by Liz Shockey | May 3, 2022
Deliver information with 4 word-choice techniques Although informative writing consists of facts, quotes, explanations, and examples, the writer’s word choice is just as valuable. Teach students to intentionally incorporate relevant and accurate vocabulary with these...
by Liz Shockey | May 3, 2022
Make an Inference in 5 Steps Regardless of a text’s topic, type, or complexity, students at every grade level must learn how to make inferences. Thinking beyond the text is the foundation of every comprehension standard. During this practical and engaging edWebinar,...
by Liz Shockey | May 3, 2022
Plan & Deliver Dynamic Comprehension Lessons In an era when reading achievement lags behind expectations, effective comprehension instruction has never been more important. The entire class benefits from explicit and engaging whole-class mini-lessons that show...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 19, 2022
Integrate 3 ingredients within every claim After acquiring background knowledge on a debatable topic and aligning with a side, instruct students on the three ingredients of an argumentative claim—the type, the scope, and the certainty. Duration: 4:10 | Grades...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 14, 2022
In this video, originally presented as a session during Super Saturday Reading Conference, Courtney Gordon shares how to address opinion and persuasive writing in response to text–within the developmental stages of writing. Duration: 52 minutes | Grades...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 14, 2022
In this video, originally presented as a session during Super Saturday Reading Conference, Shona Lansdell demonstrates the power of utilizing functional vocabulary in the classroom. Duration: 43 minutes | Grades...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 6, 2022
Practice 2-step synthesizing with visuals A synthesis occurs when a reader combines two or more details from multiple texts to generate a new idea. As simple as this may sound, achieving a synthesis is a complex task that requires two key steps. Duration: 3:58 |...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 23, 2022
Strengthen text citations in 3 steps Although the comprehension standards state that text features are to be introduced in grades K-3—all grade levels are to teach students how to apply them. This is where the power of text features sometimes gets lost. Students need...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 8, 2022
Strengthen text citations in 3 steps Students know that they must include text evidence to support their inferences, and many are familiar with common sentence starters like, “According to the passage…” or “The author states…” And yet many still struggle to write....
by Brady Smekens | Mar 8, 2022
A quick re-cap of Parts 3 & 4 with guidance on how to apply what you are learning in Writable. Duration: 56 minutes
by Liz Shockey | Feb 14, 2022
Identify 4 reasons to take notes Subject-area notebooks can serve as a great incubator for a student’s thinking. But if students tackle note-taking without any overriding purpose, the notebook can become a hodgepodge of words copied from the board instead of a tool to...
by Brady Smekens | Feb 10, 2022
A quick re-cap of Parts 1 & 2 with guidance on how to apply what you are learning in Writable. Duration: 60 minutes
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Recognize the hierarchy of phonics development from lower to upper grades. Duration: 54 minutes | Grades K-3 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Grow vocabulary knowledge exponentially with explicit lessons on prefixes, suffixes, and bases. Duration: 50 Minutes | Grades 3-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Provide whole-class mini-lessons on domain-specific vocabulary following Marzano’s research-based steps to mastery. Duration: 55 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Recognize the direct relationship between knowing general academic words and accurately decoding a prompt. Duration: 44 Minutes | Grades 2-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Learn the 4-step process for building a grade-level list of domain-specific and general academic words. Duration: 44 minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to advance readers from retelling to summarizing to inferring the theme. Duration: 55 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to teach readers how to track individual story elements and analyze their relationships. Duration: 48 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to understand the connection between an author’s purpose and the text’s organizational structure. Duration: 53 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to determine character feelings, infer author perspective, and analyze points of view. Duration: 49 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts that move readers from comparing individual ideas to comparing whole texts. Duration: 50 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Understand that phonics and decoding must be taught in conjunction with comprehension and meaning—and vice versa. Duration: 39 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Demystify the idea of using context clues by showing students what clues to look for and where to look for them. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Introduce how the Reading Voice and Thinking Voice work together to figure out something the author never stated. Duration: 40 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Provide strategies for readers to make inferences despite a lack of text-to-self connections or personal experiences. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Equip readers with ways to record their thoughts while reading using grade-appropriate techniques. Duration: 45 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Identify a yearlong scaffold of write-about-reading skills needed to be game-day ready. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-3 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Learn developmentally-appropriate writing skills that include textual evidence in pictures, labels, and simple sentences. Duration: 53 Minutes | Grades K-2 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Target the essential parts that need to be included in a polished constructed response—evidence, elaboration, and explanation. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades 2-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Demonstrate a deep understanding and synthesis after reading multiple texts on the same topic. Duration: 49 Minutes | Grades 3-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Study the four types of narrative read-write prompts, including the text types associated with each and key skills to teach students. Duration: 41 Minutes | Grades 2-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Identify frequent and authentic opportunities for students to execute research in the everyday classroom. Duration: 52 Minutes | Grades 2-12
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Learn precisely how texts and purposes vary when reading in math, ELA, science, and social studies. Duration: 51 Minutes | Grades 2-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Move beyond simply identifying text features to targeting the bigger purposes behind the inclusion of these organizational aids. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Teach the technical and close-reading skills needed to comprehend story problems in math. Duration: 43 Minutes | Grades 2-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
Teach students what the Reading Voice says, sees, and hears when “reading” audio, visual, and video texts. Duration: 48 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
In an era when distractions and disruptions are commonplace, delivering effective whole-class lessons is a persistent challenge. To overcome that challenge, teachers need the tools to make their lessons explicit and engaging. During her kickoff to Super Saturday,...
by Liz Shockey | Feb 8, 2022
In an era when distractions and disruptions are commonplace, delivering effective whole-class lessons is a persistent challenge. To overcome that challenge, teachers need the tools to make their lessons explicit and engaging. During her kickoff to Super Saturday,...
by Liz Shockey | Jan 25, 2022
Ask two types of after-reading questions There are two broad categories of after-reading questions that primary teachers should be asking regarding comprehension. Questions that ask about the details stated in the text.Questions that go beyond the details stated in...
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
In an era when distractions and disruptions are commonplace, delivering effective whole-class lessons is a persistent challenge. To overcome that challenge, teachers need the tools to make their lessons explicit and engaging. During her kickoff to Super Saturday,...
