Planning to tutor over the summer? Here are tips for quick and easy planning! Hi there! It's Sarah! I've been tutoring kiddos for the last year and have developed a routine that makes my planning easy and my session flow smoothly. All of the kiddos I tutor are grades K-2 and in need of a boost in their reading skills...fluency, comprehension, and phonics. Warm-up I like to start with some reading that is simple or familiar. I'll either have the kiddo re-read a text from the previous session or read fluency sentences. I have my kiddos keep a composition notebook with past passages to go back and re-read. I use lots of guided reader books to find the just right text for my kiddos to read. These are also great books to leave for kiddos to practice between sessions. Fluency sentence strips from The Moffatt Girls are a GREAT help to boost fluency and confidence! They are also super easy to leave for practice between sessions. Fluency Reading Practice My kiddos have all had good sight word recognition and really need fluency work. I switch between leveled readers and text passages. I usually have kiddos read the text themselves first. After reading, we go back through the text and find words that were tricky and read them. Next, I have the kiddo read through the text with me or by themselves if they are confident. Using a leveled reader Using fluency passages and recording words read per minute (the kiddos love to see their growth!) Find these fluency passages HERE! Using text evidence passages. Grab these passages HERE! Comprehension After some fluency practice with the selected text, I move into comprehension work. In our district, kiddos need to do a written response comprehension question as part of their reading assessment. I have my kiddos practice a written response question with every text and in every session. Comprehension with level reader I use these question stems to develop questions based on the text. Grab the question stems HERE! Completed written response, kiddos write in their composition journal Comprehension with text evidence passages. Grab these passages HERE! Here I use a reading passage with several comprehension tasks for a 2nd grade kiddo. Find these reading passage + comprehension packets HERE! Phonics After the reading and comprehension tasks are complete, I work on some phonics task with my kiddos. One of my favorite tasks is doing a word family word splash. I select a word from our text. I like how this tasks shows kiddos that if they can spell a work like bat, they can also spell cat, mat, sat, etc. Writing short sentences with words from the Word Family Splash Word building and sounding out Extras I like to use phonics poems as an additional fluency tool. The kiddos glue them into their composition notebook so they can go back and re-read between sessions, continuing to build fluency with familiar texts. These phonics poems are from Susan Jones. I use our Literacy Bags in between reading tasks. Literacy Bags break up the rigorous reading and fluency practice we do for much of the session. You can find Literacy Bags HERE! I'm working with a few Kindergartners who need sight word practice. I use the K version of our Differentiated Reading Fluency passages. In K, the passages start as reading letters, then sight words fluently. It perfect support for my K kiddos! You can grab these HERE! Additionally, our Print a Standard packs have been a great support for targeting specific skills students need to work on. Each pack contains tasks for one standard and has several activities for that standard, so there are a lot of opportunities to help the student learn, practice, and master standards based skills. You can grab Print a Standard packs for ELA AND MATH HERE! Connecting with students and parents on a more personal level is the best part of tutoring. I love giving kiddos instant feedback and celebrating their successes! I also love that I can give them more choices to foster a love of reading. In the picture above, I'm showing several text selections. The kiddos I'm working with is able to choose the book he'll read with me for the session. I also love being able to help parents foster learning at home. I've found most all of my parents did not really know about their kiddo's reading level or reading abilities. This makes it difficult for parents to find the best "just right" books for reading at home. After I work with a kiddo, I leave the text piece we worked on for that session (a passage or a book) so the kiddo can re-read it with parents. I leave their composition notebooks with phonics poems for the kiddos to go back a re-read. I also leave the fluency sentence strips for practice between sessions.
Help those kids from getting the “summer slide” with this 100 page packet! Included is 50 pages of math and 50 pages of literacy including reading and comprehension, grammar, writing, and word work. This would also make a great addition for any beginning of the year work for 1st grade too! Click here to download. here …
Each classroom brings students of multiple learning styles and backgrounds. It is our job to provide opportunities that reach all of the many different learning styles that come to us. For this reason, it is
What exactly does it mean to read fluently?
