Teaching literacy can be complex and overwhelming, particularly as expectations for literacy across content areas continue to grow. Here at Learning-Focused, we empower educators with effective instructional strategies that move the needle and boost literacy in the classroom. In the articles below, our experts offer novel recommendations, teaching best practices, and proven frameworks that create impact for every student.
You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it. Pages streaked with neon yellow, students bent low over their desks, the squeak of a highlighter filling the quiet classroom. It looks like learning. It...
Recently, in a 4th grade classroom, a student was struggling to read a text about a girl who wanted to join the soccer team. I noticed he looked puzzled and...
Grades 8-12 Book Review Elie Wiesel’s Night is his memoir about surviving the Holocaust as a teenager. Elie grows up in Sighet, a small town in Hungary, where he studies his...
Plot Summary Trisha is a young girl who loves stories and dreams of being able to read like her older brother and sister. But when she starts school, she realizes...
Grades 2-5 Book Review Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco is a powerful children’s book that explores themes of friendship, bravery, and the devastating effects of the Civil War. It...
Review “90 Miles to Havana” by Enrique Flores-Galbis is a heartfelt historical novel that portrays the experiences of Cuban children during Operation Pedro Pan. This significant yet often overlooked historical...
Grades 5-8 Book Review In One Crazy Summer, eleven-year-old Delphine is like a mother to her two younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern. She’s had to be, ever since their mother,...
“Students can’t even write a basic sentence!” This frustration resonates with teachers at all grade levels, as too many students struggle with sentence structure—writing in fragments, misusing punctuation, or failing...
Grades 4-6 Book Review A Sirius Adventure is a historical adventure novel set in the 18th century. The story follows a young Portuguese boy and his dog who embark on...
For years, classrooms have displayed colorful anchor charts listing various types of context clues – definitions, antonyms, synonyms, and more. But ask yourself: when was the last time you consciously...
One of my favorite things to discuss with elementary teachers is their classroom environment. Their faces light up with enthusiasm as we chat about furniture arrangements, bulletin boards, and inspirational...
Grades 2-5 Elementary Book Review “A Butterfly Is Patient” by Dianna Hutts Aston, illustrated by Sylvia Long, is a beautifully crafted children’s book that combines poetic prose with stunning illustrations...
