Prepared Classroom: Ready to Teach, Ready to Learn takes the guesswork out of creating consistent, clear classroom expectations. It's all about helping students understand what's expected and when, freeing up their minds to engage with the learning.BY GAIL BOUSHEY AND ALLISON BEHNE

If we are going to ask students to write, we must provide an audience for the work. 

This Tip was emailed on 1/3/2020.

Here is a list of secondhand finds that can become classroom treasures.

This Tip was emailed on 6/29/2012.

Encourage your students to celebrate creativity, take risks, and make their mark on the world. Use these ideas and printables to support your teaching.

This Tip was emailed on 11/13/2020.

This Tip was emailed on 12/6/2024.

This Tip was emailed on 9/23/2011.

This Tip was emailed on 10/27/2017.

Breaking big words into smaller chunks is a great strategy for all our readers. Here's what it looked like in this classroom.

In this article the authors illustrate the benefits of listening to reading for mulilingual students.

One of the best things I add to our I-charts when we are building behaviors for any independent work is . . .

This Tip was emailed on 10/12/2018.

This Tip was emailed on 10/1/2010.

This Tip was emailed on 1/13/2023.

These five brain breaks are low-prep, high-engagement, and perfect for helping kids reset and refocus.

Check out these inexpensive ideas to provide math manipulatives to students.  

Here are three great strategies for helping Read to Someone partners get started right away  instead of wasting time deciding who gets to read first.

Check for understanding is an important comprehension strategy. Used during Read to Someone, it helps keep non-reading partners engaged. 

Try a different letter sound is a simple, but powerful accuracy strategy. Here's what it sounded like in a one-on-one conference with a second grader.

Beth Lawson and her class share words to describe how they felt while reading, as well as words on the board they are always on the lookout for.

Teach students the simple, empowering routine that helps them try first, speak up with confidence, and ask for help the right way.

We may assume students know the many idiosyncrasies involved in everyday reading, and find out differently when we probe a little bit. In this video clip, Janet models the strategy of Check for understanding as she models asking herself to "Remember What I just Read".

Janet models the vocabulary strategy of asking someone to define the word' in this whole class lesson. Find out why she tells the class this is a last resort strategy.

A video to demonstrate speaking the math language with students.

In Alexander, Who's Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move by Judith Viorst, Alexander struggles with the idea of his family moving. After unsuccessfully brainstorming how he can stay behind, Alexander goes through the process of moving but insists he will NEVER do it again!

Listen in and learn how these students are held accountable for expanding their vocabulary.

Gail and Joan share the secrets to making Ask Someone to Define the Word a successful expand vocabulary strategy.