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Teach students what the Reading Voice says, sees, and hears when “reading” audio, visual, and video texts. Duration: 48 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Teach the technical and close-reading skills needed to comprehend story problems in math. Duration: 43 Minutes | Grades 2-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Move beyond simply identifying text features to targeting the bigger purposes behind the inclusion of these organizational aids. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Learn precisely how texts and purposes vary when reading in math, ELA, science, and social studies. Duration: 51 Minutes | Grades 2-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Identify frequent and authentic opportunities for students to execute research in the everyday classroom. Duration: 52 Minutes | Grades 2-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Study the four types of narrative read-write prompts, including the text types associated with each and key skills to teach students. Duration: 41 Minutes | Grades 2-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Demonstrate a deep understanding and synthesis after reading multiple texts on the same topic. Duration: 49 Minutes | Grades 3-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Target the essential parts that need to be included in a polished constructed response—evidence, elaboration, and explanation. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades 2-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Learn developmentally-appropriate writing skills that include textual evidence in pictures, labels, and simple sentences. Duration: 53 Minutes | Grades K-2 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Identify a yearlong scaffold of write-about-reading skills needed to be game-day ready. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-3 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Equip readers with ways to record their thoughts while reading using grade-appropriate techniques. Duration: 45 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Provide strategies for readers to make inferences despite a lack of text-to-self connections or personal experiences. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Introduce how the Reading Voice and Thinking Voice work together to figure out something the author never stated. Duration: 40 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Demystify the idea of using context clues by showing students what clues to look for and where to look for them. Duration: 47 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Understand that phonics and decoding must be taught in conjunction with comprehension and meaning—and vice versa. Duration: 39 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts that move readers from comparing individual ideas to comparing whole texts. Duration: 50 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to determine character feelings, infer author perspective, and analyze points of view. Duration: 49 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to understand the connection between an author’s purpose and the text’s organizational structure. Duration: 53 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to teach readers how to track individual story elements and analyze their relationships. Duration: 48 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Acquire a scaffold of lesson concepts to advance readers from retelling to summarizing to inferring the theme. Duration: 55 Minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Learn the 4-step process for building a grade-level list of domain-specific and general academic words. Duration: 44 minutes | Grades K-12
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Recognize the direct relationship between knowing general academic words and accurately decoding a prompt. Duration: 44 Minutes | Grades 2-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Provide whole-class mini-lessons on domain-specific vocabulary following Marzano’s research-based steps to mastery. Duration: 55 Minutes | Grades K-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Grow vocabulary knowledge exponentially with explicit lessons on prefixes, suffixes, and bases. Duration: 50 Minutes | Grades 3-12 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 21, 2022
Recognize the hierarchy of phonics development from lower to upper grades. Duration: 54 minutes | Grades K-3 / ELL
by Liz Shockey | Jan 11, 2022
Improve prompt responses with the Yes, MA’AM acronym Standardized tests require that students read multiple texts and then respond in writing. In order to pull this off, they have to know what to write and how to get started. To help with this challenge, kids need a...
by Brady Smekens | Dec 18, 2021
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content First Day to Test Day – Part 1 First Day to Test Day – Part 2 First Day to Test Day – Part 3 First Day to Test Day – Part...
by Brady Smekens | Dec 16, 2021
Raise the rigor to reading multiple texts and composing extended responses—all in one sitting. Provide explicit instruction on academic vocabulary to support students in decoding and responding to prompts.Build on the students’ knowledge of short constructed responses...
by Brady Smekens | Dec 16, 2021
Advance students beyond making single-text inferences to generating multi-text syntheses. Identify a step-by-step process for reading and annotating multiple texts in one sitting.Dissect how readers integrate ideas learned from multiple sources to generate a new...
by Brady Smekens | Dec 16, 2021
Reveal to students that their thinking must also be communicated in writing. Define the ingredients to a strong constructed response.Propel students beyond simply stating evidence to explaining it.
by Brady Smekens | Dec 16, 2021
Target the thinking that students must execute when reading any text. Demystify the inference process in order to answer comprehension questions about complex texts.Attack questions with test-taking tips to support finding the “best” and “most likely”...
by Brady Smekens | Dec 16, 2021
In an era when distractions and disruptions are commonplace, delivering effective whole-class lessons is a persistent challenge. To overcome that challenge, teachers need the tools to make their lessons explicit and engaging. During her kickoff to Super Saturday,...
by Connie Williamson | Aug 26, 2021
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout Identify the Traits - DESCRIBE "GOOD" WRITING Note examples of...
by Connie Williamson | Aug 25, 2021
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout Utilize Common Language - REVIEW THE SIX TRAITS Part 1: Pop Quiz Part 2: Six-Traits...
by Liz Shockey | Aug 23, 2021
Anchor Comprehension Lessons with Anchor Charts In this video, originally presented as a webinar, Kristina Smekens demonstrates the power in providing visual anchor charts for student learning. Rather than simply displaying them, Kristina shows how to build them...
by Liz Shockey | Aug 23, 2021
Introduce Students to the 3 Reader Voices In this video, originally presented as a webinar, Kristina Smekens explains that all readers have three voices in their heads: the Reading Voice, the Thinking Voice, and the Distracting Voice. She goes on to share how to...
by Liz Shockey | Aug 20, 2021
Advance Beyond Doing Reading to Teaching Reading Our class periods and reading blocks are often filled with students practicing and applying comprehension skills; they are “doing” a lot of reading. However, these experiences cannot replace the explicit teaching of...
by Brady Smekens | Aug 20, 2021
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Launch 3-12: Let’s Get Started! Launch 3-12: Workshop overview Launch 3-12: Session 1 Launch 3-12: Session 2 Launch 3-12: Session 3 Launch 3-12: Mid-day...
by Brady Smekens | Aug 20, 2021
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Launch K-2: Let’s Get Started! Launch K-2: Workshop Overview Launch K-2: Session 1 Launch K-2: Session 2 Launch K-2: Session 3 Launch K-2: Mid-day...
by Liz Shockey | May 24, 2021
What curriculum will improve our writing instruction? When educators take on the challenge of improving achievement in writing, a common starting point is to search for a robust writing curriculum. While an investment in a boxed curriculum may offer important guidance...
by Liz Shockey | May 4, 2021
How can I establish procedures that easily convert between virtual and in-person learning? Well-established procedures bring order to the classroom, but more importantly, they help teachers maximize instructional time. However, as students continue to toggle between...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 27, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Show, Don’t Tell This mini-lesson challenges writers to use action verbs to show their feelings. Using engaging mentor text, Kristina explains how to include action verbs to show feeling. Duration: 11:33 | Grade 7
by Liz Shockey | Apr 21, 2021
How can my students create a digital writing portfolio? Writing portfolios have long been an effective tool for showcasing a student’s work. Unlike a writer’s notebook, which serves as a collection of working drafts, the portfolio represents a student’s best writing....