Each classroom brings students of multiple learning styles and backgrounds. It is our job to provide opportunities that reach all of the many different learning styles that come to us. For this reason, it is
5 key reasons to teach students to analyze differing perspectives
Whether you're new to teaching or a veteran, this list has you covered for 4th grade.
Graphic organizers are an essential tool for differentiating and supporting all students in your classroom. This pack includes 100 graphic organizers that can be used with any fiction books or reading passages. If you are looking for a paper and digital version, click here! This resource is packed full of a wide variety graphic organizers to practice skills and strategies needed while reading fiction! These organizers have been thoughtfully aligned to the ELA Common Core for Grades 1-6. Take a peek at some of the fiction graphic organizers in the preview! WHAT'S INCLUDED: *100 Reading Fiction Graphic Organizers Total* Topics (More detail included in Table of Contents in the product preview): • Story Maps • Plot Diagrams • Setting • Character Traits • Analyzing Characters • Character Relationships • Conflict/ Problem & Solution • Sequencing • Theme • Cause & Effect • Compare & Contrast • Summarizing • Using Text Evidence • Using Illustrations • Dialogue • Using Reading Strategies • Vocabulary • Using Context Clues • Point of View • Book Response • Ending Extension • Protagonist vs Antagonist • Round vs Flat Characters • Retelling • Character Perspective • Types of Conflict • Reading Strategies (Recently Added) • Making Predictions (Recently Added) • Visualizing (Recently Added) • Asking Questions (Recently Added) British/Australian spelling also available upon request by e-mail to [email protected]. Just e-mail me with your order number and I will send them along! This product is also discounted as part of these bundles: Fiction Digital and Paper Graphic Organizers Bundle Reading Comprehension Strategies, Nonfiction & Fiction Graphic Organizers Bundle Digital and Paper Reading Comprehension Strategies, Nonfiction & Fiction Graphic Organizers Bundle More Graphic Organizers: Nonfiction Graphic Organizers More Fiction Reading Resources: Fiction Reading Crafts Fiction Word Wall Fiction Posters & Anchor Charts ⓒ Raise the Bar Reading
I love using short films to teach reading comprehension skills, and my students love watching them! Why do I love using them? Show a short film and students are engaged! Visual learners and students who typically struggle with reading comprehension, including English language learners (ELLs), have greater success practicing comprehension skills with shorts. Most shorts do not have dialogue, they're all action. My students, regardless of their level of language proficiency, "get" the lesson more easily because the shorts are visual. Where can you find short films? My go to place to find great shorts is YouTube. Be careful to always view films before showing them in class. You don't want any unexpected surprises! Also, sometimes there is an advertisement to get through at the beginning, so I always set it up beforehand, that way it's all ready to go for the lesson. Which reading skills can be taught using shorts? Just about ANY reading skill can be taught with shorts: making connections, asking questions, sequencing, predictions, drawing conclusions, plot, character development, theme, and this list goes on and on! Learning what the skill looks like visually, and practicing with a media kids are already familiar with, is an effective first step in students applying the skill to their reading. One of my absolute favorite lessons to teach is "theme." Last year, my fifth graders were having trouble grasping the concept, so I searched for a good short film to visually "show" them theme, and I found the perfect one! Disney Pixar's, LAVA I describe theme as the heart of the story. I then share common themes found in stories, such as, perseverance, family, friendship, hope, honesty, self determination, courage, etc. For this lesson, my students watched the film twice. The first time was simply to enjoy the story. After their first viewing, I asked them to share what they noticed about the film. Then I asked, "What do you think the message or big idea was in this film?" They shared lots of thoughts, and I noted the common ideas the group came up, which were love and hope. Then I showed the film again. This time I set the purpose to look for symbols of love, and evidence of hope. After