This post covers the how, the why, and the what of introducing stations or centers to support small group work on foundational skills in the primary grades.
Pattern-Seeking Strategies to Optimize Efficiency and Effectiveness: Expanding the Reach With Small Group Work
Pattern-seeking is one of the ways that I keep planning for small group instruction manageable in writing workshop. When I can both anticipate common needs and plan for ways to learn which kids share those needs ahead of time, then I can be much more strategic and efficient with small group instruction.
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Tuesday Slice of Life
Today is the last Tuesday of October! Soon we will welcome November slices to our table.
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The High Value and High Reward of Including ALL Students in Small Group Lessons
Small group instruction can be for a single lesson or objective or we can plan a course of study over a period of time. Regardless of the time commitment, it's important to remember that small group work isn’t just for striving writers… it’s for ALL writers.
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Expanding the Reach with Small Group Work: A Blog Series
Even in the best of teaching times, a student’s work is rarely completely one level since there are so many elements that constitute effective writing, and it’s also rare for the same sequence of lessons to meet the learning opportunities of all students. With such variation and discrepancies, small group instruction is more critical than ever in order to address and nurture the range of learners in classrooms. We hope that this blog series inspires you to lean into small group instruction with intention and confidence!
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One Good Thing
Recently, my 11-year-old daughter was cleaning out her dresser drawer. She came across a small blue journal from second grade and ran into my bedroom as I folded the laundry. "Look, Mom! This is my "One Good Thing" journal from Ms. Hale's class." The laundry could wait; we had some reminiscing to do. Some of… Continue reading One Good Thing
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Tuesday Slice of Life
It's Tuesday and that means it's time to slice!
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Let Them Write
Ever feel like you just need a nudge to give your students time for low-stakes writing? Here you go!
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Three Steps to Prioritizing Your Writing Instruction During the Pandemic
Whether you are fortunate enough to have a structure to collaborate with others on your grade-level team, or if you are planning solo here are three steps you can take.
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Tuesday Slice of Life
Welcome to Tuesday Slice of Life!
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Modeling as Eavesdropping on a Writer’s Inner Monologue
The power of modeling—modeling the verb—is the opportunity to make not just the product visible—model, the noun—but the thinking of the writer visible as well. Without modeling the thinking, it is still a bit of a mystery how a writer gets from point A to point B—no matter how clear that point B might be.
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Principals can be literacy coaches too!
Building administrators are and should be lead teachers! Although we often get bogged down in the mechanics of running a school, finding moments to reconnect with our own teaching passions is a key part in staying grounded, being a model for the staff, and building relationships with students. For me, writing has always been my passion and therefore I make it a priority to find time to teach, confer, and connect with my community to both share my passion about writing and fuel theirs!
