This post was started just over two weeks ago. The flu bug hit, so I was down and out for awhile. As I write today, I am enjoying the end of a week-long spring break, wishing I had my full pre-flu energy back, still unsure about the situation I wrote about below, and hoping for … [Read more…]
APM’s journalist, Emily Hanford and colleagues, have done it once again. They have taken a complex topic and made understanding of it attainable for any listener. They have shed light on contributors to our literacy crisis in episodes 1 – 10 of the Sold a Story podcast, and in the last 2 weeks have released … [Read more…]
I am overcome with gratitude for the generosity that abounds. My week kicked off with an unexpected and magnificent opportunity to visit with Dr. Jan Hasbrouck, via Zoom, to discuss the fluency intervention for some 7th and 8th graders that I get to work with. As I told Dr. Hasbrouck, her input will benefit far … [Read more…]
As I mentioned last week, I have a “Pet Peeves” post waiting in the wings. I’m still itching to release it, especially since my pet peeves seem heightened right now. BUT, I know that they remain a problem-dump, rather than a solution-dump. So, in the wings the post remains. In the meantime, I have a … [Read more…]
The loooooooong wait is over! I have been revisiting this page from The Reading League’s website for months, waiting for the state of Iowa to turn dark blue, indicating that we have a Reading League Chapter. It’s official: The Reading League Iowa is now part of the Chapter Network! The Story On a Friday afternoon … [Read more…]
One of my favorite all-time quotes, which I reference often, comes from Brené Brown: … and as Mark Manson reminds us in the title of Chapter 6 in The Subtle Art of Not Giving a #@%!, “You’re Wrong About Everything (But So Am I).” This entire book has been chalk-full of reminders that I am … [Read more…]
This past week, our instructional coaching team led several professional development sessions in a district professional learning day. The day was designed so that participants could choose their own path: they had several sessions to choose from for each time slot. It was a day packed with learning and choice. My only frustration with the … [Read more…]
Last week, I wrote about the importance of planning. When it comes to classroom instruction, planning is far more than important – it is absolutely critical. This point was highlighted beautifully in Melissa and Lori Love Literacy’s 208th episode, “No More Strategy of the Week: Connecting Comprehension Instruction Back to the Book.” The episode features … [Read more…]
I’m sitting in the Charolotte International Airport as I write this (why does it make me feel important to write that?!). I am processing two incredible days of learning, alongside incredible educators, from the 8th Annual Conference of The Reading League. Last week, I had written that I predicted many presenters would mention Scarborough’s Reading … [Read more…]
I am heading to The Reading League Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina this week, and I couldn’t be more excited! I am looking forward to learning from, and along side of, some of the greats in effective literacy instruction: Zaretta Hammond, Linneah Ehri, and Barbara Foorman, among many others… how lucky am I??? While at … [Read more…]