Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Vocabulary Activities and Games for Kids

Vocabulary activities are an important part of literacy planning. Because they play a fundamental role in reading comprehension, planning kid-friendly lessons is essential. Children learn the meanings of most words indirectly, usually through everyday experiences with spoken language. However, other words are learned through careful instruction. So what does that look like? WAYS TO DEVELOP WORD … [Read more...]

Comprehension Strategies in Reading

No matter which side of the literacy debate you're on, teaching comprehension strategies is obviously key. I think everyone can agree on that. If children don't understand the words they're reading, what's the point? I can't recall where I first read this, but I say it all the time: Reading is an action sport. I think, at the very least, we should help children fall in love with books. Once … [Read more...]

Classroom Posters That Develop Positive Behaviors

What do readers do? Or writers? How about scientists, musicians, and athletes? What does it look like to be an active listener? And what does it mean to be a good friend? The first week of school is right around the corner and these are some of the questions I know we'll talk about as we work on building our culture. These classroom posters have been in my back to school toolbox for years and I … [Read more...]

Space Books for Kids

Check out all these great space books for kids! They're packed with kid-friendly explanations to help you answer questions like, "Does the Sun move?" and "What makes day and night?" For children who are learning about the Sun, I recommend Stacy McAnulty's picture book SUN! ONE IN A BILLION (pictured above👆). It's narrated by the Sun and uses humor throughout the book to share important facts. … [Read more...]

Women in Math and Science

Let's teach girls about women in math and science, and let's go ahead and begin with our littlest learners. Learning the stories of amazing women who came before us is not only important, but inspiring. This is especially true for girls who are interested in fields and causes where women are typically underrepresented, such as math and science. From a young age, girls need to hear the message … [Read more...]