Teach reading right with just-in-time expert advice! Whether you’re new to teaching reading or if you are a veteran whose goal is to focus on authentic reading instruction, this book is designed to be an on-the-desk companion, providing answers to your burning teaching questions at the moment you most need them. A lot has changed in reading instruction over the past decades, with old assumptions and tired curricula making way for both trusted and new best practices. Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Reading, written by a veteran teacher who’s an expert in literacy instruction, offers research-backed, classroom-tested guidance to set you on the right path. Through practical teaching strategies, classroom examples, actionable steps, further reading suggestions, and more, you’ll learn to Build and maintain an inclusive, equitable classroom reading community Structure, organize, and plan student-centered, responsive reading instruction Design and implement compassionate, effective assessment methods Engage and empower students to develop agency as readers You became a teacher to teach students—not curriculum. With this indispensable book by your side, you’ll develop practices that prioritize student well-being and success.

Your guide to grow and learn as a math teacher! Let’s face it, teaching elementary math can be hard. So much about how we teach math today may look and feel different from how we learned it. Today, we recognize placing the student at the center of their learning increases engagement, motivation, and academic achievement soars. Teaching math in a student-centered way changes the role of the teacher from one who traditionally “delivers knowledge” to one who fosters thinking. Most importantly, we must ensure our practice gives each and every student the opportunity to learn, grow, and achieve at high levels, while providing opportunities to develop their agency and authority in the classroom which results in a positive math identity. Whether you are a brand new teacher or a veteran, if you find teaching math to be quite the challenge, this is the guide you want by your side. Designed for just-in-time learning and support, this practical resource gives you brief, actionable answers to your most pressing questions about teaching elementary math. Written by four experienced math educators representing diverse experiences, these authors offer the practical advice they wish they received years ago, from lessons they′ve learned over decades of practice, research, coaching, and through collaborating with teams, teachers and colleagues—especially new teachers—every day. Questions and answers are organized into five areas of effort that will help you most thrive in your elementary math classroom: 1. How do I build a positive math community? 2. How do I structure, organize, and manage my math class? 3. How do I engage my students in math? 4. How do I help my students talk about math? 5. How do I know what my students know and move them forward? Woven throughout, you′ll find helpful sidebar notes on fostering identity and agency; access and equity; teaching in different settings; and invaluable resources for deeper learning. The final question—Where do I go from here?— offers guidance for growing your practice over time. Strive to become the best math educator you can be; your students are counting on it! What will be your first step on the journey?

"True this is a book for teachers, but ultimately it is a book for students. This is a book about using every avenue possible —whole group instruction, small group instruction, partner work, charts, thoughtful language (just to name a few!) to discover all that students know and are able to do and to invite them into co-crafting the instruction that matches their goals and their aspirations. Melanie Meehan has written the book that maps out bit by bit how to become a writing teacher worthy of the children we are privileged to teach." - Shana Frazin, Co-Author of Unlocking the Power of Classroom Talk Promote Authentic Writing Through Student-Centered Instruction Writing instruction continues to shift with the onset of new digital resources, demanding a constant reevaluation of best practices. Student-centered, responsive instruction helps build authentic writing opportunities while allowing room for choice and creativity. Part of the Five-to-Thrive series, Answers to Your Biggest Questions About Teaching Elementary Writing serves as a go-to desk companion designed to meet you at the moment you need answers about writing instruction. The just-in-time approach makes accessible: Practical teaching strategies on essential topics, such as building a classroom community of writers, deciding on instructional approaches, and using assessment to inform instruction Online printables for planning and in-class note-taking Suggestions for seminal readings and resources to go deeper into each topic area Classroom examples, strategies, and tips to put into practice right away Designed for early career teachers to learn the five most important things to put theory into practice, this guide is also timely for veteran teachers to discover up-to-date practices in the field of writing. By infusing equity and cultural relevance throughout instruction and using assessment data in service of students, educators can value and reinforce the identities of young writers.

Provides tips, strategies, and lessons for teachers using the Big6 problem solving process in order to help the student understand what problem solving and information literacy skills are and why they are needed.