by Liz Shockey | Apr 21, 2021
What should be my end-of-year writing focus? As teachers are preparing to wrap up a school year disrupted by the pandemic, many are wondering what to prioritize in their writing instruction. Regardless of whether students are in first grade or high school, a focus on...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 19, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Sensory Mix-Up: 2-Step Directions This mini-lesson shows students how to include sensory details in their writing. Using the idea of sand art, Kristina explains how to mix in sensory details throughout their writing. Duration: 14:28 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 19, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Patterning First-Liners This mini-lesson shows students how to pattern their own beginnings in writing after mentor text. Using engaging mentor text examples, Kristina shows how to write a good first-liner. Duration: 14:54 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 19, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Develop Topic Sentences & Supporting Details This mini-lesson explains the importance of including supporting details in paragraph writing. Using the “table” from a pizza box, Kristina shows students how a table top needs legs in order to...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: X-Ray Editing This mini-lesson shows students how to look for their writing errors when they edit. Using colorful glasses, Kristina demonstrates how to focus on one editing task at a time. Duration: 13:35 | Grade 4
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Consistent Verb Tense This mini-lesson explains how to maintain consistent verb tense. Using a sand timer, Kristina shows students the concept of past tense, present tense, and future tense. Duration: 12:30 | Grade 8
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Punctuating Dialogue This mini-lesson explains how to use quotation marks in dialogue. Using air quotes and a little history, Kristina shows students how to place quotation marks around what characters say. Duration: 13:57 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Pause for Commas This mini-lesson helps students learn how to know where to add a comma. Using the mentor text “Eats, Shoots & Leaves,” Kristina shows students how important the comma is for conveying meaning. Duration: 13:06 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Hearing End Marks This mini-lesson helps students learn how to listen for punctuation. Using passages without words, Kristina shows students how to listen for different punctuation marks. Duration: 12:41 | Grade 1
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Spacing Between Words This mini-lesson shows how important it is to include spaces between words. Using dominoes, Kristina shows students what happens if no space is left between dominoes—and words. Duration: 12:07 | Grade K
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Passing the Tower Test This mini-lesson demonstrates how to avoid writing run-on sentences. Using wooden blocks, Kristina shows students how a tower of blocks will fall if too many blocks are added–just like too many words might require more than...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Charting Sentence Fluency This mini-lesson demonstrates how students can self-assess varied sentence length. Putting aside the Slinky, Kristina shows students another way to check their sentence length to see if they have enough variety. Duration: 11:50 |...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Sentence Stretching with a Slinky This mini-lesson demonstrates how students can self-assess varied sentence length. Using a Slinky, Kristina shows students how to check their sentence length to see if they have variety. Duration: 14:09 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Sentence Stretching with a Slinky This mini-lesson demonstrates how students can self-assess varied sentence length. Using a Slinky, Kristina shows students how to stretch out some sentences to make them longer. Duration: 15:02 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Supersizing Sentences with Prepositional Phrases This mini-lesson shows students how to supersize their sentences by adding prepositional phrases. Using a giant magic straw, Kristina shows them how to grow their sentences to longer lengths. Duration:...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Get Outta Here This mini-lesson encourages students to replace worn-out verbs with better action verbs. Using the analogy of the verb being the engine of the sentence, Kristina shows students how to replace weak verbs with stronger ones. Duration: 12:27 |...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Sequential Action Verbs This mini-lesson shows how to include multiple action verbs in one sentence. Using mentor text examples, Kristina shows students how to add powerful verbs to their writing. Duration: 15:06 | Grade 5
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Brand-Name Nouns This mini-lesson emphasizes the importance of using precise nouns instead of vague ones. Using a brand-name cereal box and a generic cereal box, Kristina explains how to use the right word in the right place for good word choice....
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Comparison Details This mini-lesson explains the importance of using good word choice with comparison details. Using the bullseye word choice icon, Kristina guides students through the process of adding comparison details in their informative writing....
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Weaving Description Among Facts This mini-lesson shows students how to include descriptive details in their informative writing. Using the idea of braiding, Kristina demonstrates how to weave descriptive details among facts. Duration: 14:41 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Show, Don’t Tell This mini-lesson challenges your writers to add details to show their feelings rather than telling their feelings. Using a magnifying glass, Kristina explains how to add close-up details to show feeling. Duration: 13:18 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Choosing Sides This mini-lesson helps students understand that voice is determined by perspective. Using a Rubik’s cube, Kristina explains that one issue or topic could have several different “sides.” Duration: 14:32 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Different Perspectives This mini-lesson shows how voice changes based on perspective. Using engaging mentor text, Kristina demonstrates how writing from a unique perspective improves the trait of voice. Duration: 13:27 | Grade 8
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: P.A.T. Determines Voice This mini-lesson helps students determine their writing voice based on the purpose and audience for their writing. Using a flipbook, Kristina shows students how voice is different depending on why you’re writing and who will...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 16, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Hearing, Naming, & Finding Voice This mini-lesson explains to students the importance of listening for voice as readers, and then naming it. Using the voice poster, Kristina helps students see how to using feeling words to pinpoint voice in writing....
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Backwards Brainstorming This mini-lesson asks students to start with their feelings and then think of a topic. Using the voice poster, Kristina leads students through brainstorming topics based on different feelings. Duration: 14:15 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Omitting “Really” & “Very” This mini-lesson encourages students to omit the words “really” and “very” from their writing. Using a toothpick and a spatula, Kristina explains how to replace those little...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Write Smooth Transition Sentences to Blend Ideas This mini-lesson helps students consider how to write transition sentences. Using variegated yarn, Kristina shows students how to blend their ideas from one paragraph to the next with a transition sentence....
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Writing Purposeful Transitions This mini-lesson helps students understand the importance of using purposeful transitions. Using a road sign, Kristina explains to students how transitions in our writing guide a reader just like road signs guide a driver....
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Organizing a Compare-Contrast This mini-lesson explains how to organize a compare-contrast piece of writing. Using a specially wrapped package, Kristina shows students how to pre-write using a T-Chart instead of a Venn diagram. Duration: 13:25 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Yo-Yo Beginnings & Endings This mini-lesson shows students how to start and end their writing with the same technique. Using a Yo-Yo, Kristina shows students several different ways to begin and end a piece of writing. Duration: 15:47 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Creating Strong “So What?” Endings This mini-lesson helps students learn how to create endings that do more than summarize. Using the train icon for the trait of organization, Kristina shows students writing samples that provide a “So...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: 10 Types of Introductions This mini-lesson provides students with 10 different ways to write or deliver and introduction. Using the train icon for the trait of organization, Kristina focuses on ways to write an introduction that grab a reader’s...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Stay on Topic with Titles This mini-lesson demonstrates how writers should only include details in the title that follow the topic they’re writing about. Using a box of cereal, Kristina shows students how a reader expects to read only details that...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Strong Titles This mini-lesson explains the importance of choosing a title carefully when writing. Using two different wrapped gifts, Kristina shows students how a strong title can grab their readers’ attention. Duration: 15:48 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: 4 Steps to Paraphrase This mini-lesson explains the 4-step process of paraphrasing. Using hand motions for each step, Kristina shows students how to read a text and then put what they read into their own words. Duration: 15:09 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Adding Details with the ABC Chart This mini-lesson shows students how brainstorm for details to improve their writing. Using the ABC Chart, Kristina shows students how to brainstorm for details before they write. Duration: 14:57 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Slow-Motion Writing This mini-lesson shows students how to slow down to improve their writing. By acting out different tasks like brushing your teeth, Kristina shows students the importance of slowing down when they write so they can include more details....
