The Power of Instructional Routines : Connecting Assessment and Joyful Teaching in Kindergarten

Transform classrooms into dynamic "thinking playgrounds" with these culturally and linguistically responsive routines. In this practical book, teachers reveal how instruction and assessment can be two sides of the same coin through the implementation of four literacy and math routines for pre-K to grade 3: Photo Chats, Counting Collections, Storytelling/Story Acting, and Numberless Word Problems. These routines offer rich observational data for ongoing formative assessments, such as those used for kindergarten entry.They also provide embedded differentiation while offering teachers a window into their students' understanding.These culturally and linguistically responsive routines are designed to spark curiosity, build classroom community, and foster habits of mind for lifelong learning-transforming classrooms into dynamic "thinking playgrounds." These economical routines require minimal materials, preparation, and classroom time.They have been field-tested by over 25 public school teac