Where curriculum meets community, creativity, and continuing support. |
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Ideas to Love: Fresh Ways to Deepen Understanding
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February brings more than hearts and chocolate. It’s a season that celebrates connection and the power of creativity. Just as a thoughtful Valentine card sparks excitement, introducing novelty in the classroom captures attention, renews curiosity, and brings a fresh energy to learning.
In this month’s newsletter, you’ll see how a little novelty goes a long way! We've included activities that will breathe new life into familiar routines. It's all about trying something new and watching engagement grow. |
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Teacher Training Resources |
Teacher Talk: Novelty in the ELA Classroom
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Our brains are wired for novelty, the search for new stimuli. If you have been tuning in to our recent webinars, you know that Shurley English makes learning language arts easier because we intentionally revisit content in a logical, systematic way. But what do you do when the practice becomes mundane and predictable? What do you do when students lose focus?
Join us during our next Shurley English Teacher Talk, where we will discuss using novelty to strengthen focus, creativity, and retention. We will explore new ways to approach content so that it recaptures your students' attention and revs up your instruction!
Webinar Date: Tuesday, February 10, 2026, 4 p.m. CST |
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 |
Sniff, sniff, mmmm! There’s something special about the aroma of that sweet little corner coffee shop. The lingering scent of a creamy caramel latte, mixed with the boldness of jet-black espresso, brings a smile to my face. The dimmed lights and down-tempo tunes playing in the background set the stage for an ideal writing space. I settle in, let the atmosphere inspire me, and begin to write.
A great way to keep your students engaged is by turning your classroom into a café…The Shurley Café. The creation and set-up of the actual Shurley Café is completely up to you, but here are a few suggestions to get you started:
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Writing Toolbox: Is a picture really worth a thousand words?
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In a word…YES! If you are seeking a great writing prompt, look no further than a picture book, a local art gallery, or a collection of great works of art from one of those coffee-table display books.
When I was a kid, we used to have a large reproduction of Paul Detlefsen’s work, called The Smithy and Horse. I used to stare at it, daydreaming about how the objects could interact if they were real and not just a painting. Here’s just a short sample of how I made the objects in the picture come alive: |
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Implementing Successful Language Arts Centers
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When I was a classroom teacher in the 90s, some teachers, including myself, were in the business of creating student-led learning centers or stations for Math, Science, or Language Arts. I loved creating and hosting centers in my classroom because it gave my students the opportunity to collaborate in small groups, be a leader among their classmates, and learn subject material on a deeper level. You might be asking, “What is a Learning Center?”
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366 SIM Drive, Cabot, AR 72023
www.shurley.com
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