the second viewing they shared many of the symbols of love, and they noticed that the song lyrics sang about having hope. Discussions got pretty deep, which made my teacher heart happy;) To support my beginning ELLs, I printed pictures of the different scenes that symbolized love (couples- turtles, birds, whales, clouds). By the end of the lesson my students had a good understanding of the skill, and they were ready to practice looking for a theme in their own reading. We continued to practice during guided reading, and spiraled back to theme as we read throughout the year. Other favorites... Piper: Character Development For the Birds: Infer, Predictions or Cause and Effect Home Sweet Home: Asking Questions This short is a bit long (10 minutes). Kiwi!: Drawing Conclusions (Warning- this one is sad.) Boundin: Lesson, Theme, Plot Lifted: Plot Dustin: Inferring, Conflict, Conflict Resolution (Compare with "Joy and Heron") Joy and Heron: Problem/Solution, Story Elements, Lesson/Message (Compare with "Dustin") Take Me Home: Inferring Jinxy Jenkins and Lucky Lou: Compare and Contrast Soar: Predictions, Plot, Story Elements Sweet Cocoon: Story Elements, Drawing Conclusions Changing Batteries: Drawing Conclusions, Inferring (This one is sad too.) A Fox and a Mouse: Plot, Character Development, Setting, Conflict Snack Attack: Flashback Dia De Los Muertos: Character Development, Symbolism (blue flower) One Small Step: Plot, Theme, Character Development The Box: Making Inferences, Making Prediction, Character Development, Story Elements Spring: Making Inferences, Plot, Mood The First of Spring: Compare/Contrast, Character and Plot Development Dust Buddies: Character Analysis, Plot, Conflict Monsterbox: Plot, Asking Questions, Drawing Conclusions La Luna: Theme, Character Development, Plot, Symbolism (hat) After the Rain: Plot, Cause and Effect (warning: death scene) Pip: Character Development, Story Elements Scrambled: Author's Message, Symbolism Wings: Theme, Making Inferences, Draw Conclusions Lava: Theme The comprehension skills listed above are simply suggestions; there are many more skills that could be taught with each of the films listed. I have found that using short films in my reading mini-lessons has given my students a deeper understanding of the skills being taught, which allows them to then transfer the skills to text. And the fact that the kids are so engaged makes it a win-win for all! These are just some of the short films out there that are great for teaching reading comprehension skills, there are a lot more! In an era where kids are visually stimulated more than ever before, using film to teach reading comprehension is effective, fun and engaging for ALL students. UPDATE: Typically, I grab a good graphic organizer, pull up the short film and GO! But during this time of distance learning, I've needed to adjust my instruction, as we all have, so I've made some short film resources with both print and digital materials. As more are created, they'll be added here. Happy teaching!
Well, my school year has barely ended, and call me crazy, because I am already planning and creating for next year!! I have a list a mile long of new ideas that I can’t wait to try out for next year. My first one?!?! Close Reading Toolboxes!! This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com. If you…
Hurray! You're here. Let me help you with fun resources for your primary students to keep them excited about learning!
Reading Response activities will likely form a major part of your reading programme, whether you are running guided reading groups, a daily 5 system,
Hi everyone, My little learners have been working SO hard on their reading these past few months and I am VERY excited to show what what they have been up to!
Use different sentence frames to increase text connections. Help students
Every year I am shocked by my students' underdeveloped vocabulary. They struggle with reading comprehension because of their limited understanding of words. Their writing can be very drab because of their limited word choice. And when it comes time for standardized testing they often struggle with understanding what is being asked of them because of
Thank you to Diane for submitting this fun book report poster. It’s legal size (paper) worksheet and is great for lower grades (or as an easy project for upper grades). Great end of the year …
Decoding drills for building fluency helps students apply phonics skills when reading. Perfect warm ups and a great tracking tool, too.