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Pump Up Your Writing This mini-lesson shows students how to develop their ideas to make their writing better. Using a balloon, Kristina shows students how to “pump” up their writing with added details. With each detail she adds, she blows more...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 15, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Develop a Paragraph – Supporting Leg Details This mini-lesson demonstrates how to explain the importance of including supporting details in paragraph writing. Using the “table” from a pizza box, Kristina shows students how a table top...
by Liz Shockey | Apr 5, 2021
What should I know about the argumentative reading standard? In today’s information-rich world, it’s important for readers to go beyond consuming nonfiction text. They need to learn to critically read opinion-based informational text. This includes learning to...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 30, 2021
How do I utilize digital writer’s notebooks in the primary grades? Teachers in the primary grades have been using writer’s notebooks for years. This important element of the writer’s workshop contains each student’s pieces—from his pictorial writings to labeled...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 30, 2021
Does decoding the prompt ensure test success? Many ELA standardized assessments include a complex task. These often require students to combine several reading and writing skills in order to produce a longer written response. To succeed at such a task, students must...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 18, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Narrow Down to a Thesis This mini-lesson demonstrates how to drill down a topic/idea to a specific thesis statement. Using nesting boxes, Kristina delineates how to take a huge concept and narrow it down to a sentence that includes the three essentials of...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 18, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Narrow the Topic This mini-lesson explains the importance of narrowing a topic when writing. Using nesting boxes, Kristina demonstrates how to move from a broad topic to a more specific, narrowed topic. Duration: 15:34 | Grade 3
by Liz Shockey | Mar 18, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Narrow the Topic This mini-lesson explains the importance of narrowing a topic when writing. Using nesting boxes, Kristina demonstrates how to move from a broad topic to a more specific, narrowed topic. Duration: 15:47 | Grade 5
by Liz Shockey | Mar 18, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Introduce Argumentative Writing This mini-lesson includes an explanation of the differences between persuasive and argumentative writing. Using the imagery of scales, Kristina helps students understand how writers balance their writing with pros and cons...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 17, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Adding Details with Carets This mini-lesson shows students how to add more to their writing. Kristina helps students see how to use a caret to add more details to their writing. Duration: 14:04 | Grade 1
by Liz Shockey | Mar 17, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Read Up, Write Down This mini-lesson demonstrates a strategy for self-editing. Kristina shows students the importance of lifting their papers when they self-edit. When they write, their papers are flat on their desks. But when it’s time to...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 12, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Introduce Text Features This mini-lesson introduces the concept of text features. Using the Guinness Book of World Records, Kristina points out different kinds of text features and their importance. Duration: 13:56 | Grade 3
by Liz Shockey | Mar 12, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Main-Idea Newspaper Headlines This mini-lesson helps students to understand the concept of a main idea and how to identify it within a text. Using newspaper headlines, Kristina shows students how to look for the clues from the text to create a...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 12, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Introduce Reading Voice & Thinking Voice This mini-lesson introduces students to the different voices in their heads. Kristina models her own “voices” to help students understand how the Reading Voice reads the words in the text, and the...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 12, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Writing a Strong Summary This mini-lesson walks students through the process of writing a summary. Using a sports analogy, Kristina explains the difference between a retell (the play-by-play) and a summary (the highlights/ESPN SportsCenter). Duration:...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 12, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Recalling the Details of a Story This mini-lesson helps students remember the details from a story they’ve just read. Using the ABC Chart, Kristina shows students how to collect their thoughts as they recall characters, settings, and events from the...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 12, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Recall & Retell with ABC Chart This mini-lesson guides students through the process of retelling a story. Using the ABC Chart, Kristina helps students first collect the details they remember. Then, using a 3-box storyboard, she shows them how to put...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 12, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Improving Peer Revision This mini-lesson helps students make the peer-revision process powerful. Kristina provides specific questions students can use in order to give meaningful feedback to their peers. Duration: 12:22 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 11, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Revise in 3 Steps This mini-lesson teaches the importance of revision in writing. Using Play-Doh as a trigger, Kristina has the students experience the entire writing process in a few minutes—including revision. Duration: 13:09 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 11, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Make Room for Revision This mini-lesson demonstrates two ways students can make room in their writing for revision. Kristina demonstrates the process and invites students to try both during writing time. Duration: 14:48 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 11, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Story Surgery This mini-lesson introduces students to a new revision strategy—story surgery. Using a fake liver as a visual trigger, Kristina shares how to cut up the writing to “mess with its guts.” Duration: 12:45 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 11, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Make a “Done” List This mini-lesson shows students specific ways to revise their writing when they think they are finished. Kristina creates a “Done” List with the students to demonstrate that they can still make changes to their...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 11, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Readers Make Inferences This mini-lesson introduces students the process of making an inference. Using a magnifying glass, Kristina shows students how to look for clues like a detective. Duration: 13:31 | Grade 4
by Liz Shockey | Mar 11, 2021
How can I use your ready-made lesson resources as a virtual teacher? In this new Covid-era, many virtual teachers ask how they can customize our traditional PDFs and blackline masters to “build” them on a screen in front of their students. Here’s a simple 2-step...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 11, 2021
How can I get my students to slow down and think when doing math story problems? One way to cause students to slow down and first think about the problem is by removing the numbers and replacing them with blank lines. By creating numberless word problems, students are...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 9, 2021
Classroom Activity: Stand Up, Sit Down (Grade 4) This classroom activity allows students to review content. The initial video includes instructions. Kristina adds an element of fun to the review by having students share the content in engaging ways. Duration: 7:40 |...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 9, 2021
Classroom Activity: Stand Up, Sit Down (Grade 2) This classroom activity allows students to review content. The initial video includes instructions. Kristina adds an element of fun to the review by having students share the content in engaging ways. Duration: 7:22 |...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 9, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Turn Fragments into Sentences This mini-lesson helps students learn how to turn words and phrases into complete sentences. Using Spider Legs, Kristina demonstrates an engaging way to revise a first draft, turning fragments into sentences. Duration: 16:07...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 9, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Support Writers with Frames This mini-lesson shows students how to make their writing longer and more organized. Using pictures about learning to hit a baseball, Kristina shows how writers need support, too, when learning new skills. Duration: 15:26 |...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 9, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Listing Related Details This mini-lesson helps students understand how to list multiple details for a topic. Using the train trigger and a grocery list, Kristina shows students that all items on a list should go together. Duration: 15:33 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 9, 2021
Mini-Lesson: 4 Types of Picture Details This mini-lesson shows students how to add details to their pictures. Kristina shares four specific ways to add close-up details to drawings. Duration: 15:33 | Grade K
by Liz Shockey | Mar 5, 2021
Mini-Lesson: 3 Reasons to Indent This mini-lesson shows students how to indent their paragraphs for different reasons. Using the image of a “dent” in clay, Kristina shows three specific reasons for indenting a paragraph. Duration: 15:25 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Changing Sentence Speeds This mini-lesson helps students understand how to intentionally create long or short sentences based on topic and purpose. Using engaging examples, Kristina models the process of deciding what length is best based on the topic and...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Supersizing Sentences This mini-lesson encourages students to stretch their sentences to new lengths. Using supersized fast food, Kristina helps students understand how to make their sentences more detailed and developed. Duration: 14:28 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Hearing Punctuation This mini-lesson helps students to hear punctuation when they’re reading their writing aloud. Using a high-interest text, Kristina helps students learn to listen for end marks. Duration: 13:03 | Grade 2
