Do you ever feel like you're spending more time correcting behavior than actually teaching? I've been there.

In this episode of The Education Connection, I'm taking a short break from my Writing About Reading series to talk about something that's on every teacher's mind this time of year...classroom procedures.

After 20 years in the classroom, I've learned that classroom management doesn't begin with consequences. It begins with intentionally teaching procedures. I'll share the simple three-step process I use in my first-grade classroom: Explain, Rehearse, and Reinforce. I'll also talk about why it's so important to teach students the why behind our expectations and how taking the time to teach procedures now will save you time all year long.

Much of what I've learned has been influenced by Harry and Rosemary Wong's The First Days of School, and over the years I've adapted those principles to fit my own classroom. I'll share practical examples, encourage you to make procedures fit your classroom, and remind you that teaching procedures isn't taking time away from instruction...

Teaching procedures is instruction.

🎁 As a thank you for listening, I've included my Classroom Procedures Checklist as a free download. I hope it gives you a great starting point as you prepare for a new school year!

If this episode encourages you, I'd love for you to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another teacher who could use a little encouragement this back-to-school season.

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How do you teach setting in a way that is simple, meaningful, and easy for young learners to understand?

In this episode of The Education Connection, I'm sharing exactly how I teach setting through my Writing About Reading framework. You'll learn my step-by-step routine for introducing the skill with a mentor text, engaging students in meaningful discussions, modeling the writing process, and gradually releasing responsibility so students can complete the activity independently.

I'll also explain how this routine helps me assess student understanding while creating opportunities to meet with small groups for additional support.

Whether you're a first-grade teacher or work with other primary students, you'll walk away with a practical lesson you can use in your classroom right away.

In this episode you'll learn:

• How to introduce setting with a simple anchor chart
• How to use a mentor text to model thinking
• A four-day gradual release routine for success
• How to use writing as a reading comprehension assessment
• Ways to support students who need extra practice

🎁 Download the free Setting Activity

This episode is part of the Writing About Reading Series, where each episode focuses on one reading comprehension skill and provides practical strategies to help young readers become confident writers.

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How do you teach first graders to write about reading without overwhelming them?

In this first episode of my Writing About Reading Series, I'm sharing one of my classroom routines for teaching students to identify the main characters in a story. This simple strategy naturally blends reading and writing together, helping students strengthen comprehension while building confidence as young writers.

You'll hear how I introduce the routine, why I don't ask students to write too much too soon, and how one simple sentence starter helps reduce writing fatigue so students can focus on thinking about what they read.

I'll also share:

• Why identifying characters is a foundational comprehension skill
• How I model the activity before expecting independence
• How I use individual book baggies with books that match each student's reading needs
• Why we complete this activity every Monday
• How writing about reading naturally becomes part of our reading block
• Tips for supporting struggling writers without taking away their independence

Whether you're a classroom teacher, interventionist, homeschool parent, or tutor, you'll walk away with a practical routine you can begin using with your young readers.

🎁 Coming Soon: I am working on it as we speak!! Free Download: Grab the Writing About Reading Classroom Roadmap, a one-page guide that walks you through exactly how to introduce reading responses in first grade without overwhelming your students. This printable follows the same step-by-step process I share in this episode.

You can download today's free resource using the link in the show notes.

Thanks for listening to The Education Connection! Next week we'll continue our Writing About Reading Series by learning how to teach setting in a simple, developmentally appropriate way for young learners.

Connect with me on any of these Social Media Platforms.

Sign up for my Weekly Email

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Teachers Pay Teachers:

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