Disciplinary Literacy for the Elementary School

Tim Shanahan

Blast from the Past: This blog first appeared on August 14, 2021, and was reissued with minor revisions on September 20, 2025. Reading education – like the lengths of skirts and the widths of neckties – tends to be trendy. That’s unfortunate for…

If you’re a Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher, you’ve probably asked yourself: How do I get students thinking more critically, without sacrificing hands-on skills or piling on more work? The answer may be closer than you think—and powered by Generative AI.

I have been exploring Generative AI ideas following my work on Integration of Academic from the book Synergizing Success.  These ideas…

Why Grades 4–8 Matter More Than We Think

In recent years, there’s been a well-deserved spotlight on PreK through grade 3. Those early years matter enormously: play, executive function, and early literacy lay the foundation for everything that follows.

But here’s a question we don’t ask often enough: what happens after that?

By the time students reach grades 4–8, the game changes. Content becomes more complex. Reading shifts from “learning to read” to “reading to…

My friend, Joe Dragone, who has had a rich career as a school administrator in many districts, contributed the thoughts below, which I think can serve as important lessons for all of us.  Joe is well-known to the Long Island school community as a skilled administrator, forceful advocate for public education, and just a great decent human being.  Joe credits his source as "The Daily Coach."…

Modeling Fluency Instruction

Tim Shanahan

Teacher Question

At our school, we test students oral reading fluency three times a year (aimswebPlus), and we teach fluency in both our Tier 1 and Tier 2 programs. I believe that I have a good understanding of how to teach fluency using repeated reading. However, one step in that process that I’m unsure of is modeling. How much fluency modeling should a teacher do…

How to do the Best Benchmark Testing

Tim Shanahan

Teacher’s Question:

Dear Dr. Shanahan,

I have been searching for research around student testing. Could you point me in the direction of relevant research:

• Does testing time of the day make a difference?
• Does it matter if the testing proctor is that student's teacher for that…

The Silent Killer of Innovation and Change

A Principal's Reflections by Eric Sheninger

Jul 6, 2025

Eric Sheninger’s article, The Silent Killer of Innovation and Change, explores the dangerous allure of “idea voodoo”—the belief that a good idea, by itself, can catalyze change without the methodical labor of implementation. This mindset, common in schools and other organizations, undermines meaningful progress by…