Short, Short, BIG!

The Teacher's Guide

Take the ambiguity out of teaching writing. Clear, well-designed lesson plans, recommended times, resources, and classroom tips.

Get in touch

Written by teachers, for teachers

You don't have to figure it out alone

Teachers love Short, Short, BIG! because it's been written by real teachers for real teachers. One glance at the materials and you'll see what we mean.

A core belief of the program is that both classroom leaders and learners matter. Opportunities for developing teacher-student relationships are embedded right in the materials.

Ready to teach

Clear, well-designed lesson plans

Short, Short, BIG! is designed for immediate classroom implementation. Teacher support is embedded right in the materials. If your situation calls for additional support, our experts are available to help.

Recommended times
Resources for each lesson
Classroom tips from expert teachers
Formative assessment rubrics

Research-based pedagogy

Claim it, Cite it, Cement it sequencing

A scaffolded approach to instruction that provides a solid foundation for your learners. Students work towards focused, targeted learning objectives with worktexts and lesson plans that are ready to teach.

Trust in the journey with guidance from expert teachers who have been in your shoes.

Built for equity

Four principles of culturally responsive education

Building culturally responsive materials is an ongoing commitment. Our text collection, powered by Saddleback Publishing, essential questions, learning activities, and professional development seek to reflect the diversity of our learners.

Principle 01

Reflective text selection

Texts that reflect the ethnicity, background, and lived experiences of the students in your classroom.

Principle 02

Essential questions

Prompts that invite students to bring their own context to the text and the writing.

Principle 03

Inclusive learning activities

Activities designed for a range of learners, including students with individual needs.

Principle 04

Ongoing professional development

Master Class PD to help teachers deepen their practice over time.

The authors

Dr. Katie McKnight & Alan Sitomer

The authors of Short, Short, BIG! are highly sought-after professional development specialists who have partnered with schools across the nation. Both have worked as university professors in the graduate school of education, where their foremost role was to prepare teachers to be successful in an ELA classroom.

Bring it to your school

Ready to see the Teacher's Guide in action?

Contact our team to learn about pricing, sample units, and Master Class professional development.