Let’s Talk Just Right Readers

Let’s Talk Just Right Readers

 Books for primary readers are categorized into levels of difficulty—Just Right Readers. Some of these books are categorized by grade level (GRL), some  by a developmental readiness assessment (DRA), and others still are categorized by a Lexile measure. The purpose…

Remember to Read Aloud!

Remember to Read Aloud!

Kenneth Grahame, author of The Wind in the Willows, was born on this day in 1859. I remember taking my four children to Barnes and Noble Story Hour back in the day to listen to this wonderful book being read…

Get Published!

Get Published!

Writing is an art form that is meant to be read by a reader! Blackbird & Company Educational Press is proud to announce a call for submissions to student writers, Kindergarten through 12th grade, who courageously write their ideas using…

The Section 5 Project is a CORE Literacy

The Section 5 Project is a CORE Literacy

Aesthetics is a set of principles that inform the outcome of a work of art. It taps into that part of our being that connects with beauty. At the heart of this concept is imagination, and imagination is where ideas…

Getting to the HEART of Literacy

Getting to the HEART of Literacy

What is meant by Core & Application?   Our English Language Arts program is built around a simple structure of Core and Application materials.  When it comes to literacy, integrating the act of reading and the art of writing gets…

Around the Campfire: Get Published

Around the Campfire: Get Published

We are proud to announce our first annual call for entries to Reveal, a published journal of student work—sentences, paragraphs, poems, essays, and research accomplished utilizing our ELA curriculum. Artwork inspired by famous artists plus writing inspired by composers during…

Around the Campfire: Inspired by Vivaldi

Around the Campfire: Inspired by Vivaldi

Encouragement for  Friday:   “Writing about music ties the languages together through translation.”                                                      …

Around the Campfire: The Superhero Suit

Around the Campfire: The Superhero Suit

Tip Number 11. Encourage your student to BE the superhero! Back in 2010, in the throws of educating my four alongside at least two dozen other children, I constantly doubted the path I was forging.  Doubting, that is, until being…

Around the Campfire: The Arts are NOT Extracurricular

Around the Campfire: The Arts are NOT Extracurricular

Tip Number 10. Make Good Art! You might ask: How is a language arts connected to music and visual art? Visual art via the craft of graphic design exists in the world everywhere we go. Music, too, is often in…

Around the Campfire: We Are Here for You

Around the Campfire: We Are Here for You

Tip Number 9. Stay Connected! Sometimes being a teacher is a lonely job, whether we are in the classroom, the hybrid setting, or homeschooling around the kitchen table. From lesson planning to assessing growth, juggling daily lessons and independent work,…