Teach Explicitly--I do, You Watch & ListenPosted on October 14, 2019Best-practice instruction requires that teachers provide Think Alouds. More than just telling students what to do, this is when the teacher shares her expert thinking to reveal...
Reteach Grammar Skills in Maintenance Mini-LessonsPosted on October 08, 2019Regardless of the careful planning that goes into the unit preparation, there are writing skills the teacher presumes students will know--but don't. Often times, these deficiencies...
Target Grammar Skills within Writing UnitsPosted on October 01, 2019Be purposeful when determining which convention skill to teach when in the ELA curriculum. Recognize that the order that skills appear in the language book is tied to categorization...
Introduce the 6 TraitsPosted on April 18, 2017The six researched components of all good writing (ideas, organization, voice, word choice, sentence fluency, and conventions) need to be introduced to students in a kid-friendly...
Download Kristina's Favorite Picture Books for Teaching the 6 TraitsPosted on April 17, 2017Many teachers choose to introduce each of the 6 Traits by reading a text that exemplifies the trait. Students see the trait in action within such mentor text. Picture books...
Compare Argumentative v. Persuasive WritingPosted on April 18, 2017The adoption of college and career-ready standards has included an addition of argumentative writing at all grade levels. Interpreting expectations among the types of argument...
