Simply For Teachers

Hello Friends! My whole store is 20% off!!!!! Click to visit Simply Primary at TPT.

If you read my post series (still have a little left to go) on developing a Leveled Library, you may remember me sharing how I held a volunteer day where teachers could help put the library together.   I have recently added the "Thank You" I made to my TPT store as a FREEBIE!   Visit my TPT store to pick up your copy! I made the cards more generic so you can use them for any volunteers.  Feel free to share how you used them in the comments section. Thanks!

Working with early readers can be so rewarding.  They are so proud when they are able to recognize letters or produce correct sounds.  Some students need a little more practice and time working with letters and letter sounds before they develop a solid understanding.  I have read, during my time researching best guided reading practices, that consistently rehearsing the alphabet with early readers can produce meaningful results.  With that in mind I developed a resource for my Kindergarten intervention students this year.   You can find it in my TPT store here:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Simply-Primary Let's talk a little about how I use this simple and effective resource with my students. I use this book for choral reading (everyone reads aloud together).  It is helpful because the students don't know all of the letters, sounds or pictures BUT I do.  They can hear me and hear each other.  This strengthens their un...

We've come to the end of The Book Whisperer.  I have truly enjoyed this reading journey.  I am so happy that I read this book this summer, it confirmed my beliefs about student reading habits and independent reading practices. Chapter 7....Letting Go When teachers control all of the reading and reading material, they ignore the needs of the students.  It is insulting to students who are already readers and can disparage positive behaviors that may already exist. What are we preparing students for when they do packets of work and dredge through books they don't like? Actual reading prepares students for the future more than any other activity. Teachers conform to what everyone else around them is doing. We build stamina by reading lots of books. Teachers need to give up the control of reading to their students so that they take responsibility for themselves as readers. Reflect How can you adjust your room to promote independent student reading? What are ...

As a primary grade teacher I am always on the hunt for fun book companions.  They double as a reading prop and classroom decor.  We love anything that can decorate our space, be functional and inspire to READING !  I work with K-6 grades now, and I embrace book companions no matter the level.  I have found that students, regardless of age, comment on my stuffed book characters.  The little ones get very excited and exclaim "It's the Lorax!" and my older students say things like "Oh I loved Skippyjon Jones".   Welcome the new members of my book companion tribe......... That's right!!!! Welcome Elephant , Piggie , Knufflebunny , Duckling and Pigeon !!!!  When I taught first grade, we would kick the year off with a Mo Willems author study. The kiddos would pick up those books from our library every free chance they had.  The author studies were one of my proudest teaching moments because my students were SOOOO excited about the book col...

With each chapter this book speaks to my deeply held beliefs that most readers are developed over time.  As teachers we play an integral role in their personal definition as a reader.  We have such an impact on how our students view reading and themselves as readers.  Throughout my reading, I continually reflect on that point.  As the reading specialist, what can I do to support a love of reading?  I teach phonics, comprehension strategies, spelling patterns, fluency...etc. BUT what am I doing to support a love of reading??? I believe that my position is more than teaching strategies and rehearsing skills.  People in my position need to inspire both administrators, teachers, students and parents to READ. Well if I didn't feel overwhelmed before, I certainly do now!!! However, it's an important question on which to focus and I love a challenge. Onto the BOOK...... As promised I will not be rehashing parts of my reading.  Instead, I will pose refl...

I am really enjoying the sentiments found in The Book Whisperer .  Donalyn Miller makes the reading relatable as she includes personal stories from her own teaching experience.  You have to have street credit when you're providing professional development.  Teachers are a lot like students in their learning.  They need to know how what they are learning applies to their world and their teaching.  By including examples and acknowledging her own struggles Donalyn Miller writes this book directly to the teacher. Here are my "take aways" from Chapters 2 & 3.  If you have your own understandings and would like to share or have questions, please leave a comment! Chapter 2 Everybody is a Reader............. Letting students choose books and guiding them to book selection creates the basis for a motivated reader. Struggling readers spend far less time in school reading than their classmates due to pull out supports, actually deepening the reading gap...

