Great World Texts in Wisconsin connects high school teachers and students across the state with scholars at UW-Madison through the shared project of reading and discussing a classic piece of world literature. During the 2024–25 academic year, Minnesota Writing Project Teacher Consultant Paul Glembocki helped lead the inaugural year of Great World Texts in Minnesota … Continue reading Translation as Freedom: On Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 and Feminist Consciousness by Sophia Epony Kim
Recognizing and Celebrating the Life and Times of Grandmaster Maurice Ashley: A Teaching Tip by William P. Bintz and Shabnam Moini Chaghervand
Historically, there have been many famous chess grandmasters. These include Garry Kasparov, Magnus Carlsen, Bobby Fisher, Anatoly Karpov, and Emanuel Lasker. One name, however, is rarely, if ever, included on the list of chess grandmasters. He has been overlooked, if not ignored, by the chess game industry. His name is Maurice Ashley. He deserves to … Continue reading Recognizing and Celebrating the Life and Times of Grandmaster Maurice Ashley: A Teaching Tip by William P. Bintz and Shabnam Moini Chaghervand
Using Concept Albums to Engage with Layers of Theme by Susan Decker
From beloved heartwarming Christmas melodies to intense songs of angry political and social protest, music is one of the most emotionally charged forms of expression. Although the psychological research behind that statement is fascinatingly complex, the layman’s explanation is quite simple: music is a powerful combination of both lyrics and sounds. These two elements work … Continue reading Using Concept Albums to Engage with Layers of Theme by Susan Decker
The Kids Can Do It: Slow down, Collaborate, and Scaffold by Chelsea Bowker, Austin Castro and Anastassia McNulty
Across the United States, many educators will face what often feels like an insurmountable predicament. The goal is to provide students with complex, grade-level academic challenges designed to achieve a rigorous set of standards. The problem is comparable to a 20-foot brick wall in front of us and our students, and we have 120 days … Continue reading The Kids Can Do It: Slow down, Collaborate, and Scaffold by Chelsea Bowker, Austin Castro and Anastassia McNulty
Engaging Minds, Inspiring Readers by Jen McCarty Plucker
In classrooms filled with diverse learners, engagement doesn’t come from compliance—it comes from connection, curiosity, and relevance. Before we can expect students to meet us in rigorous academic work, we must first understand the often-hidden reasons behind their resistance. In my teaching practice and research, I’ve discovered that many seemingly disengaged behaviors are actually defense … Continue reading Engaging Minds, Inspiring Readers by Jen McCarty Plucker
Beyond Color: Strategies for Introducing Diverse Books, and Some Book Recommendations Too by Rosalind Hudson and Hiawatha Smith
Reflection Pause for a moment and reflect on your response to these thought-provoking questions: Introduction The world is rich in diversity, and it is crucial for students to learn about and engage with this diversity. Diversity encompasses much more than the representation of “color” and the well-known non-dominant groups; it reflects the broader pluralistic world. … Continue reading Beyond Color: Strategies for Introducing Diverse Books, and Some Book Recommendations Too by Rosalind Hudson and Hiawatha Smith
Building A Reading Culture: A Labor of Love and a Shared Passion for All Things Literacy by Katie Laugen and Kelsey Didrikson
Last spring, we presented Building a Reading Culture at the MCTE annual conference because we wanted to share our passion for fostering a love of reading with our students and because we felt like we had a few tips, tricks, and ideas that might come in handy for other teachers. However, we learned just as … Continue reading Building A Reading Culture: A Labor of Love and a Shared Passion for All Things Literacy by Katie Laugen and Kelsey Didrikson
Integrating Social Studies Through the Read-Aloud by Hiawatha Smith and McKenzie Rabenn
Before reading this article, we encourage readers to think and reflect openly and honestly on the two questions presented below. Introduction Knowledge of social studies and the world is crucial for every citizen and thus should be an essential component within schools. In recent years, there has been a notable decline in elementary content area … Continue reading Integrating Social Studies Through the Read-Aloud by Hiawatha Smith and McKenzie Rabenn
Story Train: A Strategy for Retelling, Summarizing, and Sequencing by Jongsun Wee
Reading is not an easy task for young readers. Children need to practice various reading strategies to become skillful readers. A lot of reading strategies have been shared with educators through professional books and websites.[1] Simple keywords searches on the internet will also bring many resources for teachers, including how-to videos and downloadable worksheets. Indeed, … Continue reading Story Train: A Strategy for Retelling, Summarizing, and Sequencing by Jongsun Wee
#ReadingWars and Equity by Allison Sirovy
Following the #ReadingWars on social media? If you are, you may feel like me—lost and confused. Although I teach middle school English, reading instruction is near and dear to my heart because I teach in a school where many of our readers are considered striving readers. (Please note the phrase "striving readers." It is intentional: … Continue reading #ReadingWars and Equity by Allison Sirovy