The Literacy Lounge: Uncover the Magic of Reading Through Ciera Harris’ Guide to Building Comprehension

If you’re a teacher, you probably know the feeling of juggling too many things all at once, taking care of all the people around you. But how often do you stop to check in with yourself?

Today we’re d…

How can we best support our students with special needs inside the general education classroom when we don’t have a background in special education? Without training in special education, teachers of…

The demands on teachers seem to grow endlessly. There always seem to be curriculum changes, standardized testing, and all the challenges that have come along with the past few years. Teachers today a…

There are some common methods and practices for teaching reading that I don’t agree with. Now, I don’t say this to ruffle feathers but rather to challenge the status quo and make us think deeply abou…

We’ve all come across students who hate reading. These students, for whatever reason it may be, cannot see the power and joy that reading can bring. Thankfully, we are in a position to help these stu…

As an elementary teacher, I was always worried about whether I was doing a good enough job in preparing my students for the next level. I wanted to be a fly on the wall of their classrooms when they …

One of the most powerful things you can do with your students inside the classroom is goal setting. It can help to drive motivation and focus and give your students the extra push they need intrinsic…

How amazing is it to witness a student’s eyes beam with excitement when they are completely captivated by a story? The great thing is, by harnessing the power of read alouds, we can get our students …

A fresh, new year always brings a spark of possibility and positivity as I look forward to all the things I hope to accomplish in the year. And if you’re feeling anything like me, you are optimistic …

What if I told you there were simple strategies you could implement in your class that could elevate your instruction and be a total game changer for your students? Believe it or not, there are strat…

Are you looking for a simple yet impactful way to squeeze in a little professional development during the holiday break? I absolutely loved to use this time off to not only recharge but to binge a pr…

Have you ever had a student who regularly seemed stressed or anxious and was also struggling with academics? There is a strong connection between social-emotional well-being and academic success that…

What exactly is comprehension in the context of reading? We know that comprehension is the core of literacy. And as teachers, understanding that comprehension is what connects phonemic awareness, pho…

We know that teaching vocabulary is crucial for students to comprehend texts, but the importance of expanding students' vocabulary goes far beyond understanding what they are reading in the classroom…

Have you witnessed the transformation when a student turns from a hesitant or reluctant reader into a confident reader? It is truly an amazing thing to watch unfold before your eyes! The key to this …

Phonics and phonemic awareness play a crucial role in our end goal of reading comprehension, and it is so important that our students are learning these foundational skills, regardless of their grade…

Do you know the 5 components of literacy that all elementary teachers should be explicitly teaching every single day? These 5 literacy components are the building blocks that turn our students into l…

Teaching reading comprehension is a huge undertaking for teachers. There are various aspects and factors that impact a student’s ability to comprehend what they have read and recognizing and understa…

Have you found yourself struggling to figure out how you’re going to fit everything you need to cover into your reading block? I definitely have been there! The good news is that there are ways to cr…

Our classrooms are full of invaluable tools that can equip our students with critical thinking skills and spark a lifelong love of reading and writing. Can you guess what these tools are? It’s mentor…