How to Improve and Teach Reading Effectively

How to Improve and Teach Reading Effectively VIEW MIND MAP Reading Methodology There are several known researched-based theories on Effective Reading Instruction. The most prominent ones are: 1. Phonetics- Linguistic Approach Phonetics is first taught in pre-k and kindergarten. However, … Continue reading

How to Help Students With Increasingly Complex Text

The Common Core notes one of the major key shifts in its standards: that students have experience in “regular practice with complex texts and their academic language” (from www.corestandards.org/key-shifts-in-english-language-arts/). Of course, simply having students read complex materials without scaffolding or … Continue reading

Webinar “Cliff Notes” for Beating Summer Academic Loss: An Informative Guide to Parents Julie C. Lyons

Webinar Video


The three areas that suffer most from summer learning loss are in the areas of vocabulary/reading, spelling, and math. In Stop! In the Name of Education: Prevent Summer Learning Loss With 7 Simple Steps, we discussed some activities parents could use with children to prevent summer slide. Let’s add to that list with even more ways to keep children engaged and learning – all summer long.
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A Closer Look At the Common Core State Standards: A Middle School ELA Teacher’s Perspective – Julie Lyons

Transition to the Common Core

Change. The word strikes fear into some educators, while others view it as a welcome breath of fresh air. Teachers are sometimes accused of resisting change, and while that may be true to a certain extent for some, I believe that much of that anxiety results from a fear of the unknown. While it’s true that change takes time and patience, it is important to note that the change we are currently involved in – making the transition to the Common Core – still finds parallels between previous state standards and the new standards.
A Closer Look At the Common Core State Standards: A Middle School ELA Teacher’s Perspective
As a 6th grade teacher in New Jersey, there are definite similarities between the former New Jersey State Standards and the Common Core. Along with those similarities, there are also some differences – especially with respect to the organization of the standards and the level of specificity. Let’s take a closer look at the areas of Reading, Writing, and Language at the sixth grade level… Continue reading