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Write Transition Sentences that Blend Ideas This mini-lesson takes students from one-word transitions to sentence transitions that blend ideas from one paragraph to the next. Kristina uses variegated yarn as a trigger to show how ideas can blend from one...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Understanding Parallelism This mini-lesson emphasizes how using parallel structure in writing improves the sentence fluency. Using colored beads as a trigger, Kristina demonstrates how to revise phrases to follow a pattern that makes the writing more...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Choose the Best Adjectives This mini-lesson focuses on how to select the best adjective to describe a noun. Using engaging pictures, Kristina helps students brainstorm possible words and then helps them determine which is the best one for a specific...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Self-Edit a Digital Draft This mini-lesson deals with how to self-edit a first draft off of a screen. Kristina shares three tips for finding errors in an on-screen draft—even if a student has just written the draft. Duration: 18:48 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Faces & Words with Feelings This mini-lesson demonstrates how voice can be shown in both pictures and words. Using mentor text to demonstrate, Kristina shows kindergartners how to use facial expressions in their drawings to convey emotion. She also...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson & Activity: Question the Author This mini-lesson and activity help students to understand that informational text presents an author’s bias. Through examples and instruction, Kristina guides the students to consider an author’s words and...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Classroom Activity: ABC Chart Carousel – Math Vocabulary Review This classroom activity provides an opportunity for students to review Algebra II concepts prior to a test. Using the Smekens ABC Chart, Kristina leads students in a best-practice carousel activity,...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Classroom Activity: Think, Ink, Pair, Square – Instructions for 3-Step Activity This classroom activity provides an opportunity for students to receive peer support as they think through a written response. Think, Ink, Pair, Square can be used after a lesson,...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Add Beginnings & Endings to Middles This mini-lesson helps students understand that all writing should include three parts. Using writing samples, Kristina shows how to add a beginning and an end to what most students write—just a middle. Duration:...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Puff Up a Pre-Write Mini-Lesson Series This mini-lesson series reminds students of pre-writing with a list and how that provides the ideas to include in a writing. Using the compression bag trigger and different lists of ideas in her Think Aloud, Kristina...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 4, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Puff Up a Pre-Write This mini-lesson reminds students of the function of a pre-write and how it provides the ideas to include in a writing. Using a compression bag (and sound effects), Kristina shows students how “puff up” their ideas during...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Introduce a Synthesis This mini-lesson uses what the students already know about the Reading Voice & Thinking Voice to help them take the next step in inferring ideas. Using a baking analogy, Kristina helps students understand the abstract concept of...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson & Activity: Move from a Summary to Track Ideas – BME (Grades 4-12) This mini-lesson starts with a skill students already understand—how to summarize a text. Using a high-interest text, Kristina uses the students’ ability to summarize to add...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Juggling Nouns & Pronouns This mini-lesson demonstrates how to determine when to use a noun and when it’s best to replace it with a pronoun. Using a basketball team analogy, Kristina walks students through the process of deciding when to...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Pre-Write Action Verbs This mini-lesson encourages students to include action verbs in their writing. Using a comparison between name-brand batteries and generic, Kristina shows students how to make powerful verb choices when they pre-write. Duration:...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Writers Organize Information in 3 Ways This mini-lesson shows students the three ways writers organize their writing. Using simple images, Kristina helps even the youngest writers understand how to organize their writing. Duration: 17:13 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson & Activity: Use MEB Order for Narrative Writing This mini-lesson teaches students how to pre-write effectively for narrative writing. Instead of starting with the beginning, Kristina shows how to start with the problem, then plan the ending, and after...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Developing Ideas with Topic Sentences and Relevant Supporting Details This mini-lesson shows students how to develop their ideas by creating topic sentences and adding relevant details to support them. Using the “table” from a pizza box,...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Sticky Dots This mini-lesson encourages students to add more details to their writing. Using different colored sticky dots, Kristina demonstrates how to add details by writing more than one sentence about each idea. Duration: 15:14 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Add More Colorful Sentences This mini-lesson encourages students to add more sentences to their writing. Using colorful gel pens, Kristina offers incentive for writing additional sentences—a new color for each added sentence. Duration: 14:32 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Choose a Position in 4 Steps This mini-lesson leads kindergartners through the 4-step process of picking a side on a debatable topic. Using a blue hat and a red hat, Kristina makes it clear which side she is taking as she lists evidence from the text for...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Introduce Functional Vocabulary This mini-lesson introduces students to some of the academic words they might encounter in standardized testing. Using a fidget cube, Kristina helps students understand the importance of knowing how to interpret academic...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Read Little Words in Story Problems This mini-lesson shows students the significance of little words used in math story problems. Kristina offers 3 tricks to support students in their reading comprehension of word problems. Duration: 24:17 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson & Activity: Organize Data to Infer Argumentative Reasons (Grades 6-12) This mini-lesson includes an activity time for students to practice sorting facts to support different sides of a debatable issue. Using content-area text, Kristina guides students...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Read on Screen; Note on Paper This mini-lesson shows students how to make notes while reading on screen. Using a fidget cube and engaging text, Kristina explains the importance of making notes on paper. Duration: 24:17 | Grade 6
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Introduce Annotation This mini-lesson introduces the how and why behind annotating text. Using a picture of tracks in the snow, Kristina helps students understand the importance of making reader notes along with annotation codes. Duration: 17:58 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Code New Information Learned Across Texts This mini-lesson builds on what students already know about annotation. Using simple codes and marks, Kristina demonstrates how to mark new information found in additional texts. Duration: 18:19 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Model a Synthesis This mini-lesson uses mentor text to demonstrate the process a reader goes through to synthesize ideas. Using a cake mix as a trigger, Kristina helps students understand the necessary ingredients required for synthesis. Duration: 9:41 |...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Model a Synthesis This mini-lesson demonstrates the process a reader goes through to synthesize from a text. Using a cake mix as a trigger, Kristina helps students understand the process of making a synthesis. Duration: 8:49 | Grades...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson & Activity: Synthesize from Multiple Sources This mini-lesson demonstrates the process a reader uses to synthesize information from more than one source. Using a Synthesis Test, Kristina shows students how to determine if their thoughts are actually a...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Value Multiple Sources This mini-lesson shows students the importance of reading more than one source. Using a set of images, Kristina helps students recognize how new information is added with additional pictures. Duration: 7:05 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Mar 3, 2021
Mini-Lesson: Decode the Prompt This mini-lesson helps students learn how to read a prompt and how to write to a prompt. Using a decoder ring, Kristina helps students learn the secret for understanding the academic language used in prompts. Duration: 18:04 | Grade...
by Liz Shockey | Feb 25, 2021
How do you prepare kids to decode prompts? A key part of preparing kids to decode prompts includes includes equipping kids with the skills and habits to read and interpret writing prompts accurately and independently. Students need to be able to read a prompt,...
by Liz Shockey | Feb 9, 2021
How do you integrate the long passages of the basal into your reading block? Teaching students how to read and think critically starts with effective, whole-class comprehension instruction. As teachers plan and deliver comprehension mini-lessons, the game plan should...
by Liz Shockey | Feb 1, 2021
How do I support students’ summary writing? If we want to teach students how to synthesize ideas, we have to start by teaching kids how to summarize them. After all, a student can’t think beyond the text if he can’t think about the text. That said, teachers at...
by Liz Shockey | Feb 1, 2021
Where do I start when teaching theme? Even though determining a text’s theme is an expectation from grade 1-12, many educators wrestle with how to teach this ELA standard—and plenty more students wrestle with how to figure it out. To help students master inferring a...
