As an upper elementary and middle school teacher, I always saw phonics instruction as a primary grade responsibility. By the time students reached me, I believed students were ready to dive into reading comprehension. After all, don’t they say fourth grade is when...
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Writing workshop is my jam! Teaching writing shouldn’t feel like a chore. In these articles, you will find helpful strategies for mini lessons, writing conferences, editing, grading, and so much more.
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Why You Should Ditch the 2-Hour Reading Block
Have you ever struggled to cover all your content with a two-hour (or longer) reading block? I definitely did. I actually remember when my district declared elementary classes were required to have a minimum of two hours for reading. My teammates and I spent hours...
How To Edit Locked PDF Files
As a TPT Seller, I often get asked if my resources are editable. Often, they are not. Clipart and fonts are sold with licenses that often do not allow them to be used in editable resources, which restricts my ability to make resources editable. However, there are ways...
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Why Middle Grades Teachers Need to Teach Phonics
As an upper elementary and middle school teacher, I always saw phonics instruction as a primary grade responsibility. By the time students reached me, I believed students were ready to dive into reading comprehension. After all, don’t they say fourth grade is when...
Why You Should Ditch the 2-Hour Reading Block
As teachers, one of the first things we do is design activities to activate schema, or prior knowledge. We know students remember new information better when they connect it to what they already know.
How To Edit Locked PDF Files
As a TPT Seller, I often get asked if my resources are editable.
Teaching Reading In Social Studies
If you had taught my kids in middle school, you might not have even realized they both struggled with reading.
How Being Stressed Can Change Test Scores
Let’s talk about a few ways we can teach students how not to stress over tests.
How To Destress Standardized Testing
I’ve seen how high-stakes testing has affected kids. We have kids who are so stressed out that they’re throwing up on their tests.
More Test Taking Strategies To Start Teaching Your Students
This week, I thought we should discuss strategies to use when different types of test questions are given to students.
Test Taking Strategies To Start Teaching Your Students
As teachers help students prepare, we need to make sure that they not only feel comfortable with the material but also with taking a test.
Keeping Students Focused As Testing Season Looms
Testing season is coming quickly. How do we keep our students focused as we inch closer and closer to testing and the end of the school year?
Spring Break – Using This Time To Fill Your Bucket
If used well, Spring Break can be the perfect time for you to fill your bucket up so you feel refreshed and ready for the rest of the year
The Best Way To Create Constructed-Response Essays
This switch to fact-based writing in elementary grades is one of the biggest changes I’ve seen since I started teaching.
Getting Started With Hexagonal Thinking
Have you heard of hexagonal thinking? Hexagonal thinking is an activity that allows individuals and teams to think about what they have learned and to make connections between ideas.
Test Prep Strategies For Elementary And Middle School
Teachers should stop reviewing for the test and use strategies to ensure students master skills and concepts.
Strategies For Using Novels In Your Classroom
I have “Best Practices” based on the experiences of students and children. Here are strategies for using novels effectively in your classroom
How To Celebrate Valentine’s Day In Your Classroom
While I like a party day, I always found it difficult to “give up a day” in the name of fun. Instead, I used Valentine’s Day to my advantage.
Hello! I’m Amy Mezni!
- I believe that students need to be the leaders of the classroom. Even third graders are old enough to be held accountable and to take responsibility for their learning.
- I do not believe that kids were made to sit in seats. They need to get up and move around.
- Differentiated instruction is a must. I use guided reading and guided math groups to meet the individual needs of my students.
- Helping a student to discover their love for reading is a privilege that I never get tired of.
- School should be fun! We party in my class!