How young is too young to start using facts in discussions? The new Common Core States Standards (CCSS) uses arguments and facts for all grades K and above. At first glance that appears to be a typo, but it isn’t. The new standards suggest that the change is needed to help students process more clearly.… Read More »
Yes and No is not the way to go. When you ask questions of students, family members or adults, make them more interactive. It’s not difficult to make the change so answers become discussion bits that lead to more meaningful interactions: ‘Did you have a great day at school?’ becomes ‘What was the most interesting part of… Read More »
Critical thinking requires work. It’s not just a school day event to set aside when we’re on vacation or at home. It’s imperative that we stretch ourselves and students to move beyond the basics if we want to increase rigor in our thinking. Plus, moving beyond who, what, and where takes us to why and… Read More »
ABC books bridge all grades. They present everything that’s great about children’s books: a single storyline or theme a predictable format (A-Z) a consistent text (wordless, simple words, phrases or sentences) illustrations that enhance the words multiple choice in topics (animals to science and math to poetry). When students write their own, they experience success… Read More »