Smekens Education

@UC4j49-zkUmKy4p1h9ITbhoQ - 11.3K subscribers

Welcome to Smekens Education! 🎓📚 We provide professional development for K–12 educators with a focus on practical, classroom-ready strategies that make teaching more effective and engaging. Upcoming workshops💡👩‍🏫 →smekenseducation.short.gy/learn-more On this channel, you’ll find free, research-based lessons and tips designed to help you: • Improve literacy instruction in reading and writing • Implement strategies that are classroom-tested and rooted in research • Support students in building comprehension, critical thinking, and writing skills • Grow as a teacher through practical, actionable professional development Whether you’re a classroom teacher, instructional coach, or literacy leader, Smekens Education gives you ready-to-use tools and strategies to make a meaningful impact on student learning. #TeacherPD #K12Education #ThinkAloud #explicitinstruction #ReadingInstruction #WritingInstruction #ClassroomStrategies #Comprehension #scienceofreading #scienceofwriting

Home Videos Live Playlists

The Think-Aloud Powers the Gradual Release

The Think-Aloud Powers the Gradual Release Smekens Education

40 views - 1 week ago

Increase Comprehension — Make Your Thinking Visible

Increase Comprehension — Make Your Thinking Visible Smekens Education

183 views - 1 month ago

Explicit Teaching: The Students’ Role During a Think-Aloud

Explicit Teaching: The Students’ Role During a Think-Aloud Smekens Education

235 views - 1 month ago

Why “Explaining It” Isn’t Explicit Teaching

Why “Explaining It” Isn’t Explicit Teaching Smekens Education

230 views - 1 month ago

Don’t Make It Look Easy—Model the Struggle

Don’t Make It Look Easy—Model the Struggle Smekens Education

435 views - 1 month ago

Ignite to Write 2026: The Game-Changer Conference for K-12 Writing Teachers

Ignite to Write 2026: The Game-Changer Conference for K-12 Writing Teachers Smekens Education

247 views - 3 months ago

Think-Aloud Questions Aren’t for Students—They’re for You to Answer.

Think-Aloud Questions Aren’t for Students—They’re for You to Answer. Smekens Education

371 views - 3 months ago

Think-Alouds Look Spontaneous… But They’re Not

Think-Alouds Look Spontaneous… But They’re Not Smekens Education

527 views - 4 months ago

Don’t Just Teach the Skill—Reveal the Secret Behind It

Don’t Just Teach the Skill—Reveal the Secret Behind It Smekens Education

264 views - 4 months ago

Ep.7 Growing Rubrics & Calculating Grades | K-2 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.7 Growing Rubrics & Calculating Grades | K-2 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

78 views - 8 months ago

Ep.6 Constructed Responses | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.6 Constructed Responses | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

50 views - 8 months ago

Ep.6 Constructed Responses | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.6 Constructed Responses | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

80 views - 8 months ago

Ep.2 Plan Mini-Lessons | K-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.2 Plan Mini-Lessons | K-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

138 views - 8 months ago

Ep.1 Make Time for Writing | K-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.1 Make Time for Writing | K-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

162 views - 8 months ago

Ep.8 Narrative Writing Skills | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.8 Narrative Writing Skills | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

56 views - 8 months ago

Ep.10 Mini-Unit Planning | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.10 Mini-Unit Planning | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

20 views - 8 months ago

Ep.9 Writing About Topics and Texts | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.9 Writing About Topics and Texts | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

20 views - 8 months ago

Ep.9 Writing About Topics and Texts | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.9 Writing About Topics and Texts | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

70 views - 8 months ago

Ep.5 Persuasive / Argumentative Writing Skills | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.5 Persuasive / Argumentative Writing Skills | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

57 views - 8 months ago

Ep.10 Mini-Unit Planning | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.10 Mini-Unit Planning | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

21 views - 8 months ago

Ep.8 Narrative Writing Skills | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.8 Narrative Writing Skills | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

52 views - 8 months ago

Ep.3 Informative Writing Skills | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.3 Informative Writing Skills | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

71 views - 8 months ago

Ep.3 Informative Writing Skills | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.3 Informative Writing Skills | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

58 views - 8 months ago

Ep.5 Persuasive / Argumentative Writing Skills | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.5 Persuasive / Argumentative Writing Skills | Gr. 6-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

29 views - 8 months ago

Ep.4 Kid-Friendly Writing Rubrics | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.4 Kid-Friendly Writing Rubrics | K-5 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

104 views - 8 months ago

Ep.4 Writing Rubrics | Gr. 3-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.4 Writing Rubrics | Gr. 3-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

52 views - 8 months ago

Ep.11 Kick-Start Writing Instruction | K-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview

Ep.11 Kick-Start Writing Instruction | K-12 | Teach Writing PD Mini-Series | Preview Smekens Education

