Since 1992, Madeleine Glowienka has worked as a teacher. Currently, she is a 1st grade teacher at Anna L. Lingelbach School in Philadelphia. CLI asked Madeleine about her experiences and expectations partnering with CLI. Partners in Literacy Glenda Smiley Andrew Eckhorn Rebecca Eisenman What were your initial expectations about CLI? I had few—basically I was unsure how it could/would really …
Spectacular Book Series for Summer & Beyond
Everyone loves a good series. For children, reading books in a series provides opportunities to visit familiar characters, settings, and plot structures multiple times. Summer is a crucial and important time for kids to keep up their reading skills, and getting hooked on a great series can be the perfect way for young readers to stay on track. Remember to …
4 Exceptional Non-Fiction Books
Offering students a balance of fiction and nonfiction reading experiences has always been important. Since the publication of the Common Core State Standards, which emphasize the use of both kinds of text, informational picture books have gotten more and more attention. And the attention is well deserved. Though many of us turn first to fiction for a pleasure reading, I …
Key Tips for Spring Cleaning in Your Classroom
Spring cleaning is a time honored tradition with roots in many global religions and cultures. Jewish people clean their homes before Passover. Every year on the spring equinox, Iranians participate in spring cleaning in honor of Now Rouz (the new year). The Chinese also participate in spring cleaning around the time of their New Year celebrations. In that spirit, this …
Read It Again, Please! The Benefits of Repeated Read Alouds.
Any parent who owns a copy of Goodnight Moon knows that there are some books children can listen to over and over (and over!) again. Teachers know this, too. Knuffle Bunny. Click, Clack, Moo. Amazing Grace. These books never grow old. Children seem to feel for Trixie, root for those cows, and cheer Grace on with the same amount of enthusiasm …
Improve Your Classroom Using Simple Observation
Watch and learn. Our earliest learning experiences are rooted in these words. Parents tell their children “Watch that bird searching for food on the ground” and “Watch me tie my shoes”. We learn by watching. This doesn’t change as we grow older. Most of us, when entering new places and situations, take some time to watch – noticing how people …
Get Your Students Warmed Up with a Picture Walk
Warming up before you exercise is considered a really good idea. It allows your body to prepare for the workout ahead – you stretch your muscles, you increase your heart rate and you are able to “get in the mindset” and prepare for your workout. Warming up is also important for students before you read aloud to them and taking …
Stay Warm This Winter with Great Books
Winter break can be a great time to spend some extra time reading with the children in your life. Cozy up together with one of these seasonal picture books and you’re sure to feel warm. First Snow by Peter McCarthy Pedro travels a long way to visit his five cousins. He has never seen snow and does not like to …
From the Field: Success With Writer’s Workshop
“From the Field” is a collection of short, inspiring and heart-warming classroom anecdotes contributed by our professional developers as they work in classrooms across the country. Names of teachers and students have been changed. Even though the Thanksgiving holiday has passed, it’s still a great time for reflection. While many of us working at CLI do not work directly in classrooms, I am …
Helping Your Readers Build Stamina
What do the following people have in common: a runner completing a marathon, a long-distance swimmer crossing the English Channel and a second grader reading for 20 minutes? Stamina, that’s what! Just as athletes train each and every day to go farther, to be stronger, and to reach their athletic goals, children need to train in their own way to reach …