If you’ve ever taught a reading comprehension skill in September only to have students forget it by October, you’re not alone. As teachers, especially those working with English language learners, we know that mastery doesn’t come from a single lesson. It grows through consistent, repeated exposure. That’s where spiral review  becomes a game-changer. Today, I’m breaking down why spiral review works best for reading comprehension  and exactly how to use spiral review in readin

A Practical Guide to Step-by-Step Reading to Writing Instruction When teachers talk about literacy instruction, reading and writing often get separated into different lessons, different blocks, and different skill sets. But the truth is this: students learn best when reading and writing work together . For many learners, especially EAL/ELL students, the jump from understanding a text to writing about it is enormous.  They can answer comprehension questions orally, but when as

The winter months are tough, aren't they? Post-holiday fatigue sets in, the days are short, and student engagement can feel like trying to pull a wool sweater over a grumpy cat. As ELA and EAL teachers, we face a big challenge: how do we keep the academic rigor high—pushing for deep comprehension and evidence-based writing—when student energy is running on fumes? The answer isn’t more flashy activities; it’s creating a  weekly reading to writing cycle   . Unstructured ELA tim