I try to read throughout the year........but I always fall short of reading texts.  I read novels and articles about literature and research, but not full texts.  Summer is my chance!  Armed with a book, cup of coffee (the occasional biscotti), highlighter, Post-it notes and pen I'm ready to study.  I'm on fire for making reading better for all students and the teachers I serve. My first summer read is Donalyn Miller's The Book Whisperer.   I thought it would be fun to break down my understandings from each chapter as I get through this fantastic resource.  Keep in mind that reading is personal and we transact with the text to make meaning of the author's message.  So, please feel free to comment on my "take aways" from each chapter!  I am currently reading this book with another teacher and we text every morning to check in on our understandings, thoughts, opinions, etc. of each chapter.  I read slowly! I have attention obstacles and ha...

This is my favorite part of the process!  I LOVE organizing with labels and bins, but what elementary school teacher doesn't swoon over labels.  I know I'm not alone here!  It also makes the library a reality and brings the project closer to completion.   I am of the school of thought that if you are going to do something, big or small, you should do it right the first time (forgive me if I've repeated myself).  I could have used a Sharpie to write the levels on the books or the bins, but I really wanted the library to look polished and professional.  I've said it before, but I believe the appearance of the library is very important to teacher engagement.  So here is how I organized every single book and title collection at every single level..... Each book label wraps around the book so the level shows on the front and the back cover.  I then cover each label with a clear book tape to protect it from handling.  I want these la...

If you haven't read my first blog post on this topic, then I encourage you to visit my previous post to gain some background.  At this time I continue to dedicate every minute I can sacrifice to working in the leveled library (in each building, remember I'm doing two!). We did have a work day at each building, like I mentioned earlier, where staff were able to help stamp, label and bag the books I've already inventoried.  This was important for a few reasons.  Yes, I need HELP that is not arguable.  However, there are other important reasons that relate directly to teacher buy-in: 1. usage, 2. respect, 3. comfort....... Guided Reading is near and dear to my heart, but not to those who love their teacher's manual and anthology series.  Our district is implementing the Fountas and Pinnell Benchmark Assessment next year K-6 for beginning, middle and end of the year benchmarking.  The leveled library will directly connect to that assessment and we are encou...

I will spare you the dramatic storyline that has brought me to this task……let's just say I have boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes and boxes (you get the picture) of books.  They are beautiful books with award winning authors and timeless classics for the ages.  They have been sitting in these boxes for almost two years.  So begins my journey of inventorying, organizing and assembling a school wide leveled library (two buildings, so times two but we won't be getting into that). I did a lot of research and leg work to develop a cohesive vision for the library.  It needed to be welcoming yet have an element of accountability.  It needed to be pleasing to the eye and yet functional. I started with a plan for the organization and the logistics.  That plan was then approved and supported by the administration (thank God).  Then it was a matter or ordering what we needed and setting up the physical space.  Th...

My new position as District Elementary Reading Specialist carries a lot of hats.  I chose to make Read Across America a big deal for the elementary buildings for obvious reasons….1. It's a nationally recognized event. 2. It celebrates READING! 3. It was a perfect opportunity to help further align the elementary schools in a simple way. One of the district wide initiatives was a home and school connection.  I wanted to involve our families to make the week more visible.  The week's theme in our district was from the quote "You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child".  This set the stage nicely for involving our parents.  Since it was the first time we held school wide events in one of he buildings it was important to lay the ground work for future events. I did a couple of things to foster the home & school connection for the week….. 1. School Wide Bulletin Board! Honestly, this was A LOT of work for me but worth e...

I am SUPER excited! This year I am the new District Elementary Reading Specialist!  I am loving my new position and all things READING.  No surprise that a primary grade teacher loves reading, but I even love the professional development, training, data tracking, assessments and goal setting that accompanies my new place in our district.  I could not be happier and I feel very blessed to have this opportunity.  I started in August and it has been a big undertaking.  My main responsibility this year has been to better align our three elementary school in ELA.  Quite the challenge, but I knew what I was getting into.  I love a challenge. Let's talk about something fun......like Read Across America!  This was one initiative that was near and dear to my heart.  I aligned the theme and activities of our elementary schools this year with the help of some wonderful educators who served on the Read Across America Committees at each building.  ...