2015 National Conference on Differentiated Instruction Handouts

7/01/2015

Katie will be presenting at the 2015 National Conference on Differentiated Instruction in Las Vegas, July 7-10, 2015.

MONDAY HANDOUTS


Click here to download the handouts!

UCF Literacy Symposium at the Forefront of K-20 Literacy Learning

4/25/2014

The 17th Annual College of Education and Human Performance Literacy Symposium brought over 500 K-20 educators, researchers, policy makers, and literacy advocates to the UCF campus Friday, April 3rd for a day filled with sessions and keynote presentations focused on the importance of reading. Specifically, this year’s symposium covered the intersection of changing assessment standards, the role of reading and writing in teaching and learning, and the changing digital landscape – literacy in the 21st century. Four national keynote speakers and 105 presenters addressed the event’s theme from a variety of perspectives.

Click here to keep reading!

SDE New England PreK-3 Conference

04/23/2015

Katie recently presented at the New England PreK-3 Conference: Powerful Strategies for Developing Strong Students, April 13-14, 2015 in Manchester, NH.

Click here to keep download the handouts!

Freebee: Idiomatic Expressions

12/07/2014

I’m thankful that I teach English because it’s such a rich and colorful language. But sometimes it’s a mixed blessing, isn’t it? I’m trying to earn some brownie points with you today, my dear readers, by offering this free lesson on Idiomatic Expressions. Use it to introduce or reinforce your Grade 4–12 students’ journey toward this Common Core State Standard language goal...

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee: Lights, Camera, Action! - A Raisin in the Sun

11/30/2014

I hope all my American teachers and friends had a fantastic Thanksgiving! I'm certainly thankful to have you all in my life, and to be able to share knowledge with you! So let’s talk turkey on this holiday weekend. A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is part of the curriculum in many middle schools and high schools. This week’s free Lights, Camera, Action! lesson plan focuses specifically on that play. Use it to guide Grade 7–12 students toward achieving these CCSS goals:

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee: the Diary Project

11/23/2014

Now that we’re really getting into the “sweet spot” of the school year, a lot of ELA teachers are introducing longer form reading like novels. If you’re looking for a great culminating activity, consider using the Diary Project. In this CCSS-aligned activity students will learn to identify the voice and perspective of a character and express that character’s thoughts in writing.

Download this lesson plan today for free. Use it in your classroom to guide Grade 5–12 students toward achieving these Common Core State Standards goals:

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee: Pronouns

11/09/2014

Pronouns are one of the trickiest concepts for students to master. Even though a lot of schools start teaching pronoun usage in Grade 3 (or earlier), as teachers we know that it’s never too late to reinforce their correct usage. The journey toward this CCSS language anchor standard is a long one. And, if the proliferation of online Grammar Help sites is any indication, for some of us it’s a lifelong journey!

Click here to keep reading!

Reading and What It Means in the Content Areas

11/01/2014

This post originally appeared on teacherblog.evan-moor.com.

“Why, oh why, are we being asked to teach reading in our content area classes?” I hear it time and time again, usually followed by some variation of, “But I don’t know how to teach reading!”

As teachers, we know that the ability to read is probably our students’ single most valuable tool in their quest for academic achievement. But here’s another way to look at it: students’ ability to read is our most valuable tool in our quest to introduce subject matter to students. We all have a stake in this. When students can’t read at grade level, no one wins.

Click here to keep reading!

Freebee: Content Literacy Center Posters

10/31/2014

We hope you had a Happy Halloween! As a special treat for content-area teachers, I’m giving away my Content Literacy Center Posters. Totally free. No tricks. These ready-to-print posters help you teach Grade 4–12 students reading strategies and vocabulary in all content areas. Hang them at stations the next time you use Text Centers in your classroom. Or use them to illustrate individual classroom activities any time.

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee: Theme for English B

10/24/2014

Have you ever introduced your students to Langston Hughes’ poem, “Theme For English B”? If not, consider it. It’s the best! (Especially for middle school and high school English teachers. I’ll ask all you science, math and early elementary teachers to indulge us this week.)

In the poem, a presumably white English teacher assigns a presumably black college student to write something “true and meaningful” about himself. The poem is that student’s response. In reading the poem we learn not just a few details of the student’s life, but also his reflections on the concepts of “truth” and “meaning” – and how they differ from person to person, You can’t read it without considering the daily toll of overt racial discrimination on the mid twentieth century student. There’s irony, sarcasm, and loads of imagery. Like I said, it’s the best.

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee: The House on Mango Street

10/17/2014

They seem to be popular, so I’m giving away yet another CCSS-aligned activity that includes reading and speaking & listening components.

This close reading activity for The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, will assist you in guiding your Grade 9–12 students toward these Common Core State Standards goals:

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebee Friday: Literacy

10/10/2014

In honor of the release of my new book, Common Core Literacy for Math, Science, and Technical Subjects: Strategies to Deepen Content Knowledge (Grades 6-12), I’m back on the topic of literacy in the content areas. Take a few moments to watch this movie and learn how the Common Core State Standards have influenced the way we present content material in grades 6–12. You can download a free outline of the presentation, too, so you don’t even have to take notes while I speak!

Click here to watch the video and download the freebee!

Freebee Friday: Action Contraction

10/03/2014

It’s hard to find a teacher who can’t use the Action Contraction activity. It’s useful for students in Grade 2 who are just learning about contractions; and it’s a useful refresher mini-lesson for older students. I’ve heard that English Language Learners (ELL) find it to be particularly effective.

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

An Interview with Katie McKnight

9/26/2014



Watch the video after the jump!

Freebee Friday: Dinner Conversation Role Play

9/26/2014

Look folks, here’s another CCSS-aligned activity and this one includes reading, writing, and speaking & listening components! It’s a three-in-one and, best of all, students love it.

Use this Dinner Conversation Role Play activity to guide Grade 7–12 students toward achieving these Common Core State Standards goals:

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Freebees: Vocabulary Centers and Activities

9/19/2014

For the next month or so, I’m going to be talking a lot about literacy in the content areas. And since vocabulary development is an important part of all content area learning, this Friday’s freebee is a packet of vocabulary centers and activities. The packet contains 10 strategies to build Grade 4-12 students' understanding of vocabulary.

Click here to keep reading and download the freebee!

Free Haiku Download

9/12/2014