by kstmyer | Jan 4, 2021
How can I motivate students to “attend” live meetings? Getting students to show up for live sessions of virtual learning is no easy task. After all, when students are learning from home, there are countless distractions and interruptions that can prevent the best...
by kstmyer | Dec 17, 2020
Do I teach Launching the Writer’s Workshop lessons from start to finish, page by page? When it comes to planning and executing an effective writer’s workshop, it’s helpful to have a playbook that offers yearlong guidance. That’s why so many intermediate and secondary...
by kstmyer | Dec 17, 2020
How do I manage whole-class discussions virtually? Creating a classroom where all students are participating in the in-class discussion is hard. And when you put masks on those same kids or set them in front of webcams, the conversation is quickly stifled. Although...
by kstmyer | Dec 17, 2020
How do you engage students during a virtual read aloud? Long before the pandemic, teachers have been applying tricks of the trade to lead classroom read alouds that draw students in and keep them engaged. But now that many teachers are conducting read alouds in a...
by kstmyer | Dec 14, 2020
What are ways to use exit tickets during remote teaching? One of the most efficient ways to assess for understanding after a lesson is to use an exit ticket. In the traditional face-to-face classroom, this strategy serves as a check for understanding. It usually...
by kstmyer | Dec 14, 2020
Should I slow down the roll-out of the original eLessons? When COVID-19 closed schools around the globe, the team at Smekens Education began recording whole-class comprehension mini-lessons that teachers could share directly with students. Known as Literacy...
by kstmyer | Dec 11, 2020
How can I conduct formative assessment virtually? Throughout the instructional process, it’s important for teachers to utilize formative assessments to evaluate the progress of students’ learning. After all, we don’t want to wait until the end of a unit to learn that...
by kstmyer | Nov 18, 2020
How do I create a digital 6-Traits bulletin board? For years, Smekens Education has been advocating for teachers to kick off their introduction to the Six Traits of Writing with a bulletin board that grows and evolves as the school year progresses....
by kstmyer | Nov 18, 2020
How do I overcome my own biases? As educators seek to build more equitable classrooms, an important first step is to acknowledge that even the most well-intentioned educators possess inherent biases. These baked-in perceptions of the world are shaped by a variety of...
by kstmyer | Nov 18, 2020
How do I keep my mini-lesson short when the text is long? Whether teaching in person or remotely, short and effective whole-class mini-lessons have an important role to play in every subject area. These 15-20 minute lessons focus on a narrow skill and follow...
by kstmyer | Nov 16, 2020
How do I get more participation in online conversations? During virtual group discussions, follow this anchor chart of 4 different ways to get all your students to participate in the meeting. Access the anchor chart Google Slide. Duration: 2:14 | Grades...
by kstmyer | Nov 12, 2020
How can I use Flipgrid to practice fluency? As educators continue to sharpen their skills using technology in the ELA classroom, Flipgrid can be used to help teach fluency to students. Flipgrid is a free classroom tool that has grown in popularity since the increase...
by kstmyer | Nov 12, 2020
How can I use Flipgrid in math? Flipgrid is a free classroom tool that has grown in popularity since the increase in remote learning. Check out this step-by-step guide to set up a math lesson on Flipgird. Duration: 3:05 | Grades K-5
by Liz Shockey | Nov 10, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Rigorous Reading Learn how to ramp up the rigor in your reading while honoring the gradual release of responsibility. Find out how to immerse students in complex text and achieve a close reading while they learn how to synthesize their...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 10, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Content-Area Literacy Learn how to integrate literacy skills into the content areas. Whether teaching science or social studies or math, students need to know how to read closely and how to write about what they read. Duration: 106 minutes...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: 6-Traits Launch Learn how to take the six ingredients to good writing and share them with your students. You’ll learn how to recognize the traits within student writing and then learn how to communicate the six traits to your writers....
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: 6-Traits Mini-Lessons Learn how to teach a 6-Traits mini-lesson for daily writing instruction. Find out how to include all the right elements in each short 10-15 minute lesson as well as how to plan for multiple days of lessons to teach...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: 6-Traits Rubrics Learn how to introduce the concept of a rubric to your writers. Then, build a kid-friendly rubric based on the 6 Traits. Create writing examples, being sure to include every level of ability represented in your class. As...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Argumentative Writing Learn how to teach your students to write argumentative pieces that include evidence. Watch as Kristina Smekens models how to help students discover how to align with the strongest position rather than just their own...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Informative Writing Learn how to provide everyday opportunities for research that can result in a variety of product options. Find ways to teach students how to organize their source information while avoiding plagiarism. Learn how to...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Writing About Reading Learn how to teach your students to cite evidence as well as how to weave in the citations necessary to identify their sources. Discover ways to use writing after a close reading to assess understanding as well as how...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Constructed-Response Prompts Learn how to lead students through the process of crafting a well-written constructed response. Duration: 19 minutes | Grades 6-12
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Vocabulary Learn how to teach vocabulary to support acquisition of words as well as understanding of academic vocabulary that students will find in standardized assessments. Duration: 61 minutes | Grades 6-12
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Comprehension Mini-Lessons Learn how to teach students the comprehension strategies they need to be successful readers. Watch as Kristina Smekens shows you how to introduce the comprehension strategies at the beginning of the year and then...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 9, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 6-12: Standardized Test Prep Learn 5 strategies that will improve your students scores on reading assessments. Discover simple ways to prepare students for the type of academic vocabulary they will encounter on tests. Find out how to show...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 8, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Guided Reading After launching your reading block and literacy stations are up and running, begin working with small groups for guided reading. Learn the procedures and best practices to manage differentiated small-group guided reading...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 8, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Literacy Stations Learn how to introduce literacy stations within your reading block. Discover how to build stamina with the Classroom Library station and how to introduce new stations with procedures that keep your classroom running...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 8, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Comprehension Mini-Lessons Learn how to teach students the comprehension strategies they need to be successful readers. Watch as Kristina Smekens shows you how to introduce the comprehension strategies at the beginning of the year and then...
by Liz Shockey | Nov 8, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Vocabulary Learn how to teach vocabulary to support acquisition of words as well as understanding of academic vocabulary that students will find in standardized assessments. Duration: 60 minutes | Grades 3-5
by Liz Shockey | Nov 8, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Rigorous Reading Learn how to ramp up the rigor in your reading while honoring the gradual release of responsibility. Find out how to immerse students in complex text and achieve a close reading while they learn how to synthesize their...
by kstmyer | Nov 8, 2020
How do you model the Distracting Voice? Many teachers have been making the reading process more visible for students by introducing the Reading Voice and Thinking Voice during whole-class mini-lessons. When teachers use anchor text to model these two voices, it...
by kstmyer | Nov 8, 2020
How do I effectively teach students to Turn & Talk? Whether you’re teaching in person or virtually, the challenge of getting every student involved in the learning is not a new one. The fact of the matter is, some students don’t have the desire, the...
by kstmyer | Nov 8, 2020
How can I keep my kids focused during whole-class lessons? Even under ideal circumstances, capturing the focus of students during whole-class instruction takes some edutaining. When executing that instruction remotely, the challenge is even greater and the stakes are...
by kstmyer | Nov 8, 2020
How can my students execute at-home science experiments? Although there are loads of websites directed to parents that tout fun science activities at home, teaching science is much more than that. It requires students to learn and apply scientific thinking rooted in...
