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Should I Put a Grade On It?
At the beginning of all of my online classes, I send parents/guardians a form to gather some information about their family’s expectations, preferences, and needs.
Understanding the Common Core: CCRA Reading and Writing Standards
I know that discussions about standards can be fraught, and I completely understand the frustration many families feel about standardized tests, stilted ways of judging
The Metacognitive Read-Aloud: Turning Readers into Thinkers at Any Age
In an earlier post, I talked about how early reading skills are early writing skills, and I pointed to some studies of how reading practices
“Just Let Them Read”: What I Really Mean When I Advise Delaying Formal Writing Instruction
A lot of people are really worried about their learners’ abilities to become strong writers, and I completely understand. Writing is a lifelong skill that
Surprise! You’re Homeschooling!
For a variety of reasons (many of them pandemic-related), I’ve been having similar conversations with lots of worried first-time homeschoolers in the past few days.
What Kind of Online Class Will Work for Your Learner?
Many of us — homeschoolers and not — were dropped into the deep end of online learning in 2020 and forced to sink or swim. For
Book Pairing: Exploring AI and Technology’s Impact
I really like pairing nonfiction and fiction. From a pedagogical standpoint, readers usually tend to gravitate toward one format or the other, and pairing the
Comma Splices and Run-On Sentences
When it comes to grammar and mechanics, not all errors are created equal. Sometimes, a missing comma after an introductory phrase or a sentence ending
Building Foundational Writing Skills: Low- and No-Prep Summary Activities
Whew! Who’s ready for some very low- or no-prep homeschool activities? This year is already wearing me out, and we have only been in our
Why You Should Write in Your Book (Really!)
In my early days of teaching college writing classes, I soon realized a lot of the students were struggling in class discussions. The typical response
Improve Writing Style with Three Quick Tips
“This just doesn’t flow.” “The writing is clunky.” “It’s too wordy.” Advice like this can leave writers feeling frustrated and lost. The advice may very
5 Tips for Supporting Ownership in Writing Feedback
Giving feedback on writing can be tough. Writing is an incredibly personal act, and many writers (even those for whom writing is a strength) can