Getting hands into the books of little ones is one of the most important things we can do. 

We begin CAFE with this powerhouse comprehension strategy. 

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." This approach broadens reading horizons, honors choice and factors in good-fit books. Here are a few ways to expand students' reading repertoires in the sports zone.

These five brain breaks are perfect for helping students stay engaged and emotionally regulated as you move into the school year. No materials. No prep. 

Are your parent-teacher conferences right around the corner? You may want to adopt some of these ideas to make them memorable this year.

Pick and choose the ideas that work best for you, and help create lifelong readers.

Give students opportunities to refresh and enjoy their learning environment.

This wide variety of resources and supports will help ensure that each summer is filled with reading for every child. 

This Tip was emailed on 12/11/2009.

Here is a systematic way to set up or reconstruct your room. This system really works for us, and we think it will help you as well.

Keeping our direct instruction brief can be a challenge. These five ideas will help. 

Read about why it's important and how to integrate it. 

Make morning work meaningful and engaging with these ideas. 

Here are five different ideas Jen McDonough uses in her classroom for supporting students who don't know what to write about.

Helping students develop intrinsic satisfaction for a job well done will benefit them long after they leave us.  

Take me to a place sends the reader back into the text to find evidence to support his/her thinking.

This Tip was emailed on 8/27/2021.

This Tip was emailed on 9/22/2023.

Lori Sabo brings weights to class to demonstrate choosing good-fit books with her students.

This lesson will help everyone learn to handle books with respect, and know what to do if they find a damaged book. 

Despite how daunting it can feel to begin a poetry unit with children, Jen McDonough has discovered that young children are natural poets!

Three teachers share their next step ideas after hearing a student read their work. 

This Tip was emailed on 11/29/2024.

Purposeful, low-prep activities you can use to help students appreciate the many people who keep our communities running, and dream about the roles they may one day take on themselves.  Each one is designed to promote critical thinking, build vocabulary, and encourage appreciation for the world of work.

We are never too young or too old to expand our vocabularies. This strategy works for everyone. 

This Tip was emailed on 10/5/2012.

This Tip was emailed on 2/5/2021.

This Tip was emailed on 7/21/2023.

Here are the materials we use most in our small-group work.

Tips for end-of-the-year library clean up.