made this poster to hang on my door as a reminder as we continue teaching during a pandemic.

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 81

literacy links, online learning, poetry, professional resources, writing
Next week’s theme is autumn!

Since it is the most gorgeous time of year in New England right now, I decided that next week’s theme will be AUTUMN! To get students in the writing mood, I *highly* recommend taking them OUTSIDE for a nature observation walk. Check out the poems I selected and my resources and ideas for teaching them by clicking on the image or link above. Happy poem writing!

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 77

Just for fun, literacy links, online learning, writing
Couldn’t get my hands on a Starbucks notebook tumbler (because: quarantine), so a notebook tee will have to do!

It is officially back to school season–my favorite time of year! It sure is different and full of new obstacles, but one thing I know for sure is that elementary teachers everywhere are bringing their all like they always do. I’m in awe of what my colleagues and others did from March to June, and I have NO DOUBT that they will continue to bring it this year. I ❤ teachers.

Here is another summer roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 75 (ANOTHER Bonus Summer Edition!)

literacy links, online learning, professional resources, writing

Screen Shot 2020-08-14 at 8.50.29 AMThe cover of my digital writer’s notebook. Click it!

Even though I love physical writer’s notebooks, I knew that, under these unprecedented circumstances, a digital writer’s notebook would be useful. I used this link from Slides Mania to make my digital writer’s notebook, and instead of using tabs, I created a table of contents with the sections I lean on the most as a writer and teacher of writers. I learned that even if you add slides to a section that the link in the table of contents stays with the right slide! Those Googlers are clever…

Here is another summer roundup of literacy links if you’re looking for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 70

creating, literacy links, online learning, professional resources, reading, summer, writing

Screen Shot 2020-05-29 at 11.02.15 AM

Summer reading is a passion of mine. I’ve developed a summer reading launch unit for teachers to use in the past, so I adapted it for quaranteaching. The goal of the units, one for primary and another for intermediate, is to set up students for success for summer reading: figuring out their best reading routines, sharing book talks, and setting a summer reading goal. There are lots of accompanying resources: an info session video and accompanying presentation for families, book lists from trusted sources, and a collection of themed, digital Bitmoji libaries curated by Center teachers! I want summer 2020 reading to be our most successful ever!

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

 

Literacy Links – Volume 69

book list, literacy links, online learning, poetry, summer, writing

Screen Shot 2020-05-21 at 2.43.25 PM

Last week, I hosted a PD for my staff on creating Bitmoji digital libraries that you can access HERE. Before showing them how to build their Bitmoji digital libraries, I sprinkled in some PD on classroom libraries, how to curate a collection, and digital book platforms. Together with the how-to portion of the session, I don’t think I’ve ever talked THAT much during a PD! Afterwards, I reflected on how I could’ve avoided yapping for so long: HOW do you show people how to do something tech-y without telling them everything?! Regardless, it has been SO fun seeing everyone’s creations they’ve shared with me! I’m collecting them all for some summer reading fun at Center School. Stay tuned!!

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment:

Literacy Links – Volume 68

book clubs, creating, literacy links, online learning, professional resources, reading, writing

Screen Shot 2020-05-12 at 12.08.54 PM

This week, the second grade team at my school asked for online book club info, so I rounded up my go-to resources in my free version of Padlet (I maxed out my Padlets, and I refuse to pay $8 per month right now): videos of book clubs in action for students to analyze and infer, some organizational tools, accountable talk stems, Learning Progressions from the Units of Study, discussion prompts, and my favorite assessment tools. The only grade-level specific tool is the Learning Progressions: I find them SO helpful in providing a focus for a reading unit. Choose 3-5 different topics from the Learning Progressions and your minilessons will have more focus and potency. It’s definitely a work in progress, so check later for more resources!

Here is this week’s roundup of literacy links for some quick inspiration, tips, and refreshment: