CEA delivers high-quality professional development to improve students' written communication skills and build subject area knowledge and understanding.
04/28/2026
🌷 What are your favorite spring writing prompts?
Here are our top 4, great as Type Ones, Twos, or Threes:
1. What did you observe on a spring nature walk?
2. The first perfect spring day…
3. Why spring is the best (or worst) season
4. How does spring change the environment around us?
What are we missing? 👇
Let’s talk about the engagement problem in today’s classrooms.
And how we might start to turn the tides–with quickwrites.
Quickwrites put thinking on paper so every student has something to say.
04/24/2026
🎥 If you caught our Make a Question Monday video, you’ve seen one piece of a bigger picture.
That activity is part of our Retrieval Routine—a simple, weekly structure designed to build retention through short, consistent, high-impact practice.
Want the full set of routines for the week?
Check out the Retrieval Routine Book and Summary Guide to see how it all fits together.
👉 https://www.collinsed.com/product-page/the-retrieval-routine-book-and-summary-guide-bundle-print-versions
04/21/2026
🌷 Here in NJ, the weather is getting warmer… but we still have a LOT of school left 😅
Last day for my community? June 25th.
(Yes… we’re counting. Slowly. Very slowly.)
Tell us—when’s your last day? 👇
One great student-written question sets up tomorrow’s quiz—and tonight’s studying.
That’s retrieval with purpose.
LINK: https://www.collinsed.com/product-page/the-retrieval-routine-summary-guide-single-copy-print
04/16/2026
🎥 If you caught our recent videos on vocabulary cards, here’s your next step.
These retrieval activities help students use their vocabulary cards through collaborative, high-energy review that builds memory and understanding.
Because making the cards is just the start…
using them is where the learning sticks.
👉 Grab the activities here:
https://www.collinsed.com/_files/ugd/088f70_3f7cabfd065c4df3aaaa1203b61286a3.pdf
Which one would you try first? 👇
04/14/2026
🌷 Happy Spring, teachers!
Our top 4 signs it’s officially spring in school:
1. The classroom feels… louder 😅
2. Focus starts to fade a little faster
3. Everyone’s looking out the window
4. You start thinking about end-of-year plans
What are we missing? 👇
Looking for a low-prep, high-engagement vocab routine?
Quiz–Quiz–Trade gets students talking, moving, and learning—no worksheets required.
For more on quiz-quiz-trade and other retrieval practice activities, check out our laminated guide: https://www.collinsed.com/product-page/the-retrieval-routine-summary-guide-single-copy-print
04/09/2026
🥹 There’s nothing cuter than spring-themed Pre-K writing!
Kudos to one of our favorite Collins partners, Kinneret Day School in Riverdale, NYC, for getting students writing early 👏
Prompt: In The Best Nest by P.D. Eastman, where did Mr. Bird try to build his family’s nest?
Even our youngest writers can rise to the challenge—and yes, Pre-K students can use FCAs!
04/07/2026
📚 Test prep season: what actually works?
Our top 4 right now:
1. Short, daily writing reps
2. Practicing with real prompts
3. Modeling strong responses
4. Focusing on one skill at a time
What are we missing? 👇
Direct vocabulary instruction works—especially when students create, write, and retrieve the words themselves.
Collins Vocabulary Cards make that happen.
👉 Grab the free Vocabulary Card printable in the comments.
03/30/2026
🎥 If you caught our recent videos on summary writing, you’ve seen how powerful the Ten Percent Summary can be.
This structured assignment (grades 3 through college) helps students focus on central ideas and cut the fluff—strengthening reading and writing across content areas.
The Desktop Guide gives you the steps, template, and scoring support to put it into practice.
👉 Link in the comments.