As a new year starts I am asked over and over how I keep things organized in my classroom while starting up interactive notebooks. I will tell you that creating my process took years to create and is
Let's take a little peek in a day in first grade! I love my job and working with the kids, tap to get some tips and tricks you can use too!
Cultivate lifelong reading skills.
These five fun vocabulary word games that will have your students learning without even realizing it! A bunch of ideas of ESL students too!
Every English language arts teacher needs a variety of successful, student led discussion strategies that will provide opportunities for student learning.
Classroom Freebies Too is more freebies for more teachers!
After part one of guided reading and small groups in middle school ELA, this post outlines what the other students are doing during this time
Every morning, at the start of our Morning Meeting, we recite our five classroom rules. The rules I use are similar to Whole Brain Teaching's, but with a twist. I use the set from The Polka Dot Patch. You can read all of the specifics on the rules and gestures HERE. Something fun that we do every Friday is reciting the rules in a different voice. It helps keep up the interest and engagement, plus, we all need a laugh Friday morning :) I have seen different fluency practice ideas a lot on Pinterest and I think these would be a wonderful resource for rule-reciting. Sometimes the Meeting Leader has an idea themselves- one girl decided to recite the rules as if we all had a mouth full of food!- but other times, the student may need some inspiration. Find these at I Love 2 Teach! All I am doing is printing these on cardstock, laminating them, and putting a binder ring though a hole in the top corner. I will keep these near our Morning Meeting Bucket and talking ball for our Meeting Leader to use if he/she needs them. Do you have these fluency cards in your class? Try incorporating them into your rule recitation- it's a great way to wrap up the week!
Vocabulary instruction is so critical in today’s classroom! A vast vocabulary will help students to become better readers and writers. Vocabulary is also essential to their performance on standardized tests. Helping kids to develop their vocabulary is time that is well spent in a busy classroom. I have developed a routine to teach new vocabulary
Hey everyone! I hope you had a great holiday and if you're like me you're definitely enjoying your time off school. Yes I love and miss the ...
In today's post, I'll share 10 quick, meaningful “follow-up” activities that you can use in your guided reading lessons - all materials are FREE!
Understanding the difference between inference and prediction is one of classic challenges in literacy instruction.
Take a closer look.
Get your students reading and writing this summer with these fun and engaging enrichment activities for elementary grades.
Setting a purpose for reading can keep our readers from becoming overwhelmed by giving them a specific reason for reading. Helping students set a purpose for reading purpose also helps them understand the value of tapping into their prior knowledge. Today, I’m sharing some tips for setting a purpose and showing how to use it in ... Read More about Setting a Purpose for Reading {with Freebie}
Novel Quick Write Anchor Chart
Teachers like starting the school year feeling well-prepared and confident. Read about 5 Strategies for a Solid Start to Your School Year
Welcome back for the second part of my ELA blog post series! Today I am sharing all about my reading center routines and activities. If you missed the first post about my reading whole group lessons, you can click HERE to get caught up. Let me start by reminding you of my entire ELA block schedule. Center
Check out how easy it is to use old iPhones as Listening Centers!
As readers move from reading beginning readers to hard texts, they need to develop strategies for reading longer words. Some readers can make this move almost naturally, while other readers {like my oldest son} do not. Today, I’m sharing some simple strategies for reading longer words resources you can download for free! {The free printable ... Read More about Strategies for Reading Longer Words
This blog post contains a FREE compare and contrast reading activity! Materials are included so you can replicate the compare and contrast anchor chart and lesson for your own upper elementary and middle school students.
Have you ever had a class that just tried your patience day after day? Have you ever felt like you could walk away from teaching forever tom...
Close reading is one of those big buzz words in literacy education. But what is close reading, anyway? This post will tell you exactly what it is, plus how to teach it! Have you heard the term
Steal these for your writing unit!
Love podcasts? Check out this post in the form of a podcast episode on The Classroom Commute
