Take Home the Teacher

05/21/2023

Calling all incoming 4th-6th graders! Backyard book club is returning July 10th for a full week of reading engagement, discourse, and of course, fun. Join me for five evenings as we enjoy the anthology, Birthday Surprises. Visit www.takehometheteacher.com for all of the details.

05/21/2022

Calling all incoming 3rd-5th graders...join me for a summer book club. Thursday evenings in July in my backyard book nook. We will be discussing City of Ember. Visit www.takehometheteacher.com to register. https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR01N2yi91coS3vRbBpBxKLd8rn5xSuSiyz2mBGuW8cGC4HorA06odXsylhMGBmIvBTNDl7XLlPInHn/pub

05/29/2021

Looking to strengthen your child’s confidence as a reader and/or writer this summer? I am thrilled to share my in-person summer reading and writing workshops for students entering first through third grade. Each workshop is limited to a small group to allow for differentiation and personalized instruction. To learn more, visit

Entering 1st-3rd Grade Reading Workshop: Weeks of July 5th and 12th 1:00-2:00 pm Reading Strategies and Fluency- Click here for a detailed description. Entering 1st-3rd Grade Writing Workshop: Weeks...

05/08/2021

I am thrilled to share my summer reading and writing workshops. Students entering 1st through 3rd grade are welcome to join me for a reading strategies and fluency workshop and narrative writing workshop in-person during the weeks of July 8th and July 15th. To learn more please visit

Entering 1st-3rd Grade Reading Workshop: Weeks of July 5th and 12th 1:00-2:00 pm Reading Strategies and Fluency- Click here for a detailed description. Entering 1st-3rd Grade Writing Workshop: Weeks...

08/12/2020

I have been thinking a lot lately about learning pods, the new buzz words being discussed frequently. After exploring one for my own children, I began thinking deeply about what makes a good pod leader/teacher. When meeting with a potential pod leader here are some questions you can ask:

*What types of educational resources/materials do you have available to offer our children?
*If our pod consists of a heterogeneous group of learners, how will you address their varying learning needs?
*How much time can you commit to planning and preparing for instruction for our children?
*Are you comfortable communicating with our child’s teacher to meet his/her individual needs?

08/10/2020

While I have some very strong opinions about the proposed hybrid model (I’ll keep those to myself for now), I want my kids to be ready for a successful “at home” learning experience. We turned our playroom into a micro classroom. I am hoping to do some teaching here too.

07/10/2020

Question. It is inevitable that some component of our children’s education will be virtual for the 2020-2021 school year.
What is more important, spending the summer deciding whether or not we have in-person learning and what a hybrid model looks like or taking this time to gather and acquire all of the resources possible to prepare the most individualized and effective instruction possible for virtual instruction?

06/29/2020

After a much-needed break from virtual learning, keep those reading skills sharp and comprehension skills even sharper. My weeklong book clubs for 1st -7th graders offer an opportunity to immerse in a text and review the important comprehension skills taught at each grade level. You can check that reading box off your summer to-do list. Book clubs are scheduled for the week of July 20th. Visit https://www.takehometheteacher.com/summer-2020-workshops.html for specific details.

Writing Workshops: Beginning Monday, July 13th Planning a Personal Narrative - For Students Entering 1st and 2nd Grade Crafting a Small Moment Story -For Students Entering 3rd and 4th Grade Don't...

06/19/2020

I cannot wait for my Webex “Nailed It” celebration with my class on Monday.

06/05/2020

This school year I collaborated with a group of educators to bring diversity to the texts we present in our classrooms. Our conversations were invaluable and important. In addition to the conversations we have with our children, the texts we share provide the background knowledge and experience that shape their understanding of the world around them. I want to share this resource, Social Justice Books, because they offer 60 carefully selected lists of multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults and educators. As a parent and educator, I appreciate and incorporate these texts to complement my conversations about today’s current events.

Here are more than 60 carefully selected lists of multicultural and social justice books for children, young adults, and educators. New Activism Africa Afro-Latinx American Indians Arabs and Arab Americans Asia and Asian Americans

05/23/2020

There is so much uncertainty surrounding this summer, but I do know one thing for sure…I am excited to share these book clubs and writing workshops I will be offering for students entering 1st through 7th grade. Each program will be offered via Webex to a small group of readers and writers. All books and materials will be provided. While the dates and times are still being finalized, you can learn more about each program at

Writing Workshops: Planning a Personal Narrative - For Students Entering 1st and 2nd Grade Crafting a Small Moment Story -For Students Entering 3rd and 4th Grade Don't Take Me Literally:Understanding...

03/17/2020

Good Morning. I am happy to help in any way as we begin this new journey in learning from home. I've attached the page from my own class website with resources I created for my class.

The Five Finger Retell is a comprehension strategy you use to recall the story elements in your text. This video reviews story elements and recalling the beginning, middle and end of a story.