Grammar Extension: The Empowering Acrostic Poem

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Grammar Extension: The Empowering Acrostic Poem

The ideal scenario for the first couple months of a new school year would be a classroom running smoothly.  You want to be comfortable with your daily schedule and know that you can meet the needs of all of your diverse students.

Realistically, some of you may already feel like the expectations and duties increase even more as the fall progresses.  Before you become consumed with the busyness of the new school year, always remember this:  “YOU are a TEACHER!”  You are the one that works to mold the future.  You make an incredible impression and impact in the lives of all the students who enter your classroom. 

This year is a brand new one, and if you’re ready to level-up your teaching, you should consider this question: “What kind of teacher do you want to be this year?” 

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Spring Bulletin Board: See how we've grown!

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Spring Bulletin Board: See how we've grown!

It’s not always easy to see how much we’ve grown in one year, especially for a child. Physical growth might be the most noticeable because we can feel it in several ways. For instance, we can tell when our clothes are too big or too small; they don’t fit right. We know when our feet have grown because our shoes are too tight, and our feet hurt. Also, we can tell when our hair has grown when it starts covering our eyes and ears. Intellectual growth, on the other hand, is much more difficult to notice.

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Grammar Extension: The Empowering Acrostic Poem

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Grammar Extension: The Empowering Acrostic Poem

The ideal scenario for the first couple months of a new school year would be a classroom running smoothly.  You want to be comfortable with your daily schedule and know that you can meet the needs of all of your diverse students.

Realistically, some of you may already feel like the expectations and duties increase even more as the fall progresses.  Before you become consumed with the busyness of the new school year, always remember this:  “YOU are a TEACHER!”  You are the one that works to mold the future.  You make an incredible impression and impact in the lives of all the students who enter your classroom. 

This year is a brand new one, and if you’re ready to level-up your teaching, you should consider this question: “What kind of teacher do you want to be this year?” 

Read More

Spring Bulletin Board: See how we've grown!

/
Spring Bulletin Board: See how we've grown!

It’s not always easy to see how much we’ve grown in one year, especially for a child. Physical growth might be the most noticeable because we can feel it in several ways. For instance, we can tell when our clothes are too big or too small; they don’t fit right. We know when our feet have grown because our shoes are too tight, and our feet hurt. Also, we can tell when our hair has grown when it starts covering our eyes and ears. Intellectual growth, on the other hand, is much more difficult to notice.

Read More

Grammar Extension: The Empowering Acrostic Poem

/
Grammar Extension: The Empowering Acrostic Poem

The ideal scenario for the first couple months of a new school year would be a classroom running smoothly.  You want to be comfortable with your daily schedule and know that you can meet the needs of all of your diverse students.

Realistically, some of you may already feel like the expectations and duties increase even more as the fall progresses.  Before you become consumed with the busyness of the new school year, always remember this:  “YOU are a TEACHER!”  You are the one that works to mold the future.  You make an incredible impression and impact in the lives of all the students who enter your classroom. 

This year is a brand new one, and if you’re ready to level-up your teaching, you should consider this question: “What kind of teacher do you want to be this year?” 

Read More

NEW ELA Tool: The Two-Minute Tip of the Day

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NEW ELA Tool: The Two-Minute Tip of the Day

Our commitment to you and your success in language arts is ongoing. A few years ago, we launched the Shurley English Blog, where our team of educators discuss trends, strategies, and tips for success. It’s all about encouragement, support, and aiding each other. It has been a true labor of love and our team is thrilled to continue the charge!

Today, we are excited to announce a new tool designed to help you and your students as you learn language arts skills: The Shurley English Two-Minute

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One Giant Step—The Revision Process

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One Giant Step—The Revision Process

As a teacher, you know the effortful task of teaching students about the six steps of the Writing Process.  The steps should be taught and repeated so that students will always know how to communicate thoughts and ideas in competent, confident way. Now, I’d like to let you in on a little secret.  As a student, I enjoyed the subject of grammar, spelling, and vocabulary. I even loved journal writing.  But, the truth was that I loathed formal writing.  I had most of the pieces of the writing puzzle, but I didn’t know how to fill in the gaps to bring it to completion. 

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Starting Your Second Semester Off Right: 365 New Days!

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Starting Your Second Semester Off Right: 365 New Days!

As a classroom teacher, returning from holiday break was always bittersweet.  On one hand, I knew the pressure for “test prep” would be more intense, but on the other hand, the satisfaction of witnessing my students grow into wiser beings put a validating smile on my face. 

I imagine my students felt similar…a little anxious about getting refocused on learning and the routines of school-life, but excited to be around their friends and completing another school year. 

The New Year seems to offer people a clean slate or a fresh start from which to begin another 365 days of the Earth’s rotation around the Sun.  Celebrations with family and friends, eating delicious food, watching the “ball” drop with flashy fireworks, and reevaluating the past or creating resolutions for the next 365 days is how most Americans bring in the New Year.  Why not create a New Year’s Celebration in your classroom?  It’s an ideal time to celebrate your students’ academic growth and invite them to reexamine their goals.  (Food, fireworks, family, and a shiny ball are all optional.)  Here are two ways you can bring in the New Year with positivity and possibility.

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Writing Toolbox: Let's get organized with Writing Maps!

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Writing Toolbox: Let's get organized with Writing Maps!

Teaching kids to write can be easy if you have the right tools! Getting organized is the first step, and one of the best ways to accomplish this is with an excellent set of writing maps. Writing maps are the foundation for writing success and truly help your children start out focused and on topic. What could be better than that?


At Shurley English, we want to give you a great start to the new year. Right now, you can download our Shurley English writing maps for FREE! Below, you will find a

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Language Arts Success: The BEST of 2019

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Language Arts Success: The BEST of 2019

As the calendar year comes to a close, a teacher’s journey is still moving at full speed. (It’s true!) We are not quite to the half-way mark of our year, and we still have much to do! As 2019 comes to a close and before you begin the second semester, I would encourage you to take a moment, stop, and reflect. It is good for the mind and soul to take note of one’s progress. What successes are you seeing in the classroom? Are you on the track you had planned? Do you need to make adjustments? To help you do so, we've assembled

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