71 views - 8 months ago

Teaching Informative Writing with Pictures and Drawings 🖼️

Teaching Informative Writing with Pictures and Drawings 🖼️ Smekens Education

195 views - 11 months ago

Short Constructed Response & Prompt Writing Tips

Short Constructed Response & Prompt Writing Tips Smekens Education

179 views - 11 months ago

3 Problem Types | Narrative Storytelling for Young Authors & Students

3 Problem Types | Narrative Storytelling for Young Authors & Students Smekens Education

132 views - 11 months ago

Rubric Creation for Writing Assessment ✨ FREE Rubric Calculator

Rubric Creation for Writing Assessment ✨ FREE Rubric Calculator Smekens Education

479 views - 11 months ago

Use a gift to teach titles to elementary students (making writing fun 🥳)

Use a gift to teach titles to elementary students (making writing fun 🥳) Smekens Education

142 views - 1 year ago

Use a Turn and Talk to boost class participation

Use a Turn and Talk to boost class participation Smekens Education

1.7K views - 1 year ago

Think Alouds 💭 A Comprehension Game-Changer

Think Alouds 💭 A Comprehension Game-Changer Smekens Education

5.5K views - 1 year ago

Teaching with Technology | SchoolAI

Teaching with Technology | SchoolAI Smekens Education

997 views - 1 year ago

Require What & Why in primary Opinion Writing

Require What & Why in primary Opinion Writing Smekens Education

720 views - 1 year ago

Create a Writing Curriculum of MINI-Units ( 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 )

Create a Writing Curriculum of MINI-Units ( 𝙡𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 ) Smekens Education

469 views - 1 year ago

How to Take Notes & Why | 4 Reasons | Study Skills

How to Take Notes & Why | 4 Reasons | Study Skills Smekens Education

590 views - 1 year ago

Crafting mentor texts for reading using Google Gemini | Teaching with Technology

Crafting mentor texts for reading using Google Gemini | Teaching with Technology Smekens Education

301 views - 1 year ago

Crafting mentor texts for writing using Google Gemini | Teaching with Technology

Crafting mentor texts for writing using Google Gemini | Teaching with Technology Smekens Education

409 views - 1 year ago

Introduce the Six Traits of Writing Using a Single Text

Introduce the Six Traits of Writing Using a Single Text Smekens Education

1.8K views - 1 year ago

Figma Tutorial - using FigJam as an online whiteboard

Figma Tutorial - using FigJam as an online whiteboard Smekens Education

808 views - 1 year ago

How to teach technical writing (recipes, tutorials, step by steps, etc..)

How to teach technical writing (recipes, tutorials, step by steps, etc..) Smekens Education

1.2K views - 1 year ago

Teaching 10 pictorial writing lessons (with sentence-building benefits)

Teaching 10 pictorial writing lessons (with sentence-building benefits) Smekens Education

1K views - 2 years ago

Puff up the pre-write (teaching stronger writing outlines)

Puff up the pre-write (teaching stronger writing outlines) Smekens Education

497 views - 2 years ago

Push early writers beyond 1-2 simple sentences

Push early writers beyond 1-2 simple sentences Smekens Education

2.1K views - 2 years ago

Organize Persuasive Writing using What & Why ( Argumentative Essay Tool )

Organize Persuasive Writing using What & Why ( Argumentative Essay Tool ) Smekens Education

958 views - 2 years ago

Customize a grade school writing rubric using pictures 🖼️ (with examples)

Customize a grade school writing rubric using pictures 🖼️ (with examples) Smekens Education

564 views - 2 years ago

Introduce Close Reading for Text Analysis💡 (any type of text)

Introduce Close Reading for Text Analysis💡 (any type of text) Smekens Education

1.5K views - 2 years ago

4 Writing Dialogue principles for better Character, Plot, & Stories

4 Writing Dialogue principles for better Character, Plot, & Stories Smekens Education

560 views - 2 years ago

The difference between Revising vs Editing

The difference between Revising vs Editing Smekens Education

2.7K views - 2 years ago

Compare argumentative vs. persuasive writing

Compare argumentative vs. persuasive writing Smekens Education

5.1K views - 2 years ago

How to Write Constructed Response (SCR) & Short Answer for Exams

How to Write Constructed Response (SCR) & Short Answer for Exams Smekens Education

4.5K views - 2 years ago

How to Write a Summary for Fiction

How to Write a Summary for Fiction Smekens Education

7.3K views - 2 years ago

Teaching the 4-step mini-lesson k-12

Teaching the 4-step mini-lesson k-12 Smekens Education

6.9K views - 2 years ago

The 6 Traits of Writing | Tracking Writing Skills

The 6 Traits of Writing | Tracking Writing Skills Smekens Education

744 views - 2 years ago

Use a Six-Traits rubric for efficient assessment

Use a Six-Traits rubric for efficient assessment Smekens Education

994 views - 2 years ago

Introduce the Reading Voice & Thinking Voice

Introduce the Reading Voice & Thinking Voice Smekens Education

2.1K views - 2 years ago

Teach letter writing based on the sender’s purpose

Teach letter writing based on the sender’s purpose Smekens Education

290 views - 3 years ago

Plan 3 components into every anchor chart

Plan 3 components into every anchor chart Smekens Education

2.3K views - 3 years ago