by kstmyer | Nov 8, 2020
How can I create a classroom that represents the lives of all my students? If we want every student to feel a sense of belonging, our physical classroom environment should reflect the diversity of our class roster. When a student sees a representation of himself, he...
by kstmyer | Nov 6, 2020
How do I teach remotely when students don’t have the internet? Remote learning poses a unique challenge for most schools, but for those whose students don’t have devices and/or reliable internet, that technology gap makes learning from home especially challenging. But...
by kstmyer | Nov 5, 2020
How do I take my favorite Smekens strategies and make them digital and interactive? As teachers cross the digital divide, they are wanting their favorite Smekens resources to be digitized in order to meet the new constraints of in-person social distancing and at-home...
by Greg Casserino | Nov 5, 2020
How can I use Flipgrid to practice retelling? Educators have been bombarded with all types of online resources designed to make teaching during a pandemic more manageable. But one tool that has emerged as a consistent favorite is Flipgrid by Microsoft. Duration: 3:04...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Reading Block Launch your reading block, including whole-class mini-lessons, literacy stations, and small-group guided reading. Learn the procedures and best practices to manage a reading block that honors the gradual release of...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Standardized Test Prep Learn 5 strategies that will improve your students scores on reading assessments. Discover simple ways to prepare students for the type of academic vocabulary they will encounter on tests. Find out how to show...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Constructed-Response Prompts Learn how to lead students through the process of crafting a well-written constructed response. Duration: 18 minutes | Grades 3-5
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Writing About Reading Learn how to teach your students to cite evidence as well as how to weave in the citations necessary to identify their sources. Duration: 96 minutes | Grades 3-5
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Informative Writing Learn how to provide everyday opportunities for research that can result in a variety of product options. Find ways to teach students how to organize their source information while avoiding plagiarism. Learn how to teach...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: Persuasive Writing Learn how to teach your students to write persuasive pieces that include evidence. Watch as Kristina Smekens models how to help students discover how to align with the strongest position rather than just their own...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: 6-Traits Rubrics Learn how to introduce the concept of a rubric to your writers. Then, build a kid-friendly rubric based on the 6 Traits. Create writing examples, being sure to include every level of ability represented in your class. As...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: 6-Traits Mini-Lessons Learn how to teach a 6-Traits mini-lesson for daily writing instruction. Find out how to include all the right elements in each short 10-15 minute lesson as well as how to plan for multiple days of lessons to teach the...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 30, 2020
Learning Path | Grades 3-5: 6-Traits Launch Learn how to take the six ingredients to good writing and share them with your students. You’ll learn how to recognize the traits within student writing and then learn how to communicate the six traits to your writers....
by Liz Shockey | Oct 29, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Rigorous Reading Learn how to up the reading rigor required in the standards–even with young readers. Discover ways to bring complex text to the classroom while you guide students through the 5 steps to a close reading. Learn how to...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 29, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Comprehension Mini-Lessons Learn how to plan and implement dynamic comprehension mini-lessons. Acquire mini-lesson ideas for how to introduce students to the different “voices” in their heads before rolling out lessons to...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 29, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Guided Reading Learn how to differentiate instruction as you set up small-group guided reading groups. Discover tips for each level of reading ability as well as lesson planners suited to each. Duration: 238 minutes | Grades...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 26, 2020
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout The Big Picture Workshop Logistics Deliver 3 types of instruction Execute 3 phases per...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 26, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Literacy Stations Learn how to set procedures that will allow you to manage multiple literacy stations during your reading block. Discover ways to build student stamina, practice transitions, and prepare for small-group meetings while...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 26, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Reading Block Launch your reading block, including whole-class mini-lessons, literacy stations, and small-group guided reading. Learn the procedures and best practices to manage a reading block that honors the graduate release of...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 23, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: 6-Traits Rubrics Learn how to introduce the concept of a rubric to your young writers. Then, build a kid-friendly rubric based on the 6 Traits. Use examples of developmental stages of writing, being sure to include every level of ability...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 23, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Narrative Writing Learn how to teach pictorial writing skills to help students learn how to add more details to their drawings–and eventually to their writing. Discover how to adapt the Storyboard strategy to prewrite for all...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 23, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Informative Writing Using the developmental stages of writing, teach students how to label and list on informative topics. Learn how to create labeling and list-writing units to complement your content-area learning or reading curriculum....
by Liz Shockey | Oct 23, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: Opinion Writing Even our youngest writers have opinions. Learn how to help your students share the WHAT and WHY of their opinion in drawing and writing. Learn strategies to help them align with the strongest position and how to distinguish...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 23, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: 6-Traits Mini-Lessons Learn how to teach a 6-Traits mini-lesson for daily writing instruction. Find out how to include all the right elements in each short 10-15 minute lesson as well as how to plan for multiple days of lessons to teach the...
by Liz Shockey | Oct 22, 2020
Learning Path | Grades K-2: 6-Traits Launch Learn how to take the six ingredients to good writing and share them with your students—even though they may not even know their letters yet. You’ll learn how to recognize the traits within the developmental stages of...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 21, 2020
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout Workshop Overview Yearlong Vision Teach the three major writing modes “Mother...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 20, 2020
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout Workshop overview Start See the big picture Plan with intention Massage the “mother...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 19, 2020
14 Power Strategies to Boost Reading & Writing Achievement on Standardized Tests About this online workshop In this era of high-stakes testing, it’s never been more important for students to enter into standardized assessments with essential skills and...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 19, 2020
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout Workshop Overview First 2-6 Weeks Yearlong Vision Rest of the Year Synthesis and...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 16, 2020
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout See the Big Picture Prepare for an effective reading block Utilize the three types of...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 16, 2020
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout Yearlong Vision Overview of Sections Teach three major modes of writing Compare...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 15, 2020
Revise Ideas with Spider-Leg Sentences Learn how to encourage students to revise their writing with a strategy that makes revision fun. Included in this video is a full length mini-lesson from a kindergarten classroom where Kristina demonstrates how to add spider-leg...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 15, 2020
Re-Introducing the 6 Traits in 6 Days with 1 Text Observe how Kristina Smekens re-introduces the Six Traits to a class that learned them the previous year. Duration: 105:48 | Grades K-5
by Greg Casserino | Oct 15, 2020
Live Coaching Call: Align With the Strongest Position In this live coaching call, Smekens Remote Coach Bridget Longmeier will provide implementation strategies to support the webPD video, “Align with the Strongest Position.” Bridget will review key points...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 15, 2020
Live Coaching Call: Prioritize Persuasive Reasons In this live coaching call, Smekens Remote Coach Bridget Longmeier will provide implementation strategies to support the webPD video, “Prioritize Persuasive Reasons.” Bridget will review key points from the...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Prompt Readers When Their Inferences are Off Track To infer, readers figure out bigger ideas implied by an author by combining multiple details from the text with their own background knowledge. However, sometimes students draw conclusions about the text...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Activate Background Knowledge When Inferring When making inferences, readers analyze textual details and apply their background knowledge to determine how they go together. Although this follows the process of Text Clues + Background = Inference, it’s not that...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Identify “Relevant” Textual Details per Reading Standard It’s well established that combining text clues with background knowledge is what leads to an inference. It’s understood that the Reading Voice “speaks” the text details and the background knowledge is activated...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Tie Every Comprehension Lesson to the Inference Silhouette Regardless of whether students have to make a prediction, analyze a character trait, determine the main idea, or identify the theme–they will arrive at the answer by executing the exact...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Adjust the Writing Process for Digital Devices For many teachers, engaging students during the writing process often includes a variety of paper, pens, highlighters, sticky notes, etc. However, these are all paper-based writing tools. Students also need to know how to...
