ELAsuccess
Words, Words, Words…what are they all for? I’d like to invite you to reflect on your early learning years as a young child and remember what it might have been like before you knew about sentences, paragraphs, or reports. If you find this to be challenging, then catch
ELAsuccess
In the world of technology, reverse engineering is a slippery slope, as any technology patent office will tell you. But, in Shurley English, we feature a clever type of reverse engineering that can be groundbreaking for reluctant writers. In Shurley English, we make it our goal to help students understand
Holiday Lessons/Resources
My favorite thing about February is that it seems to be the designated month of love. It’s the time of the year when people seem to make a conscious effort to show LOVE to their family and friends in one way or another. Even people that find it hard
Holiday Lessons/Resources
Need a new idea to get the creative juices flowing in your classroom? The Haiku offers that opportunity to your students by channeling their creativity into this unique form of Japanese poetry. Here is a great lesson plan to get you started. (By the way, you can find this lesson,
ELAsuccess
At first glance, teaching the Degrees of Adjectives and Adverbs may seem trite, but after personally hearing numerous adults use this concept incorrectly, I feel it’s worth addressing to ensure the communication success of our young learners. Here is a great reference for you to use during your lesson:
study skills
All of us have students in our class who need a little extra nudge to keep their work area organized. (I have a whole post dedicated to teaching study skills here.) One of THE best tools that I have found to aid in the quest to stay organized is to
In the Spotlight
TPR (Total Physical Response) has its roots in second language acquisition, but it found its way into Shurley English too. TPR was first incepted by a psychology professor from San Jose University, CA, James Asher. He developed the idea almost fifty years ago, but it has truly helped students to
ELAsuccess
Writing skills are an important part of communication. They are critical to academic success and go on to become crucial in the workplace and other areas of life. While some people are born with a natural ability to express themselves verbally, writing is a skill that must be learned. You
Let's Get Creative
If you’re like most human beings in 2018, you probably spend a fair amount of time in front of a computer, tablet, or cell phone sitting, reading, texting, typing, or holding a phone up to your ear. Our workplaces and classrooms have been overtaken by the digital world. Even
Holiday Lessons/Resources
When the excitement of a snow day or a long weekend is over, you may want an activity to teach your students how to find interest in nature’s resting time. It's an opportunity to find the beauty on display right outside the window! Take a classroom field
ELAsuccess
I am a fairly laid-back person, but when it comes to the debate over the Oxford comma, I can get riled up! It’s so true; I can go from Ariel to Ursula in a matter of seconds when defending it! Unlike Ursula, I don’t want to take the
Grammar
I believe your STYLE matters when you teach Shurley English. I’m not referring to fashion, but I am speaking of classroom management style. SPOILER ALERT: I’m going to get personal and invite you to reflect on YOU and your style for a moment. What type of environment have