Strategies
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Using Text-Dependent Questions to Foster Deeper Understanding
Text-dependent questions are a powerful tool in the classroom, requiring students to return to the text to support their answers. This process of rereading fosters…
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Crafting Text-Dependent Questions: A Step-by-Step Guide for Reading Teachers
Learn how to create effective text-dependent questions that foster deep understanding and critical thinking in your students. This guide provides step-by-step instructions and practical examples…
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Unlock the Power of Questions: Questioning Strategies for Reading Comprehension
Imagine a classroom where books aren’t just pages to be flipped, but doorways to adventure and discovery. Where students don’t passively consume information, but actively…
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Beyond “What’s the Answer?”: How Questioning Sparks Student Critical Thinking
Critical thinking isn’t just about finding the right answer – it’s about digging deeper, analyzing, and building upon information. So, how can teachers encourage this…
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What to do When a Student Refuses to Work
Whether you’re a new teacher, a seasoned veteran, or anywhere in between, you likely have the experience of trying to teach when a student refuses…
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Two Top Ways to Increase Learning
John Hattie was recently asked to describe the top three ways to improve learning in classrooms. He stopped at the top two, because as he…
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9 Things to Do Instead of Movies
It’s almost break. The semester is almost over. Let’s play a movie, Not! Here are 9 Things to do Instead of a Movie for your…
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Effective Transitions, Classroom Management
Effective transitions are critical for effective classroom management, successful learners, and happy teachers. Time loss, and attention loss, during transitions can be a major factors…
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Math Selfies, A Fun Strategy for Problem-Solving
The math selfies strategy is a fun way for students to work through problems, but I think you’ll like the fact that it’s easy to…
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When Should Students Take the ACT and SAT Tests?
When Should Students Take the ACT and SAT tests? As with most things in life, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of when students…
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Common Formative Assessment (Best Practices and Benefits)
Common formative assessments can drastically increase student learning, but they aren’t simply a test you give at the end of a unit. We all know…
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Stop the Test Prep Overkill!
Standardized tests are around the corner – End of Course, State Exams, STAAR tests, the PARCC test, and any numerous other mandated test that, with…
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How to Use a Scavenger Hunt
In this post, we look at how to use a scavenger hunt to engage learners in an active practice activity. But first, what is a scavenger…
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Written Reading Response: 6 Simple Ways
Reading and writing can be so fun, especially when you simply can read and write about your thoughts. How can we make reading written responses…
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Tips for Guided Reading Success
by Bec West (Guest Author) 6 Tips for Guided Reading Success What makes guided reading an effective learning approach for young readers and upper elementary students?…
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Small Group Instruction or Guided Reading?
What is the difference between guided reading and small-group instruction for reading? Knowing the difference will drastically improve learning in your reading classroom.
