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Teaching and Tapas

| by Alyssha Swanson

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* Strategy Groups (14)
* Interactive Read Aloud (1)
* Close Reading Bundles (5)
* Daily Quick Reads (2)
* Reading Notebooks (5)
* Summer Work Packs (8)
* Word Walls (25)
* Reading Comprehension Curriculum Bundles (1)
GRADE LEVEL - Kindergarten (9)
GRADE LEVEL - 1st Grade (22)
GRADE LEVEL - 2nd Grade (74)
GRADE LEVEL - 3rd Grade (76)
GRADE LEVEL - 4th Grade (63)
GRADE LEVEL - 5th Grade (40)
- FREE! (14)
- ALL PRODUCTS (169)

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* Close Reading Bundles
* Daily Quick Reads
* Interactive Read Aloud
* Reading Comprehension Curriculum Bundles
* Reading Notebooks
* Strategy Groups
* Summer Work Packs
* Word Walls
- ALL PRODUCTS
- FREE!
GRADE LEVEL - 1st Grade
GRADE LEVEL - 2nd Grade
GRADE LEVEL - 3rd Grade
GRADE LEVEL - 4th Grade
GRADE LEVEL - 5th Grade
GRADE LEVEL - Kindergarten

MEET ALYSSHA

I am a reading teacher and traveler at heart. I spent most of my teaching career abroad, teaching in international schools (most recently: Spain). I am now back in the good 'ol USA, helping teachers figure out how to make reading instruction simple and fantastically effective. Take a peek around and contact me if you have questions! Read More…

Instagram Goodness

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Teaching reading can feel SO OVERWHELMING. ⁠
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It can feel like you should always be doing MORE. ⁠
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But in reality, a lot of teachers need to Marie Kondo their approach to reading groups. ⁠
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Scale DOWN the activities and centers if it gives you time to scale UP your feedback and responsiveness. ⁠
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#readingteacher #teach #literacy #readingteacher #reading #iteach #teachersofinsta #teachersofintagram #iteachtoo #letthemread #iteachsecond #elementary #elementaryschool #iteachthird #iteach345 #iteach4th #iteach4thgrade #iteachfourth #iteachfourthgrade #iteach5th #iteach5thgrade #iteachfifth #iteachfifthgrade #iteach3rd #iteachthird #iteachthirdgrade #thirdgradeteacher #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgradeteacher #teachingandtapas⁠

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If I ask you for one word that describes your style for teaching reading, what would it be?⁠
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If you ask me, my answer is...I am UNCOMPLICATED.⁠
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Let me tell you what I mean...⁠
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When it comes to assessing, I'm UNCOMPLICATED. I get MOST of my assessment data from conferring. That means that quick one-on-one conversations are the biggest drivers of my teaching. I rely on other assessment data of course, but conferring is my biggie.⁠
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When it comes to whole group reading lessons, I'm UNCOMPLICATED. Most of my whole group lessons are taught using an interactive read aloud. That means I am modeling my lesson while reading an engaging book from my classroom library. I'm definitely NOT cutting, pasting, laminating, or gathering hoards of materials for complicated reading lessons. Nope. Uncomplicated.⁠
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When it comes to reading groups, I use both guided reading and strategy groups. Both group types are great instruction tools, but they have different purposes. I use guided reading to help students move up in text complexity. I use strategy groups to zoom in on specific skills or strategies my students need in order to grow as readers. I don't schedule a small group lesson "just because". Nope. Every single time I meet with a group, I have a very specific learning goal to focus on. UNCOMPLICATED.⁠
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So...that's me! What's one word that describes your teaching style?⁠
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#readingteacher #teach #literacy #readingteacher #reading #iteach #teachersofinsta #teachersofintagram #iteachtoo #letthemread #iteachsecond #elementary #elementaryschool #iteachthird #iteach345 #iteach4th #iteach4thgrade #iteachfourth #iteachfourthgrade #iteach5th #iteach5thgrade #iteachfifth #iteachfifthgrade #iteach3rd #iteachthird #iteachthirdgrade #thirdgradeteacher #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgradeteacher #teachingandtapas⁠

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I LOVE THIS BOOK.⁠
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Sulwe is a perfect mentor text for teaching figurative language and metaphors. ⁠
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"Sulwe was born the color of midnight.⁠
Mama was the color of dawn,⁠
Baba was the color of dusk,⁠
and Mich, her sister, was the color of dawn."⁠
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Sulwe heads on a magical adventure where she learns about sisters, Night and Day, and how they compliment each other. The metaphor is continued throughout the story in language this is accessible to elementary school readers. ⁠
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Not only that, but author Lupita Nyong'o, brings forth a lesson about the power of self-esteem and an excellent opening to the discussion about colorism. Get this book for your classroom library!⁠
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#readingteacher #teach #literacy #reading #iteach #teachersofinsta #teachersofintagram #iteachtoo #letthemread #iteachsecond #elementary #elementaryschool #iteachthird #iteach345 #iteach4th #iteach4thgrade #iteachfourth #iteachfourthgrade #iteach5th #iteach5thgrade #iteachfifth #iteachfifthgrade #iteach3rd #iteachthird #iteachthirdgrade #thirdgradeteacher #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgradeteacher #teachingandtapas⁠

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On Christmas, my kids played legos all day. Hours and hours of legos, and when they finished their kits they wanted to keep building. ⁠
They were “in the flow” and TOTALLY into what they were building. They GOT to build with their legos.⁠
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Now imagine how the scenario would be different I told them that they HAD to build with their legos. When they didn’t want to build anymore, crazy mom would respond saying, ”you have to build 5 more red structures or build lego ladders for 50 more minutes”. I guarantee you that their enthusiasm would drop dramatically.⁠
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THE SAME THING HAPPENS WITH READING.⁠
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When we change our expectations from “you have to” to “you get to”, we are opening up opportunity and freedom. ⁠
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IN YOUR CLASSROOM, THIS MEANS:
...reading is a pleasurable experience.⁠
…reading comes with freedom and choice.⁠
…reading is not a punishment.⁠
…reading a book that is not at the student’s reading level is TOTALLY OKAY.⁠
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#readingteacher #teach #literacy #reading #iteach #teachersofinsta #teachersofintagram #iteachtoo #letthemread #iteachsecond #elementary #elementaryschool #iteachthird #iteach345 #iteach4th #iteach4thgrade #iteachfourth #iteachfourthgrade #iteach5th #iteach5thgrade #iteachfifth #iteachfifthgrade #iteach3rd #iteachthird #iteachthirdgrade #thirdgradeteacher #fourthgradeteacher #fifthgradeteacher #teachingandtapas⁠
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