Navigating the complexities of teaching with limited time is a challenge many of us face, especially when you only have a 60 minute literacy block. For those of us tasked with fitting a comprehensive literacy curriculum into just 60 minutes a day, the pressure can feel overwhelming. This post is dedicated to all my fellow ... Read more The post Maximizing Your 60 Minute Literacy Block: Strategies for Teachers first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

In January, we realize that we are half way through the year.  Feels like just yesterday we were setting up our classrooms, buzzing with fresh ideas and plans for the months ahead. If you’re anything like me, some of those grand plans from September might be collecting dust by now. It’s totally normal, and it’s ... Read more The post Strategies to Avoid Teacher Burnout first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

As educators, one of the recurring challenges we face in the classroom, especially in the junior grades, is effectively managing early finishers. These are students who complete assigned tasks much faster than their peers, leading to potential disruptions or boredom. But who exactly are these early finishers, and how can we address their needs without ... Read more The post Early Finishers and How to Manage Them first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

Hey there, teachers! Ready to spice up your classroom with some nonfiction writing techniques and tips? In this blog post, we’ll explore fun, easy steps to transform your students into confident nonfiction writers. From choosing cool topics to crafting neat paragraphs, let’s make writing an adventure they’ll love! The Essence of Spiraled Instruction in Literacy ... Read more The post Boosting Student Literacy with Effective Nonfiction Writing Techniques first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

As teachers, we often find ourselves at a crossroads between professional aspirations and personal fulfillment. The ever-changing landscape of education demands not just our skills but also our emotional and mental bandwidth. In this blog post, we dive into essential mindset strategies that can redefine not only our approach to teaching but also how we ... Read more The post 8 Mindset Shifts to Help You Create a Better Teaching Work Life Balance first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

Assessing students’ literacy skills is pivotal for understanding their progress and refining teaching methods tailored to their needs. This post breaks down the three primary types of literacy assessments and explains how you can effectively incorporate them into your teaching strategy. Diagnostic Assessment: The Starting Point Diagnostic assessments provide an initial insight into where your ... Read more The post How to Boost Literacy Levels by Incorporating Literacy Assessments first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

Are you struggling to teach spelling skills in your classroom? Exciting changes are happening in Ontario’s education landscape, and it’s not just limited to the early grades. If you’re a teacher working with students in grades 3 to 6, you’ll want to pay close attention to the transformative updates in the Ontario Language Curriculum for ... Read more The post Enhancing Spelling Skills: Transitioning to Better Spelling In Junior Grades with Ignited Spelling first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

If you’re a teacher in the junior grades (grades 3 to 6), you may have wondered about the best way to implement literacy centers in your classroom. In this blog post, we’ll explore some effective strategies for mastering literacy centers that don’t require excessive structure or preparation. We’ll also emphasize the importance of student choice ... Read more The post Mastering Literacy Centers in Junior Grades first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

Teaching Authentically: Navigating the TPA in Ontario In the world of teaching, evaluations can be a nerve-wracking experience. This is especially true for the Teacher Performance Appraisal (TPA) in Ontario. Teachers often feel the pressure of ensuring they’re at their best, which can sometimes lead them to deviate from their authentic teaching selves and put ... Read more The post Teaching Authentically: Navigating the TPA in Ontario first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more

So, big news, right? There is a new Ontario Language Curriculum and it has gotten a makeover for 2023, and it’s not just our K-3 pals who need to sit up and take notice. If you teach kids in grades 3-6, you’re probably wondering, “How’s this gonna affect me?” Changing Up How We Teach Literacy ... Read more The post Everything You Need To Know About The New Ontario Language Curriculum For Grades 3-6 in 2023 first appeared on Madly Learning ..read more