In the Spotlight
I love it when parents want to help their children at home. This kind of attention and assistance can make all the difference. But what happens when the parent is not quite sure about your teaching methods, specifically the Shurley English approach to language arts? Not to worry! We have
public speaking
During the past 25 years, I have been presenting Shurley English to educators across the country. So, as a seasoned presenter, I sometimes forget how uncomfortable some people feel about speaking in front of a crowd. The very idea that someone would be that fearful of public speaking led me
In the Spotlight
(This is part two of a two-part series on Language Arts Centers. If you missed part one, you can find it here.) Now that you’ve decided to create Shurley English Centers in your classroom and have solidified the details of my 7 Must Dos, let’s brainstorm some topics
k-12 education
Who’s in Control? This is an important question…but, before I attempt to answer it, I should explain that I CAN’T answer this question for you. I can only answer it as it applies to me. As a former classroom teacher, it was a question I grappled with
adverbs
When my third graders were first learning the parts of speech, some of them would mix-up adverbs and adjectives. I found a great process that would move my students from definitions, through Bloom's Taxonomy, and towards application. Let me show you... Step 1: Definitions Remember, an adverb modifies
appositives
Appositives don’t have to be complicated. You just need to know (a) what they are, (b) how to punctuate them properly, and (c) how to use them to your advantage. When you understand these three things, you can use them any time they’re necessary in a competent and
Let's Get Creative
Anyone up for an out-of-the-box challenge? When I was a classroom teacher in the 90’s some of us teachers were in the business of creating student-led learning centers or stations for Math, Science, or Language Arts. I loved creating and hosting centers in my classroom because it gave my
ELAsuccess
Are your students ready for some ideas to jazz up their narrative writing pieces? With simple word-choice strategies during the revision process, the entire story can take a different shape. So, let's get started with some strategies and techniques you can use in the classroom to promote effective
strategies
When someone asks me to tell them about Shurley English in a nutshell, I still experience a nanosecond of wondering where to begin. I mean, hey, it’s no easy task to capture the unique features of the curriculum and explain how they help students make the language arts connection
ELAsuccess
Did you know that there is more than one way to be smart? According to theorists, educational psychologists, and professors, such as Howard Gardner, Carol Dweck, and Thomas Armstrong, evidence suggests they’re right. Howard Gardner developed the Multiple Intelligences (MI) theory about 35 years ago. I stumbled upon his
ELAsuccess
Subject-verb agreement refers to the special way in which a subject and verb work together to make a sentence correct. Basically, the two must agree in number. For example, if the subject is singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb must be plural. Without
ELAsuccess
Do you have some primary students who still have difficulty identifying adverbs? Not to worry! Our Adverb Jingle helps students learn not only the definition of an adverb, but also the three initial questions to ask when finding adverbs: How? When? Where? (Don't have our ELA jingles? Here&