by Connie Williamson | Oct 14, 2020
Learn more about this workshop Want to offer this workshop for the entire staff? Contact us. Session Content Introduction to the workshop Let’s get started! – Handout Workshop Overview Yearlong Vision Dissect the anchor standards for comprehension...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Teach Explicitly–I do, You Watch & Listen The most important part of any lesson is the teacher’s explicit instruction. Teachers must reveal how to execute a new skill as plainly, clearly, and precisely as possible. Although this term explicit is often...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Start and End Persuasive Pieces Most students know that their book reviews, persuasive letters, and argumentative essays need to have an introduction. The problem is–they struggle to write one that isn’t literal. Hello, I’m writing to persuade...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Reteach Grammar Skills in Maintenance Mini-Lessons When planning any writing unit, teachers determine how long it will last, how many skills can reasonably be taught, what skills those will be, and how those skills will be revealed within an end...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Teach Conventions in Context Literacy experts agree that grammar and mechanics should be taught in context. And while this concept is not unfamiliar to teachers, the logistics to pulling it off in the everyday classroom might be. Duration: 5:16 | Grades...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Clarify Summary Versus Synthesis Synthesizing is often loosely defined as thinking beyond the text or having an aha. Although these are accurate explanations, many question how a synthesis differs from a summary or inference. Duration: 5:19 | Grades...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Make Notes During Writer Conferences There is a variety of information teachers may want to record during a writer conference, but it should be noted that the form is not the focus. Rather, the teacher’s top priority is to have more conversations with...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Generate Narratives in Response to Reading For most states, the writing portions of standardized assessments are now all rooted in reading. Students aren’t writing about finding a secret door in the classroom or thinking of embarrassing moments that happened in...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Target Grammar Skills within Writing Units When moving through your ELA curriculum, be purposeful when determining which convention skill to teach when. Recognize that the order that skills appear in the language book is tied to categorization (e.g.,...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Use Songs to Introduce Comprehension Strategies When preparing for yearlong reading instruction, it’s important to establish an understanding of the seven comprehension strategies. An intentional introduction of the comprehension strategies can be achieved using...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Mark New and Contradictory Information Annotation strategies improve reader comprehension. They provide a place for the reader to track his thinking in the margins using arrows, symbols, and other notes. However, when reading multiple texts, students need annotation...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Weave the What, Which, & Where into Textual Citations Teaching students to cite details to support their inferences is not new. However, be sure your instruction includes more than just what the details are. Students also need to...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Vary Time Spent in the Writing Process Teachers already know they are to provide students with a wide range of writing experiences. This includes writing about various topics, for different purposes, to diverse audiences, and in numerous genres. However, there is...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Vary Text Types Imagine a significant event occurs locally or somewhere in the world. Consider how you gather information about that topic. Duration: 3:22 | Grades K-12
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Use Movies to Introduce Comprehension To introduce the six comprehension strategies to students, you might consider reading different picture books, teaching the six comprehension songs, or… you could use movie clips. Duration: 5:41 | Grades K-12
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Use a Six-Traits Rubric for Efficient Assessment Providing feedback for student writers is essential for their growth. However, the feedback cycle is often dreaded by teachers because it can be time consuming. Duration: 5:24 | Grades K-12
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Tweak the Six-Traits Rubric for Different Units While it’s true that the writer’s purpose and presentation may look very different depending on the genre, all good writing possesses the same basic ingredients–the Six Traits. Duration: 3:40 | Grades...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Troubleshoot Evidence Errors in Reading Responses Students’ early attempts at evidence-based responses often require some fine-tuning. Specifically, there are three common “evidence errors” that should be addressed within your reading instruction....
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Translate Technical Symbols to Words It’s common knowledge that fluency is an essential ingredient in achieving reading comprehension. However, a student who is fluent when reading literature is not necessarily fluent when reading math and other technical texts....
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Track Main Ideas and Details within a Dissected Web Using a Storyboard to pre-write the chronological details of a story works well. However, this same graphic organizer won’t work for every writing task. In fact, the web graphic organizer is...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Tempt Readers with Booktalks Students tend to do well when asked to retell what happened on a particular page or summarize what a portion of a text was all about. Where they struggle is looking at the evolution or development of a single idea across a...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 14, 2020
Tempt Readers with Booktalks Teachers are always looking for ways to motivate students to want to read more. Booktalks might be a powerful strategy to add to your toolbox. Duration: 1:37 | Grades K-12
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Teach Readers How to Skim Long Texts In anticipation of long reading passages on standardized tests, some teachers are naturally concerned with how their lower, slower, and/or unmotivated readers will perform. One simple strategy to support these students is to teach...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Teach One Skill Across 3+ Days Students don’t learn everything in one 15-minute mini-lesson. Consequently, plan multiple mini-lessons to teach a specific skill. This will require teachers to slow down to allow students a chance to recognize the skill and try the skill...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Take Advantage of Root-Word Instruction Teaching students every word in the English language is impossible. But teaching students how words work leads students to unlock many other words. Duration: 1:33 | Grades K-12
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Synthesize & Cite Evidence from Multiple Sources Synthesizing information from many sources is a common component within large-scale research writing projects. However, students need to be able to execute this same process during a simulated research task...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Support Writers When They Need Help The term “independent writing time” can seem like an oxymoron when your writer’s workshop is void of the right procedures. While it’s natural for students to have specific questions and need individualized...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Support Main Idea with Textual Evidence Standardized tests often ask students to identify evidence for a particular main idea. To teach students how to do this, first clarify three key terms. Duration: 4:58 | Grades K-12
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Strengthen the Organization of Nonfiction Notebooks As you teach any content-area unit, you are guiding students through the research and study of a particular topic or concept. Students acquire deeper understanding of a topic through reading, discussions, videos,...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Skim and Slim Portions of a Novel Standards require teaching comprehension skills and strategies—not just reading texts and asking questions. However, when a curriculum includes numerous novels, making time for teaching can be difficult when we are...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Simulate Research-Writing Tasks During E-Learning For school districts building e-learning days into their calendars, one way to design powerful learning is with a simulated research task like those that appear on standardized assessments. Duration: 2:53 | Grades...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Separate Information by Source & Perspective When writing a persuasive or argumentative piece, the writing process always begins with the collection of information on a T-Chart. Students build a list of facts, quotes, and other details in support of both sides in...
by Greg Casserino | Oct 13, 2020
Scaffold Writing Experiences Many teachers presume that students should always generate pieces that they wrote all by themselves. However, when just learning a new genre or a type of writing, it may not be appropriate to expect such a large and complete product in the...
