ELAsuccess
A broad, diverse vocabulary is essential to good writing, and that’s a fact! Since vocabulary directly affects Word Choice and Voice, two of the Traits of Effective Writing, meaningful vocabulary instruction is absolutely imperative. As you decide how to approach vocabulary instruction in your classroom, look for effective strategies
In the Spotlight
Knowing how to use punctuation marks correctly is important in any type of writing. As many of you know, it takes years of practice to apply punctuation rules like an expert. Recently, the proper use of a hyphen sparked my curiosity, and even though I’ve been using hyphens for
ELAsuccess
In an earlier post, I explained how the Sentence Blueprints we use in Shurley English provide a targeted skill practice in writing well-constructed sentences. In this post, I want to build on that idea with another exceptional strategy that bolsters our young writers’ word choices and helps them think very
Summer Learning
Summer Break is here, and our thoughts are revolving around words like vacation, relaxation, rest, getaway, and so on! Words like homework, project, and assignment instantly turn into bad-words the minute summer vacation begins, so I encourage you to avoid them at all costs! Instead, try to generate creative ways
Summer Learning
Have you ever thought of scheduling a weekly family meeting during the summer months? It really is a great way to boost communication skills at home! Kids of all ages, when given the chance, can participate in structured discussions to recap the previous week and plan for the next one.
Ideas for your Classroom
As you relax into your summer break and feel the freedom of each day, consider thinking about those learning centers you wanted to create during the school year but never had the time to do. With a clear mind and more time to tap into your right brain, creating Shurley
Summer Learning
Here’s an idea to kick your kids’ spelling prowess into high gear. While it’s true that some kids are just naturally good spellers, my experience has been that most are not. They need a sure-fire way to lock in accurate spelling, especially when summer time rolls around and
Summer Learning
I fondly recall the summers I spent taking my son to the local library when he was young. I can still remember his excitement as he perused the library shelves, looking for just the right books to take home to read. Those weekly trips were part of our routine, and
Summer Learning
If you’ve been following our Shurley English Blog posts you know we’ve been flooding you with creative ideas on how to continue supporting your students’ academic progress throughout the summer. We are also aware that with the high demands placed upon our children in today’s U.S.
ELAsuccess
As a teenager in the 1980s, I incorporated some ungrammatical words and phrases from pop culture into my day-to-day dialogue. One of the worst habits I picked up was saying the word “like” to accent almost everything that came out of my mouth. (Like, I was totally, like, bad about
Summer Learning
Summer vacation is coming soon! So, what are your plans? Have you included any activities that will help your child keep their language arts skills sharp over the break? (Haha! I’m almost positive that most of you just knitted your brows and sarcastically muttered the words: “Ugh, NO!”) Before
shurley english
“It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept." -The Velveteen