ELA Success
In order to meet the challenges of today’s work force, students need to be equipped with a broad base of knowledge and the tools necessary to communicate with competence and confidence. Our Discovery Time enrichment will stimulate students’ interest in a variety of topics, broaden their knowledge base, and
ELA Success
I don’t know about you, but when it was time to introduce the concept of long vowels in the middle of one-syllable words ending in “e”, I would spend long hours in prayer…first for my sanity and then for my students’ comprehension! Sure, there are some great ways
strategies
This week, I evacuated from my home in North Carolina due to Hurricane Florence. I headed out of town alone, following the others trying to seek safe shelter from the life-threatening storm. Nine hours later, I arrived at my turnoff, and it was completely dark except for my vehicle’s
Grammar
Formative Assessment plays an important role in education for both students and teachers. It’s a powerful tool that can enhance learning and education when aligned with outcomes and instructional methods. Students clearly benefit from the feedback they receive on formal assessments. It tells them how they are doing and
In the Spotlight
If there’s one subject I enjoy teaching almost as much as English grammar, it’s phonemic awareness, phonics, and spelling! I know it’s strange, but my linguistic brain has always identified with letters and the sounds they represent. When I began teaching phonemic awareness and phonics as an
Let's Get Creative
Did you know that a verb can tell time? It’s true! Within every verb is a little piece of information called tense. The tense of the verb tells you when the action of the verb takes place. Mastering the use of correct verb tense is a critical skill that
Back to School
[caption id align="alignnone" width="507"] “Without continual growth and progress, such words such as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” -Benjamin Franklin [/caption] Dear Educators, Welcome aboard Shurley English flight ABC. Please find your seat, stow your baggage in the overhead bin, and buckle-up
ELA Success
While the jury may still be out regarding the importance of teaching handwriting/penmanship, from where I sit, it isn’t something we want to leave out of our teaching repertoire. Though some might think the time needed to develop fluent handwriting would best be spent teaching keyboarding skills, I
In the Spotlight
In the 1960’s, a researcher by the name of Paul Diederich asked a group of language arts professionals a simple question: “What makes writing effective?” As the responses rolled in, Diederich was able to configure them into six distinct traits and coined them as the Traits of Effective Writing.
Back to School
So, what’s happening “testing-wise” in your school and in your classroom? Let’s continue the conversation about real or authentic assessments. (If you missed part one, click here.) In my opinion, it is vital to add these authentic assessments to your “testing bag-o-tricks.” Just look at some of the
ELA Success
Are complex sentences all that complex? Not really! If you want to see how simple complex sentences can be for young writers, read on. When I work with young, developing writers, I like to make new concepts seem like they’re no big deal, even if they are a bit
shurley english
As a certified elementary teacher, I came to realize the tremendous amount of power and influence I had on my students very early in my career. It was clear that my energy and delivery during certain lessons (either high or low) made an impression and greatly affected the outcome of