What is cyclical spelling?

What is cyclical spelling?

Here’s an idea to kick your kids’ spelling prowess into high gear. While it’s true that some kids are just naturally good spellers, my experience has been that most are not. They need a sure-fire way to lock in accurate spelling. Let us introduce you to cyclical spelling. Here’s how it works:

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A Guide to Verb Tenses

A Guide to Verb Tenses

Verb tenses can be challenging for students and adults! In an effort to reinforce correct verb tense usage, why not play a little game? Let’s get started with a quick review of verb tenses.

Tense means time. So, that means that the verb in the sentence actually lets the reader know the time of the action.

There are three basic verb tenses that show when an action takes place:

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Writing Extension: Celebrate Your Winter Wonderland

Writing Extension: Celebrate Your Winter Wonderland

When the excitement of a snow day or a long weekend is over, you may want an activity to teach your students how to find interest in nature’s resting time. It's an opportunity to find the beauty on display right outside the window! Take a classroom field trip outside and have your students paired up with clipboards to record the details they observe. This is a great time to review descriptive writing to spark their imagination. We've provided a few descriptive writing resources for you at the bottom of this page!

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What is multi-sensory learning?

What is multi-sensory learning?

I have been dabbling with curriculum since I was a baby teacher and could barely crawl. If you’re a teacher, too, you probably have a similar story. I cut my teacher teeth on theories and practices from many different models, but the one that makes my brain do a happy dance is Multi-Sensory Learning.

The system of our senses is fascinating in and of itself, but what is extraordinary is that teachers can learn how to maximize a student’s awareness of how their senses work together to help them learn and retain knowledge. I also enjoy studying up on the latest neuro-research, and once again, multi-sensory education rises to the top of my favorites list. Here’s why…

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It's time to listen, move, and learn!

It's time to listen, move, and learn!

TPR (Total Physical Response) has its roots in second language acquisition, but it found its way into Shurley English too. TPR was first incepted by a psychology professor from San Jose University, CA, James Asher. He developed the idea almost fifty years ago, but it has truly helped students to acquire new languages with great facility.

What is TPR (Total Physical Response)?

The strategy Asher developed first involves teaching students to

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Summer Learning: It's time to try cyclical spelling!

Summer Learning: It's time to try cyclical spelling!

Here’s an idea to kick your kids’ spelling prowess into high gear. While it’s true that some kids are just naturally good spellers, my experience has been that most are not. They need a sure-fire way to lock in accurate spelling, especially when summertime rolls around and school is out.

Cyclical spelling might just be for you and your kids. Here’s how it works:

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Playin’ Around with Verb Tenses

Playin’ Around with Verb Tenses

Verb tenses can be challenging for students and adults!  In an effort to reinforce correct verb tense usage, why not play a little game? Let’s get started with a quick review of verb tenses.

Tense means time.  So, that means that the verb in the sentence actually lets the reader know the time of the action.  There are three basic verb tenses that show when an action takes place: 

Read More