June 04, 2019

Micro-comprehension: Gap-filling Inference

June 04, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

Last time, I introduced the concept of building micro-comprehension skills in young readers, starting with words. Often, students need direct instruction in the various areas of micro-comprehension to become efficient readers. I started with words because they are the foundation upon which to build the other skills.

With a strong word base, students can begin the arduous task of comprehending the meaning of strings of words and phrases. In order for that to happen,

May 30, 2019

Grammar Time: What part of speech is the word THERE?

May 30, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

The word there is a commonly used word that can be difficult to classify because of its various roles in a sentence. There can be used as an adverb, pronoun, adjective, and sometimes as an interjection. But in grammatical constructions like there is or there are, there is considered an expletive. This tiny word can create a lot of confusion because the context can be so varied.

Study the following guide to help you understand how to label and classify the various roles of the word there.

May 28, 2019

Micro-comprehension: A Foundation of Words

May 28, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

In an earlier blog post, I pointed out that early reading might best focus on micro-comprehension strategies before exploring the macro-comprehension kinds of questions that are found in most reading programs. But why? To start with, a reader won’t have clear macro-comprehension without clear micro-comprehension. A deep and wide vocabulary makes the micro-comprehension much more accurate!

May 21, 2019

Education Technology: It's time to update your apps!

May 21, 2019/ Shurley English

Did you know that Shurley English has a team of technology experts that work 24/7 to deliver our digital curriculum? It’s their job to develop, monitor, and maintain the SIM technology systems and services, but there’s one thing they can’t do for you: They cannot update your Shurley English app! That’s something you have to do, and if you haven’t updated lately, you might not be seeing everything we have to offer!

May 16, 2019

Word Choice: Simple is Sophisticated

May 16, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

Writing is a tool for communication, and language is the system of words and the methods of combining them that we use to express our thoughts and feelings to each other. As teachers, we want our students to think carefully as they select the words they use to convey meaning, but Word Choice can be a tricky discussion. (Don’t worry! I’m here to help.)

May 14, 2019

End-of-School-Year Activity: Creating a Summer Bucket List

May 14, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

As eager as your students are for the school year to end, it won’t be long until they are actually bored during their summer break. Yes, I said “bored.” Help your students stay focused and creative while they gear up for that day with this fun and creative classroom activity.

In this blog, I will share an activity that will teach students a valuable lesson as they create their own Summer Bucket List. The catch is that they will create it while working in small groups. As always, you can do as much or as little as you like with this idea. Here’s how to get started.

May 09, 2019

Increasing Retention with Purposeful Movement

May 09, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

Is purposeful movement an integral part of your instructional toolbox? I was reminded lately of the power of using motion to assist the brain in the retention of information. I recently set a goal for myself to memorize a favorite portion of scripture, I Corinthians 13, The Love Chapter, which is commonly quoted at weddings. As I pondered how to best attack this lofty goal, I was reminded of the units that my former coworker and I designed for our third-grade students, years ago.

May 07, 2019

Writing Extension: Exploring Appreciative Inquiry

May 07, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

Spring brings longer days and more light into our lives. It’s the time of year when flowers bloom and tree buds turn into luscious leaves before our eyes! With everything outdoors transforming anew, it’s so hard to capture the attention of students experiencing spring fever! So, why not capitalize on the fresh change of seasons, using a writing activity that will inspire students to appreciate spring and ‘Carpe Diem’ at the same time!

May 02, 2019

Grammar Reinforcement: Creating Confidence Cards

May 02, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

I love teaching! I love the challenge of finding ways to teach children how academic content connects to their real life. My love of teaching has carried over into the world of life coaching, and in this capacity, I can help teens feel good about who they are.

Let’s be real. Life can be tough for many children these days, and many of them could benefit from a little more positivity in their lives. For this reason, I found a way to connect my

April 30, 2019

Grammar & Writing Toolbox: Don't let contractions confuse you!

April 30, 2019/ Contributing Blogger

A contraction is a word or phrase that’s been formed by combining two words and adding an apostrophe to replace the letter or letters that have been left out. Since the root word “contract” means to squeeze together, the concept of forming a contraction makes logical sense to most kids.

When two words are combined to form a contraction, the first word