Tag: #literacy

Bring the Snow Inside – 7 Ways to Incorporate the Blizzard Into Your Classroom

January 27, 2016

Winter Storm Jonas left us here in NYC huddled up for the weekend, baking cookies, snuggling on the couch, and watching Alan Rickman movies in memoriam. But schools were back in session again on Monday, despite sometimes impassible sidewalks and questionably plowed roads in some of the outer-lying neighborhoods. So since the snow is everywhere, … More Bring the Snow Inside – 7 Ways to Incorporate the Blizzard Into Your Classroom

5 Ways to Integrate Food In the Classroom.

January 13, 2016

For 13 years, I taught in the “hard-to-staff” neighborhoods of the Bronx. My students were hungry, traumatized, and VERY under-exposed to language and language-building experiences. How do you have a conversation about adjectives with students whose only real exposure to them is “bad” and “good,” and maybe “hot” and “cold”? But even if your kids … More 5 Ways to Integrate Food In the Classroom.

Food Doesn’t Grow In Grocery Stores: A Harvest Lesson

October 27, 2015

Fall, fall, wonderful fall. The time for field trips to the farm (for us city folk at least) and lots of hard work for kids actually growing up in farm country. But with fewer and fewer kids growing up with access to the growing process, many in the new generation are experiencing a serious disconnect … More Food Doesn’t Grow In Grocery Stores: A Harvest Lesson

A Halloween Sequencing Lesson in Dance.

October 20, 2015

Halloween is nearly upon us! How did that happen?! I’m usually much better prepared – I haven’t even started costume shopping yet! Fortunately this Halloween-themed sequencing lesson takes next to zero ahead-of-time prep. That’s what I love about dance-integrated lessons. You don’t have to cut anything out. For this lesson, I’ve always used Inside a … More A Halloween Sequencing Lesson in Dance.

Seasons, Cycles, and Worms: A Less Obvious Fall Science Unit

October 13, 2015

Fall is my favorite season. Gorgeous temperatures (usually), gorgeous foliage (almost always), crunchy leaves underfoot (I don’t have to rake them), cozy sweaters, the beginning of hot chocolate season, and pumpkin everything! There are a gazillion great fall lesson compilations out there, like here, and here, and here (especially love the one at that last link … More Seasons, Cycles, and Worms: A Less Obvious Fall Science Unit

Arts Integration & the ABCs – 6 Ways to Make the ABCs Artistic, Beautiful, & Creative

August 18, 2015

It’s back to school time, which, for early elementary teachers, and sometimes for upper elementary teachers, means back to the ABCs. That’s 26 letters times 2 (for upper and lower case), to be matched in various combinations with 44 separate phonemes. That’s 96 distinct factoids necessary for reading, not counting the skills needed to put … More Arts Integration & the ABCs – 6 Ways to Make the ABCs Artistic, Beautiful, & Creative

21 Great Picture Books to Open the School Year (With Bulletin Board Ideas).

August 4, 2015

School is just around the corner, and what better way to wade into a new year (and start a new blog!) than with an armful of great read-alouds.  Here are some old and new to launch those important conversations about school, rules, community, respect, and inspiration. And some craft and writing suggestions to kick-start those … More 21 Great Picture Books to Open the School Year (With Bulletin Board Ideas).