Category · 319 articles
Spelling & Vocabulary
English Time Idioms
For some time, idiomatic expressions involving time have fascinated me. Following is a song, packed with time idioms and their definitions. Seeing how these time idioms…
ELA and Reading Assessment as Instruction
Here's four Do's and Don't of ELA and Reading Assessments preview: DO treat assessment as instruction. DON'T trust all assessment results. DO make students and parents your assessment partners. Don't…
Depend upon Diagnostic ELA and Reading Data
ELA and reading assessments: DO analyze data both data deficits and mastery. DON'T assess what you haven't taught. DO use instructional resources with embedded assessments. DON'T…
Assessment-based ELA and Reading Instruction
Teachers are fixers. In some sense we view our students as "as is" houses or fixer-uppers, waiting for us to determine what needs repair and updating…
Reading and ELA Data Analysis
As an ELA teacher and reading specialist, I believe in the power of ELA and reading assessments. However, as with many educational practices, appropriate use is…
Don’t Assess What You Won’t Teach
It really is an either-or question: Is teaching or learning more important? DON'T assess to assess. Assessment is not the end goal. DO use diagnostic assessments. DON'T assess what…
ELA and Reading Assessments Do’s and Don’ts
Do's and Don't of ELA and Reading Assessments: DO use comprehensive assessments, not random samples. What teachers want are comprehensive assessments which specifically determine "What my…
Middle School Spelling
Teaching spelling for a small amount of time per week will give your middle school students the biggest bang for the buck, in terms of reading…