UNI Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy

06/16/2026

Teachers talk about school in the summer. We plan, create, "tinker", plan some more. We also enjoy some much-needed rest, but many of us still do all the teacher things in preparation for the new year.

What are you working on? Any new read-alouds? Any old favorites coming back around?

Let us know!

06/11/2026

Some of us don't see rain as a ruined day. We see it as a reason to sit with the world for a moment.

06/06/2026

Summer.

A time to refresh, recharge, and renew. A time to catch up on podcasts, movies, tv shows, books, housework...whatever you want.

A time to go to the pool, spend extra time with your family, go on vacation, or just be. Just sit and be.

We give a lot to this profession. We give a lot to our students, their families, our staff. We give a lot mentally, physically, and emotionally.

This summer I want to read (well, listen to books). I have a few in my audible library ready for me to enjoy or learn from.

What are you reading this summer? What will you do this summer? What will you do for you this summer?

Let us know!

06/05/2026

Every face in a crowd carries a story you may never hear. Every window, every street, every passing stranger holds a world of memories, hopes, worries, routines, and dreams.

06/03/2026

Eunoia is one of the shortest words in English that contains all five vowels. But beyond that, it carries a warm meaning.

06/02/2026

New Word Alert 🔔

05/27/2026

2.5 days.

That's all the time left with this sweet group of students. It went so fast for some and somewhat slow for others. We read countless books, created multiple projects, built relationships, laughed together, cried a few times together, and had so much fun along the way.

Teaching isn't for the weak. It isn't for the summers off. It's not just something you can do. Past posts have been made about the importance of both the science AND the art of teaching.

180 days were spent cultivating readers, mathematicians, scientists, artists, athletes, musicians, and most of all friendships.

180 days were spent gathered on our rug, working together at our seats, going on field trips, asking questions, for some, seeking safety.

180 days were spent helping to build and shape not just a child, but someone else's whole world.

These last few days are always filled with gratitude, happiness, some sadness, but most of all excitement for where these sweet pumpkins will go....and "oh, the places they will go."

So no matter where you are on the spectrum of emotions, take time to enjoy each moment left with your sweet students.

I know I will....complete with my last day of school read alouds.

05/15/2026

We'd love to see you! This opportunity is so much more than just learning. It is connecting with other educators, building new relationships, and having fun.

🎸 Calling all K–12 Teachers! 🎶

What if music could transform the way your students learn?

The Teach Rock Literacy Initiative from the UNI Jacobson Center for Comprehensive Literacy is offering a FREE 2-week summer course designed to help teachers bring learning to life through music!

📅 June 15–18 & June 22–25
⏰ 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Here’s what you’ll get:
✨ Stipend for participating
🍴 Free lunch every day
🎓 Paid college credits

Discover how to make your classroom engaging, creative, and memorable by integrating music into literacy and learning. Your students will thank you! 🎤📚

📲 Interested? Scan the QR code in the graphic to learn more and apply today!

05/13/2026

The end of the year is near. Curriculum is winding down, students are starting to get more fidgety (so are teachers). We are getting ready to say our goodbyes.

In my classroom, read-alouds become a much bigger thing. We review standards with them. We learn about other people, communities, and social issues through them. We learn about different authors' writing styles. We learn more about each other.

We spend time reviewing standards through author studies. This week has been Jacqueline Woodson. Our learning activities were spent through the eyes of two characters, Clover and Annie from the book The Other Side, and various characters from the book The Day You Begin. They talked about empathy, inclusion, acceptance, kindness, all while still learning about characters, setting, problem, and solution.

Picture books can be powerful.

What are you "go-to" end-of-year read-alouds?

05/05/2026

Ah, the end of the school year. Ok, it's not quite here yet, but it's on our minds.

I'm a countdown teacher. I've been counting down for quite a while, not because I dread teaching, but because I get excited for summer, renewal, and a new year. Yep, I'm already thinking about next year. What will I change? What new things will I implement? Which new faces will I get to greet each morning?

I will, of course, enjoy my summer, filled with calm mornings where I can drink my coffee slowly, while I tinker around my house (hopefully listening to the audiobooks and podcasts on my list), but I will also be thinking about school.

Are you a countdown teacher? Why?