We are absolutely delighted to release our newest set of seasonal Fluency in a Flash digital mini lessons! But first… What is Fluency in a Flash? Fluency in a Flash is a brief, targeted routine for practicing reading fluency daily. Each day of the week focuses on a specific fluency skill and can be completed…
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Valentine’s Day Fluency in a Flash Mini-Lessons
We’re so excited for these Valentine’s Day digital fluency mini-lessons we just released! But first… What is Fluency in a Flash? Fluency in a Flash is a brief, targeted routine for practicing reading fluency daily. Each day of the week focuses on a specific fluency skill and can be completed in 2 or 3 minutes….
Collective Noun Cauldrons – A Spooky Grammar Freebie for Halloween!
As a teacher, I really do love October. There are so many fun ways to add a little Halloween zing to your regular classroom routines. Today we’ve got a fun freebie for you that puts a spooky twist on collective nouns! Collective nouns are names for groups of people, animals, or things. Some of these…
Reading Fluency in a Flash
Over the last year and a half we’ve talked to countless teachers about fluency instruction in the classroom. When we help students recognize words effortlessly and teach them to read with appropriate expression and phrasing, we’re allowing them to access texts in a more meaningful way. Reading fluency is the key to unlocking the magic of…
BTS Success: A Free Back-To-School E-mail Course
Back-to-school is the worst of times. It’s so stressful and exhausting (seriously it’s so, so tiring!). It’s also the best of times! The feeling of a new beginning is absolutely exhilarating. I love that fresh start, where everything is possible and I haven’t screwed up…yet! After 17+ first days of school as a teacher, I…
My 2nd Grade Morning Routine
The way we begin each day in our classroom sets the tone for learning and speaks volumes about what and whom we value, about our expectations for the way we will treat each other, and about the way we believe learning occurs. –Roxann Kriete How do you start your school day? It’s a question every…
Establishing Classroom Procedures : A Plan for Back-to-School Success
Before you can really plan out the first days and weeks of your school year, you need a plan in place for how you intend to handle the routines and procedures in your classroom. Effective procedures are a hallmark of every well run class. They’re an indispensable part of a successful school year. If your room…
20 Awesome Books for the First Week of School
When I’m creating my first week of school plans, I always make time for several read aloud books every day. Reading aloud picture books is a great way to: take a break from procedures and routines introduce ideas of friendship, community, rules, and more model fluent reading bond as a class over the shared experience…
Why I Don’t Use Words Their Way for Spelling
Why don’t I use Words Their Way for my sole phonics and spelling curriculum? And why don’t I use Words Their Way for my weekly spelling lists and spelling test? I get this question often. You know that I love Words Their Way. (We now use our own comprehensive phonics and spelling curriculum Word Play…
5 Teacher Books I Read Every Year
There are a few professional development books that I pull out to reference (and sometimes reread) every single year. The First Six Weeks of School by Paula Denton, Roxann Kriete, Responsive Classroom – Tools for Teaching by Fred Jones The First Days of School by Harry Wong The Joyful Classroom by Responsive Classroom The Daily…