Finding great chapter books for 2nd graders can be a challenge. You want to make sure your students have books at their reading level, but you also want to make sure they've got a good selection of books that will hold their interest. That's why I created this book list for 2nd graders. 20 Awesome 2nd Grade
No more boring book reports! Check out 26+ FUN, creative and unique book report ideas and free printable projects too!
Finding chapter books for kids to read that they have a high interest in is key. Listed here are some of our favorite chapter book series for kids in 4th and 5th grades. Most of these are ones that I either read as a kid or used as a reading tutor. Note that while these ... Read More about Favorite Chapter Books for Kids in 4th and 5th Grades
Help your students become more empathetic and compassionate with these social emotional learning lessons and activity ideas that are perfect for back to school or for building classroom community any time of the year. Pull out a copy of Each Kindness by Jaqueline Woodson and your students will be re
Looking for Constitution Day activities for your elementary classroom? These lesson ideas, read aloud and projects will engage your students
Okay teacher friend. It’s finally here. And I’m so excited! I’ve had this resource collecting dust on my computer for years now. I’ve been using this strategy in my classroom for the last few years, but haven’t had the energy or time (teacher life + mom life is exhausting, am I right?) to put it all together so that it’s ready to go for busy teachers like you! Well, it’s finally finished and I finally get to unveil it to you! Did you know I have a FREE downloadable reading response menu board that you can print now and use in your
Looking for fifth grade books for your readers? This is a great place to start! Check out this awesome teacher recommended fifth grade book list!
This post shares 10 of the best novel studies for 4th and 5th graders. A FREE PRINTABLE list with book and Lexile reading levels is included.
Upper Elementary Novel Study Ideas - favorite book suggestions and novel study ideas for upper elementary ELA classrooms.
Teaching writing to fifth graders doesn't have to be intimidating. This post details exactly how I teach writing in 5th grade.
Learn how to "stomp out" the bad words! Visit us for more!
This set of four free posters is a great tool for introducing author's purpose and they can also be displayed in your classroom for students to reference. The posters are also included in two very complete set of Author's Purpose resources for 3rd and for 4th/5th grades. This bundle of resources has passages, 32 task cards, a concentration game, graphic organizers, a foldable, and more. To grab this freebie, please visit my TpT store here.
Picking good books can be a challenge, but this 5th grade reading list has TONS of fun-to-read fifth grade books on a handy list for Grade 5.
This post shares 15 read alouds for teaching story elements with brief summaries and the specific story element skills each read aloud addresses.
Steal these for your writing unit!
This genre is often underrepresented in classroom libraries. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to fix. Any one of these books would make a great addition to any classroom library.
Nonfiction, graphic novels, diverse options, mysteries—they're all here!
If you are looking for some high-interest activities, try using animated shorts to teach inference. Free handouts focus on student learning.
This post breaks down how I teach reading in 5th grade and how my reading block is structured, including the materials needed.
Embark on an enriching journey with 'Because of Mr. Terupt' novel study ideas. Access engaging activities and resources for an inspiring literary exploration!
Tips for the first six weeks of school. Click & check our freebie!!
Free & funny readers' theater scripts by T. P. Jagger. Use readers' theater (readers' theatre) scripts to improve students' reading fluency.
The 4th grade homeschool curriculum is a big step up from third grade and children will notice the increase in expectations of any program from third to fourth grades.
Popular read aloud books for 4th grade that encourage conversation, and laughter, suitable for reading at home or in the classroom
The book Wonder literally allows you to teach all the Common Core Literature Standards with this book! Seriously....Read on to find out how.
Don't want until you're sick to make sub plans! This freebie makes it EASY to prepare several days worth of emergency sub plans so that when you're sick, you can actually get some rest!
If you teach an older struggling reader, you know what a challenge motivation can be. Many of them have said, “I can’t,” for so long when it comes to reading, that the label reluctant reader doesn’t even begin to tell the half of it. By the time a child is in upper elementary school {4th/5th grades}, ... Read More about High Interest Low Readability Books for Struggling Readers
There's nothing better than listening to your teacher read a book about the historical event/time period you're learning about in class! I have been an upper elementary teacher for my entire teaching career (15 years) and
Chapter books aren't the only options for 5th graders! Take a look at our top picks of 5th grade picture books, sure to delight your child.
Does getting students to read nonfiction feel like pulling teeth sometimes? Not with these books!
If you are looking for Frindle teaching ideas, this is the place to visit. You'll find printables, lesson plans, and novel study samples.
Make your reading come alive with Google Lit Trips. Your students will love visiting places all over the world that are mentioned in your book.
“Inkling" by Kenneth Oppel may not be wholly creative, but it’s still a really fun read that helped rekindle some of my forgotten child-like wonder. Any anyways, there are no new ideas under the sun, right? Oppel's story of this ink-blob-come-to-life has the power to ping-pong in your brain, and make you look a little more suspiciously at blobs of ink. The ending genuinely surprised me, and I can’t help but wonder how Oppel will continue his ideas in the potential sequel.Recommended Age-Group?
