December 04, 2018

The Classroom Cafe: Creating an ideal writing space

December 04, 2018/ Kimberly Crady

Sniff, sniff, mmmm! There’s something special about the aroma of that sweet, little corner coffee shop. The lingering scent of a creamy caramel latte, mixed with the boldness of jet-black espresso, brings a smile to my face. The dimmed lights and down-tempo tunes playing in the background set the stage for an ideal writing space. I settle in, let the atmosphere inspire me, and begin to write.

A great way to keep your students engaged is by turning your classroom into

November 29, 2018

Silent Final E: The –le Ending Rule

November 29, 2018/ David Lutz

Back again with Part 3, which I call The –le Ending Rule for Rule 3. If you have been checking in with my blog posts, I have been delving into the hows and whys of Silent Final E. (So far, we have discussed Rule 1 and Rule 2.)

Students easily understand this Rule 3 because it only has two major guidelines:

November 27, 2018

Poetry: Exploring sound devices with couplets

November 27, 2018/ Jamie Geneva

Poetry is a special form of writing that allows a student to express ideas, emotions, or experiences directly through words in verse. It is probably the most artistic of all genres of writing because of the delicate juggling act of

November 20, 2018

What is Mindfulness?

November 20, 2018/ Jamie Geneva

It seems like everyone is talking about being mindful these days! From “how-to” magazine articles to “feel-good” stories on the evening news, mindfulness is generating quite a buzz! So, what’s it all about? Is it for me? Will mindfulness enhance the quality of my life, and can I teach myself how to incorporate the principles?

With all of these questions in mind, I decided to

November 15, 2018

Boost Your Mood With Gratitude

November 15, 2018/ Jamie Geneva

Every year, Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends on the first Sunday in November, when clocks are moved back an hour at 2 a.m. local daylight time. When this happens, It takes our minds and bodies several weeks to adjust to the time change. On top of that, the early evening darkness can wreak havoc on our overall mood due to a reduction in the amount of sunlight we receive.

Research tells us that

November 13, 2018

Grammar Practice with Thanksgiving Printables

November 13, 2018/ Kimberly Crady

Many students seem to have a difficult time locating even the most basic parts of speech like the Subject Noun and Verb. If they’ve had little to no grammar instruction in grades 1-8, it’s no surprise. With that being said, there is a curriculum that can completely turn a grammar deficit around. It’s

November 08, 2018

How to Write a Comparison-Contrast Essay

November 08, 2018/ Kim Shurley

When was the last time you had your students write a Comparison-Contrast Essay? Personally, it is one of my favorite forms of writing. With this type of essay, you must use factual details to analyze the similarities and differences between two or more subjects. I think the wanna-be researcher in me LOVES this! I get to scour sources for facts and data. I get to learn new information. That’s my jam, and you may be surprised by how many of your students will love this type of writing too!

November 06, 2018

Mastering ELA Before High School: Can it be done?

November 06, 2018/ Jamie Geneva

It’s no secret that English as a subject area is a complex field of study that’s full of concepts and rules necessary for everyday speaking and writing. In education, the subject is separated into five basic categories, including: (1) reading, (2) writing, (3) speaking, (4) listening, and (5) viewing. The bulk of the concepts and rules for these categories are taught, reinforced, and mastered during elementary school (K-8). The real shocker is that if students don’t grasp all of them before entering high school, they are destined to struggle until they do.

Can anyone master the basic concepts and rules of language arts?

November 01, 2018

Story Time: Making Read Alouds a Worthwhile Process

November 01, 2018/ David Lutz

Do you remember story time when you were little? I hope you have experienced story time at least at some point in your life. But even if you haven’t, it’s not too late to learn how to enrich the lives of children through this worthwhile process.

October 30, 2018

Writing Conventions: What is the new norm?

October 30, 2018/ Cindy Goeden

I saw this sign one day at a place I frequently visit. (See image below.) I strive to use Standard English for published pieces, and I cringe just a little when I see improper English getting published this way. Maybe I am being too critical, but it is hard to ignore how informal, and just plain incorrect language, has wiggled its way into the formal arena.