Student Description Julia is a Grade 2 student who demonstrates a strong interest in reading and learning. She enjoys books and spends time reading both independently and during classroom literacy activities. One of her favourite topics is animals, particularly capybaras and chipmunks. During a classroom project, she created a diorama about chipmunks, which allowed her […]
Read more "Case Study"When I first heard about Story Vines as a literacy strategy in Sometimes Reading Is Hard by Robin Bright, I wasnât quite sure what to expect. The idea sounded creative, but I didnât yet understand how powerful it could be for helping students retell and understand stories deeply. In Brightâs textbook, Story Vines helps students […]
Read more "Using Story Vines in the Classroom"A classroom library is more than a collection of books, itâs a reflection of whose stories are valued. When students see themselves represented in texts, they feel included. When they encounter lives different from their own, they build empathy and understanding. This is especially important for centering BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, and Indigenous voices, whose stories have […]
Read more "Societal, Cultural, and Gender Issues in Literacy"Magic E Literacy Station- Snakes & Ladders- Magic E For our literacy stations, I had the opportunity to design and run a literacy station focused on Magic E (also known as the silent âeâ) for a Grade 1 class. This station was part of a rotation of literacy centers, where small groups of students moved […]
Read more "Making Magic with Magic E: Rolling, Reading, and Learning Through Play"The Wolves in the Walls Storybook and VR experience The learning experience began in the Design Lab, where we listened to the picture book Wolves in the Walls. The book was read aloud by classmates/teacher to model expressive reading and to engage students with the storyâs mood, suspense, and sensory details. It was also shown […]
Read more "When Books Come Alive: Wolves, Walls, and Wonder"Novel Study: The Miniature World of Marvin and James This Grade 2 novel study builds reading comprehension, communication, and creative thinking through interactive and student-centered learning experiences. Core Competencies Communication: Communicating, Collaborating Thinking: Critical and Reflective Thinking, Creative Thinking Personal and Social: Positive Personal and Cultural Identity Big Ideas Language and story can be a […]
Read more "Novel Study"Read Alouds  Jenna and Carolyn Title of Text: The Animal People Choose a Leader by Richard Wagamese English Language Arts Curricular Connections: Big Ideas: Language and text can be a source of creativity and joy. Exploring stories and other texts helps us understand ourselves and make connections to others and to the world. Curricular […]
Read more "Read Alouds"Book Title: Can You Hear the Plants Speak? Book Author: Nicholas Hummingbird & Julia Wasson Indigenous/BIPOC Book Illustrator: Madelyn Goodnight Book Type: Picture Book Topics: Science (Life Science, Ecosystems, Plant Biology), Social Studies (Indigenous Cultures, Environmentalism), teaching about plant communication, Indigenous wisdom, and Earth stewardship Grade Level(s): K-3 Subjects: ELA, Science, Socials, Indigenous Curricular Competencies […]
Read more "Picture Books"The Book that Changed Everything Vintage Books Prompts Describe your ‘one book’ that changed everything for you as a reader Goosebump Logo There wasnât just one book that changed everything for me as a reader, it was an entire series. Growing up, the Goosebumps series from the 1990s played a huge role in shaping my […]
Read more "The One Book that Changed Everything"