Every school year is different. Different students, different needs, different plans. But one thing always remains constant: The need for engaging, SHORT novels. Maybe you're filling a shorter amount of time. Maybe you're dealing with short attention spans. Maybe you just need a quick read! Today I’m sharing 10 books your students will LOVE. These books are all 120 pages or less, making them an efficient read. BONUS: You'll also find 4 books that are 140 pages or less that I just couldn't leave off. Explore the list below of the BEST short novels for your school year. Let me know in the comments what I’ve missed and which are your favorites! Engaging Novels under 120 pages: 1. The Tiger Rising by: Kate DiCamillo Rob and Sistine's surprising discovery of a tiger gives them the courage to face past trauma. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 2. Frindle by: Andrew Clements Join Nick Allen as he sparks a language revolution by inventing a new word, 'frindle', and learns about the power of creativity in the process. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 3. Sideways Stories from Wayside School by: Louis Sachar Explore the eccentricities of Wayside School, a thirty-story building with a classroom on each floor, and encounter its quirky students and teachers. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 4. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by: Judy Blume Peter Hatcher navigates the challenges of sibling rivalry and growing up with his mischievous younger brother, Fudge. 5. My Father's Dragon by: Ruth Stiles Gannett A resourceful young boy named Elmer sets off on an adventure to rescue a baby dragon. 6. The Chocolate Touch by: Patrick Skene Catling A boy named John discovers the consequences of his insatiable love for chocolate when everything he touches turns into chocolate. 7. Sounder by: William H. Armstrong A young African American boy and his dog, Sounder, face hardship and injustice in the rural South as they strive to reunite their family. 8. Sarah Plain and Tall by: Patricia MacLachlan A widowed farmer and two children eagerly await the arrival of Sarah, a kind-hearted woman from Maine, as they hope she will become their new mother. 9. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle by: Betty MacDonald Enter the whimsical world of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle, a magical woman who helps parents solve their children's misbehavior. 10. Fantastic Mr. Fox by: Roald Dahl Mr. Fox outsmarts three mean farmers who are determined to catch him and his family by relying on his cleverness and love for adventure. Engaging Novels under 140 pages: 11. Number the Stars by: Lois Lowry Two young Danish girls, Annemarie and Ellen, display bravery and resilience as they help Ellen escape the Nazis during World War II. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 12. Tuck Everlasting by: Natalie Babbit A young girl named Winnie Foster discovers the Tuck family's secret of immortality and must decide between eternal life and the natural cycle of life and death. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 13. Stuart Little by: E.B. White A small and adventurous mouse named Stuart Little embarks on a series of daring escapades in New York City, searching for his friend Margalo the bird. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 14. Mr. Popper's Penguins by: Richard and Florence Atwater Mr. Popper's life takes a chaotic turn when he unexpectedly receives a penguin as a gift. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog.
Check out a list of Mentor Texts for Teaching Similes & Metaphors to upper elementary kids. Engage students in these great literature pieces!
Nothing instills a love of reading quite like a good chapter book read aloud! But with so many to choose from, you'll love this list of teachers' top picks! Over 300 teachers weighed in, and these 10 were the overwhelming favorites!
One of the best ways to inspire gratitude in young readers is through shared stories. By opening ourselves up to the lives/hardships of others, it can leave us grateful for our own experiences. The following books have resilient characters who are born into circumstance they can’t control. These character are also easy to connect with. They are sure to inspire gratitude in your classroom! 1. A Long Walk to Water by: Linda Sue Park A Long Walk to Water weaves the stories of 2 characters: Nya and Salva. Nya walks miles each day to fetch water for her family and Salva is one of the Sudanese "lost boys." Throughout the novel you'll see their stories connect in a thoughtful way! 2. Refugee by: Alan Gratz This book tells the story of three different refugee children. Josef (1930s Nazi Germany), Isabel (Cuba 1994), and Mahmoud (Syria 2015) all fight for survival in unimaginable ways. Their stories intertwine in an emotion yet hopeful way. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 3. I Am Malala by: Malala Yousafzai This memoir is the best-selling story of Malala Yousafzai. After the Taliban placed major limitations on women's rights, young Malala decided to fight back. This true story is personal and eye-opening for students. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 4. The War that Saved My Life by: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley This Newbery Honor book is set during the turbulent time of WWII. Young Ada is hidden away by her cruel mother because of a "twisted foot." Ada overcomes so much: a physical disability, parental abuse, moving and meeting new people, and war. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 5. A Night Divided by: Jennifer A. Nielsen Gerta's family wakes up one morning to be divided by the Berlin Wall. For the next few years, the family risks their lives to find a way to reunite. This is an engaging historical fiction book about the Cold War. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 6. Esperanza Rising by: Pam Munoz Ryan Esperanza is a young Mexican girl who loses everything: her family, her friends, her home, and her country. She becomes an immigrant worker and faces hardships for which she's not prepared. But as her name suggests, she grows and learns to have hope for the future. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 7. Freak the Mighty By: Rodman Philbrick Making friends is hard, especially if students feel like they'll never fit in. This novel is about looking for friends in unlikely places. It is a tear-jerker and will cover some tough themes. But it is powerful! >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 8. Inside Out and Back Again by: Thanaa Lai This novel is inspired by the author's childhood experiences as a refugee. The main character, Ha, is growing up in Saigon during the Vietnam War. As her family flees the city, they yearn and hope for peace. 9. Brown Girl Dreaming by: Jacqueline Woodson Jacqueline Woodson tells her story in verse, making it very different from the other selections. She shares her experiences as an African American child in the 1960s/70s. You'll find her feelings are still relevant and inspirational for students today. 10. Wish by: Barbara O'Connor Charlie is very familiar with making wishes, as she makes the same wish every day. But as her hope begins to fail, she creates unlikely bonds with a stray dog and a neighbor boy. This coming of age story teaches us to be careful for what we wish. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog.
