12.14.21 Mystery solved: How to help your child crack the phonics code I loved the TV show The Electric Company as a kid. One of my favorite segments was when they showed two shadowed heads in profile. Each would take turns reading the beginning and ending of words,... Read more
12.9.21 Assistive technology 101 If you have ever used a smart phone, you have probably experienced assistive technology. For example, when your hands are full and you can’t look at the screen, you can use audio and voice... Read more
12.7.21 Let’s stop making “growth mindset” a buzzword I’m unsure of the lifecycle of a buzzword, but I’ll take a cheeky stab at its journey: A popular thought leader makes waves, and the word makes its debut in a TED Talk. It finds... Read more
12.2.21 How identity-affirming texts empower literacy education Every day, educators work tirelessly to not only help students develop literacy skills, but to impart perhaps the most important gift reading gives us: the opportunity to recognize ourselves and... Read more
11.30.21 To support reading at home, turn up the sound I don’t know about your childhood TV viewing preferences, but for me, there was no greater pleasure than my local PBS lineup: Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Reading Rainbow, Bob Ross’s The... Read more
11.24.21 4 ways to use NGSS crosscutting concepts to engage in sense-making and build equity The water disappeared! Or did it? Can water just disappear? And so, the learning of science begins. Educators and researchers alike recognize that incorporating students’ personal interests... Read more
11.23.21 Diary of a co-teacher, chapter 1: 5 keys to a successful co-teaching partnership I’m sorry, but when did it suddenly get to be Thanksgiving week? Somehow, the start of this school year seemed to take the long route. I typically think of October as when routines and... Read more
11.18.21 5 tips for developing intersectionality practices and awareness in your classroom In Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches, the late Audre Lorde, an American writer and civil rights activist, said, “There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live... Read more
11.16.21 All about language comprehension: What it is and how it can help your child read Children know a lot about language before they even learn to read. From the moment they are born, kids are exposed to all kinds of spoken language that helps them understand and make connections... Read more
11.9.21 On knocking down the fence: 4 ways you can improve equity for students with disabilities Fences can be really useful. A backyard fence allows the dog freedom of movement without her harness and leash. Fences around a construction site help keep curious people safe from... Read more
11.4.21 Last but not least: The role of communication in assessment empowerment What does it mean to communicate with learners and their families? When I first started teaching, I thought it just meant providing information; in retrospect, I can see that I was talking at... Read more
11.2.21 What families need to know to support their child’s reading I am the parent of two elementary school children who were mostly learning from home this past school year because of the pandemic. During that time, I often wondered, “How can I help my... Read more