The transition from Kindergarten to First Grade is a big one, and may seem intimidating to parents and kids. The best thing you can do to help your new first-grader prepare for the school year is have conversations at home about what they can expect. Start out by explaining how first grade is different from Kindergarten.
Moving the Learning Environment from Chaos into Calm
School principals model educational beliefs, behaviors and expectations that impact the entire school community – teachers, support staff, parents and students.
Our Favorite Back To School Apps for Teachers
September is here and teachers everywhere are busy preparing for the school year ahead. If you are one of the growing number of teachers who uses a smartphone or tablet in the classroom, you may be searching for some useful apps to help communicate with families, conduct assessments, or allow your students practice literacy skills. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite free apps for educators, so all you have to do is hit download and get teaching!
Getting the ABC’s of learning to read with the Children’s Literacy Initiative
September 2, 2014 CLI’s new executive director, Dr. Joel Zarrow, PhD, was recently introduced to Philadelphia educators, board members and city officials at its Market St. offices. Zarrow made sure his audience understood his commitment to bringing kids in grades K-3 up to “snuff” and grade level when it comes to reading and writing. View Article
Getting Your Classroom’s “Vibe” Right – Part 3 of 3
In the final part of our series we’re asking the question, Is your room arranged in a way that allows for multiple types of learning to occur? Based on research, and tested with hundreds of teachers across multiple districts and schools, CLI has put together our own best practices for arranging your classroom’s space.
In June, the American Institutes for Research (AIR)
Getting Your Classroom’s “Vibe” Right – Part 2 of 3
In part two of our series we’re asking the question, Are you using wall space effectively by incorporating authentic print and tools to support learning? Based on research, and tested with hundreds of teachers across multiple districts and schools, CLI has put together our own best practices for getting the right kinds of posters and tools up in your classroom.
In June, the
Getting Your Classroom’s “Vibe” Right – Part 1 of 3
You know that feeling you get when you walk into a new place and within a few seconds you already know what kind of experience you’re going to have? You felt the room’s “vibe”, as some might say. Well it turns out that within an educational setting, “vibe” is a critical, deeply studied, aspect of student learning.
Great Instruction is the CORE
By Dr. Joel Zarrow, Executive Director, Children’s Literacy Initiative
I’ll just say it: I think it’s right and appropriate that the Common Core State Standards are making our nation’s educational standards more rigorous. Our kids can do it. We need it to compete.
How to Pick a “Just Right” Book in 3 Easy Steps
One of the first questions many parents have when it comes to reading with their family is, “Which books are appropriate for my child?” While determining your child’s reading level might seem daunting, the truth is that nobody knows your child better than you. Observing when your child is frustrated, bored, or interested is all you really need. Simply by trying out a few books and seeing how your child reacts to them, you can find “Just Right” books that will help your child become a better reader.