Choice Literacy Big Fresh

Click here for ALL links discussed.

Each week Choice Literacy shares the Big Fresh newsletter with a round-up of features around a key topic in literacy education. You can find the October 15, 2021 issue here. 

00:00  Welcome

00:28  Lead Essay by Ruth Ayres and Sam Ayres

04:10  Free For All Content Highlights

10:27  Classic Classroom Content Highlights

18:30 Literacy Leader Content Highlights

Join the Choice Literacy Book Club! Leigh Anne Eck selected the young adult novel Enduring Freedom by Jawad Arash and Trent Reedy as our October read. Grab a copy, and join the conversation using the hashtag #ChoiceLiteracyBookClub. 

Brenda Power suggests formats for creative events that build stronger home-school connections. This article was first published in 2019.

Mandy Robek compiles a list of her tried-and-true books for brain breaks with young learners. This article was first published in 2014.

Jen Schwanke shares some strategies for sustaining student attention, beyond just calling out a student's name over and over and over again. This article was first published in 2019.

Our Process Play course Empower Choice for Readers and Writers by elementary contributors will fuel your creativity for offering more choice to students in reading and writing. Free to members and available to purchase.

Click here to find out more about membership options.

 The focus of this week's podcast is secondary readers. Leigh Anne Eck and Ruth Ayres join the conversation.

Click here for ALL links discussed.

Each week Choice Literacy shares the Big Fresh newsletter with a round-up of features around a key topic in literacy education. You can find the October 8, 2021 issue here. 

00:00  Welcome

00:28  Lead Essay by Mandy Robek

04:30  Free For All Content Highlights

15:25  Classic Classroom Content Highlights

21:05 Literacy Leader Content Highlights

Join the Choice Literacy Book Club! Leigh Anne Eck selected the young adult novel Enduring Freedom by Jawad Arash and Trent Reedy as our October read. Grab a copy, and join the conversation using the hashtag #ChoiceLiteracyBookClub. 

Adolescent learners can face daunting reading loads in high school that they need to tackle at home. Jen Schwanke has tips for how teachers and parents can work together to help teens develop strategies for dealing with a lot of complex reading quickly.

Tara Barnett and Kate Mills lead virtual parent book clubs to foster more home/school connections and build a love of reading outside the school walls.

Don't miss our downloads! Christy Rush-Levine emphasizes "reflaction" in her reading conference protocol—reflection that leads to action for her students. Download the Reflaction Form to use with students.

If you enjoyed Christy's article and download, make sure to check out her Deep Dive course Meaningful Reading Conferences. Free to members and available to purchase.

Click here to find out more about membership options.

Click here for ALL links discussed.

Each week Choice Literacy shares the Big Fresh newsletter with a round-up of features around a key topic in literacy education. You can find the October 1, 2021 issue here. 

00:00  Welcome

00:28  Lead Essay by Cathy Mere

03:07  Content Highlights

Join the Choice Literacy Book Club! Leigh Anne Eck selected the young adult novel Enduring Freedom by Jawad Arash and Trent Reedy as our October read. Grab a copy, and join the conversation using the hashtag #ChoiceLiteracyBookClub. 

Christy Rush-Levine considers how her rubrics do not acknowledge different levels of support some students need to accomplish tasks. She rethinks her rubric design to include support, and in the process fosters more independence and reflection in students. Download the assessment rubric. This article was first published in 2017.

Clare Landrigan and Tammy Mulligan explain how literacy coaches can validate and support teachers by helping them refine their classroom notetaking skills. This article was first published in 2012.

Don't miss our Field Experience course about small group instruction! Classroom observations are some of the most valuable learning experiences. Yet there is no way you can see everything when visiting a live classroom. Our Field Experience collection allows you to virtually discover diverse field experiences and see instructional strategies that pique your interest, as well as learn about the art of teaching. Free to members and available to purchase.

Click here to find out more about membership options.

This year the Choice Literacy Book Club was formed. You will find a book talk video and a Padlet where our community has shared their thoughts about the book. Feel free to join! Click here to find out more about the Choice Literacy Book Club!

Order of joining the conversation:

Heather Fisher

Christy Rush-Levine

Ruth Ayres

Jen Court

Cathy Mere

Leigh Anne Eck

Click here for ALL links discussed.

00:00  Welcome

00:28  Lead Essay by Ruth Ayres

02:23  New Content Highlights

6:23 Book Club Discussion

Join the Choice Literacy Book Club! Heather Fisher selected So You Want to Be an Owl by Jane Porter and Maddie Frost as our September read. Grab a copy, and join the conversation using the hashtag #ChoiceLiteracyBookClub. 

One way to keep your instruction fresh in a required writing unit is to take on the tasks and topics yourself. Dana Murphy finds completing the assignments herself is well worth her time and gives her a treasure trove of notebook entries to use in her conferring. This article was first published in 2018.

Melanie Meehan shares how everything from transitions to clutter can provide clues for how to increase student output and enjoyment. This article was first published in 2017.

Field Experience Course: Writer's Notebooks: Writer's notebooks are important tools for writers. This field experience showcases how elementary teachers use notebooks with young students. Free to members and available to purchase.

Click here to find out more about membership options.

 The focus of this week's podcast is using picture books. Cathy Mere and Ruth Ayres join the conversation.

Click here for ALL links discussed.

Each week Choice Literacy shares the Big Fresh newsletter with a round-up of features around a key topic in literacy education. You can find the September 19, 2021 issue here. 

00:00  Welcome

00:28  Lead Essay by Ruth Ayres

03:34  Free for All Conversation

10:08  Classic Classroom Conversation

17:14 Literacy Leader Content Conversation

Join the Choice Literacy Book Club! Heather Fisher selected So You Want to Be an Owl by Jane Porter and Maddie Frost as our September read. Grab a copy, and join the conversation using the hashtag #ChoiceLiteracyBookClub. 

Mandy Robek learns a lot about worry from her daughter, and at the same time discovers a treasure trove of children's books to help students overcome worries. This is a fantastic booklist and was first published in 2021.

Christy Rush-Levine finds administrators are questioning the value of read alouds, especially with older students. She shares how she uses the picture book Love in her middle school classroom to launch challenging discussions about timely themes. This article was first published in 2018.

Reading Rockets shares about the features in e-books that may distract, support, or extend comprehension and the need for more scaffolding of reading instruction with e-books. 

Field Experience Course: Picture Books and Older Students: The value of picture books with secondary students is often questioned. This field experience allows insight into the depth and power of picture books for older students. Our Field Experience courses simulate classroom observations and conversations to experience high quality teaching situations. Free to members and available to purchase.

Click here to find out more about membership options.