Teaching Tools

Stages of Spelling Development

  • May 17, 2011, 7 p.m.
This chart shows the developmental levels, ages, and strategies of proficient spellers. Use this to guide and coach young spellers. Use the student's writing to assess his/her spelling development level and plan instruction.

Word Sorts: Inflectional Endings Dropping Rules

  • May 1, 2011, 11:13 a.m.
Learning to follow spelling rules takes practice. This activities helps students to see the patterns of letters that dictate whether a y or e should be kept or dropped when adding an inflectional ending.

Grade Level Tier 1 Planning Guide

  • April 30, 2011, 7 p.m.
Our success depends on how well planned we are! Grade level teams need to have a structure for effective team planning. This document is a guide for thinking about designing high quality instruction. Planning time is precious and sparse, so use these guiding questions to focus the conversation on what standards really matter.

8 Activities for Developing Phonemic Awareness

  • April 30, 2011, 7 p.m.
This set of activity cards can be printed, laminated, and cut out for quick reference to ideas and songs to use with young children developing phonological awareness.

Alphaboxes

  • April 30, 2011, 7 p.m.
This download is a 2 page word wall that students can use to collect key vocabulary during reading.

Making Words-Words with or and ow

  • April 30, 2011, 7 p.m.
Using the big word "powerful" this document has the letters ready to cut out as well as a recording sheet for the words made. The second page lists words that can be made, patterns to sort, and transfer words.

Reader's Workshop Quick Chart

  • April 30, 2011, 7 p.m.
This chart shows the instructional formats used in Reader's Workshop. Use this as a planning guide for differentiating reading instruction at all grade levels.

Making Words-Words with Schwa

  • April 30, 2011, 7 p.m.
Using the big word "another" this document has the letters ready to cut out as well as a recording sheet for the words made. The second page lists words that can be made, patterns to sort, and transfer words.

Making Words-Words with Vowel Digraph Patterns ou and oo

  • April 30, 2011, 11:10 a.m.
Using the big word "solution" this document has the letters ready to cut out as well as a recording sheet for the words made. The second page lists words that can be made, patterns to sort, and transfer words.

5 Ways to Help Your Child Develop Writing Skills

  • April 29, 2011, 7 p.m.
Writing for authentic purposes is critical to developing proficient writing skills. This document offers ways parents can provide opportunities and praise for a young writer's efforts to develop proficient writing skills.