The Toolbox

A Simple Summer Reading Experiment That Just Might Work….

A Simple Summer Reading Experiment That Just Might Work….

Action Research, Cited Academic Research, The Toolbox May 27, 2018 at 5:52 pm Comments are Disabled

Dear WTWL Readers,  8 Let me lay a truth bomb on you. I didn’t write this as a blog post. I write a lot. But, […]

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CBM3D: Using CBMs for Quick Assessment of Progress in English Language Development

CBM3D: Using CBMs for Quick Assessment of Progress in English Language Development

Action Research, Featured Articles, The Shift, The Toolbox October 22, 2016 at 7:00 pm Comments are Disabled

By Rita Platt & John Wolfe Today in almost every elementary school in America, teachers are required (or at least highly encouraged) to use curriculum based […]

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Goal Setting, A Simple Lesson Sequence

Goal Setting, A Simple Lesson Sequence

Featured Articles, The Toolbox June 13, 2016 at 10:52 pm 1 comment

By Rita Platt   Teaching students to set and meet goals is a skill that they will be able to use for the rest of […]

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Let’s Talk About It! Facilitating Whole-Class Discussions

Let’s Talk About It! Facilitating Whole-Class Discussions

By Rita Platt Students love to talk.  With a new emphasis on speaking and listening ushered in by the Common Core State Standards, teachers must […]

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CBMs with a Twist: Reading is About More Than the Speed

CBMs with a Twist: Reading is About More Than the Speed

By Rita Platt Today in almost every elementary school in every state in America, teachers are required (or at least highly encouraged) to use curriculum […]

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Once Around the Bunny’s Ear: Shoe-Tying as a Metaphor for All that is Possible

Once Around the Bunny’s Ear: Shoe-Tying as a Metaphor for All that is Possible

By Rita Platt “I did it!” “Come watch me!” “I’ll never learn how to do it!” “Will you show me one more time?” “Can I […]

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If You Need it, Get it! Do-It-Yourself Professional Development in the 21st Century

If You Need it, Get it! Do-It-Yourself Professional Development in the 21st Century

By Rita Platt In my work as a teacher-leader, I often hear teachers lament that they need more training on various methods, strategies, ideas, and […]

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Engaging African American Boys with High Quality Literature

Engaging African American Boys with High Quality Literature

By Rita Platt The suggestions below are great books for everyone. This post, however, puts the lens on readers who are African American boys. If we […]

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Caring Classrooms: Setting Expectations and Rules Together!

Caring Classrooms: Setting Expectations and Rules Together!

Action Research, Featured Articles, The Shift, The Toolbox, Uncategorized July 12, 2015 at 2:42 pm Comments are Disabled

By Stacey Belisle A Saint C.A.R.E.S.! That’s what we say at Saint Croix Falls Elementary School. C.A.R.E.S. stands for Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self […]

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Positive Phone Calls to Parents is Like Money in the Bank!

Positive Phone Calls to Parents is Like Money in the Bank!

The Toolbox July 4, 2015 at 4:43 pm Comments are Disabled

By Rita Platt & Maria Gjovig How many times have you tried calling a parent only to find that they won’t answer? It shouldn’t surprise you. […]

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