Where curriculum meets community, creativity, and continuing support. |
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Season of Support: Tips and Tools to Flourish This Fall
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Fall is here! We know this season can bring both excitement and busyness as you continue guiding your students through new content and deeper learning. Just like the vibrant leaves, your classrooms are bursting with growth and transformation.
Whether you’re reinforcing key skills or exploring fresh ideas, remember that you don’t have to do it alone. The Shurley Team is always here to provide unique tools, expert tips, and the encouragement you need to keep your teaching energized and your students engaged.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll find practical ideas and activities to guide your teaching journey. Together, we can make this season of learning the best one yet! |
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Teacher Training Resources |
Teacher Talk: Grammar Matters
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Grammar is the foundation for writing; that’s a fact! We invite you to join us for our next Teacher Talk event, where veteran teachers will discuss the value of teaching grammar fundamentals in a systematic way using a unique strategy called the Question & Answer Flow. You will learn how oral sentence diagramming is the next step on an exciting journey towards competent, confident communication! Register today, bring your questions, and be a part of Shurley English Teacher Talk: LIVE!
Webinar Date: Tuesday, October 14, 2025, 4 p.m. CDT |
Online attendees who are present for the entirety of the LIVE presentation will receive a certificate of participation to use towards professional development hours. Space is limited. |
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Creativity in the Classroom |
The Beginner's Mind:
Learning to Take Risks
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As a kid, do you remember the first time you took the training wheels off and tried to ride your first bicycle? In the beginner’s mind, it was the next step in being a big kid, and it meant being open to making mistakes and being willing to take a huge risk.
Years later, I can remember feeling the same way when I began teaching my first class. Again, in my beginner’s mind, I had the same butterflies in my stomach. I had the same jittery legs, a similar mindset, and those sweaty palms that accompanied me on my new adventure. I was older and wiser, so I knew I was outside of my comfort zone and had to dismiss my nerves to just do it. Although I made mistakes that day... |
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Teacher Check-In: A season to pause, reflect, and grow.
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Welcome to fall, where expectations and duties seem to increase. Before you become consumed with the busyness of the season, remember this: “You are a TEACHER!” You are the one who works to mold the future. You make an incredible impression and impact on the lives of all the students who enter your classroom. If you’re ready to level up your teaching, you should consider this question: “What kind of teacher do I want to be this year?” To better answer this question, let me show you a great tool to help you get started. |
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Lost Without a GPS: My Road Trip into Writing Instruction
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Have you ever set out on a road trip without a map or GPS? I tried it once, years ago. I thought, “How hard could it be?” A few wrong turns later, I was circling back, wasting time, and wishing I had just plugged in my destination from the start. Some folks may love the thrill of driving without a plan, but not me. I need a GPS—something to guide me step by step and keep me from getting lost. As it turns out, teaching kids to write can feel exactly the same.
*Printable Resources Included
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Write on! Creating a Writing Inspiration Station
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For some students, it’s very challenging to come up with an idea to write about. The process of writing is already a lengthy and sometimes scary journey for many of them. I believe it is important to create a writing experience in which students can be inspired and where they will feel comfortable enough to take some writing risks. So, I invite you to create a new writing vibe in your classroom by setting up a Writing Inspiration Station. |
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360˚ Thinking:
The Halloween Edition
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It’s that time of year when all things Halloween are tripping about, including thematic lessons like the one I’d like to share with you today. Since it can be exhausting to come up with new, exciting ideas to engage kids during the holidays, I know you will appreciate this lesson, which implements a strategy I like to call 360˚ thinking. |
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FILL THE FALL TREE 🍁
A Bulletin Board Idea |
| 1. | | Hunt for a fall quote you love. |
| 2. | | Write your quote on a red, orange, or yellow sticky note. |
| 3. | | Stick your “leaf” on the classroom bulletin board tree. |
| 4. | | Watch your fall tree explode with color! |
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© Shurley Instructional Materials, Inc. All rights reserved.
366 SIM Drive, Cabot, AR 72023
www.shurley.com
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