what are effective reading comprehension strategies to help readers and struggling readers in your upper elementary classroom? this reading strategies list will help guide your reading instruction
Pass them on to your first grade teacher friends!
Here are six teaching strategies I use every lesson, every day.
Cultivate lifelong reading skills.
Middle school and teaching blog
We have prepared a list worksheets with answer key based on “Time Preposition” for 5th grade. It contains 8 pages. You can download the PDF below,
This resource includes 9th and 10th grade ELA activities and projects for an entire school year covering more than 30 different skills and 40+ activities. This 140+ page resource is designed to help your students master a variety of different skills throughout an entire school year. Below, I've highlighted the different skills, activities, and assessments included in the resource. This resource is editable and can be changed to fit your students' needs! NOTE: This resource is completely different than my 6th Grade ELA Resources and 7th and 8th Grade ELA Resources. It has a similar setup, but the activities and assessments are different. NOTE: There is a digital version of this resource included for distance learning! It is compatible with Google Slides and Google Classroom. Skills covered include Citing Textual Evidence Making inferences Annotating text Analyzing theme Characterization Word choice & language Sequence of events Plot structure Multimedia Transformation of works Annotation Stations Biographies Around the World Infographic Research MYTHconceptions Rhetorical Devices Word Choice Analyzing Arguments Persuasive Writing Informative/ExpositoryWriting Research Writing Revising Writing Writing with Purpose World research Ethos, pathos, & logos Rhetorical Devices Infographics Blind Debates Digital Media Project Argumentative speaking using persuasive techniques 9th and 10th grade vocabulary menu Projects Activities Assessments Rubrics included Activities included in this product: Literature review novel unit flipbook (citing evidence, analyzing theme, characterization, word choice, plot structure, cultural perspective, figurative language, and literary elements) Characterization stations Figurative Foreheads (A game for figurative language) Extended plot structure foldable Set the stage multimedia project Annotation stations Informational text analysis flipbook Rhetorical techniques project Famous leaders biographies with questions (5) Famous leaders mini-projects (5) DIY research based infographic MYTHconceptions: Sorting through research Persuasive research unit (I did include some of the 7/8 resources in this section as review, but there are new things, too!) Ethos, Pathos, and Logos persuasive project Proofreading task cards Virtual world traveler research project Be the change expository essay Blind debates Design your own TED Talk 9th and 10th grade vocabulary menu 10 weeks of vocabulary terms All rubrics included Additional resources included in the package -Detailed teacher directions -Detailed student directions -Rubrics for essays and projects (because this is skills based and can work with any assignment, there is NOT an answer key, rubrics only. -Student data tracking sheets -Tabs for organization -Cover pages for organization -Directions to download FREE fonts for editable purposes Check out what other teachers, just like you, are saying about this resource: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "If you are a new teacher or a veteran teacher, you need this! It's visually stunning in a way that is modern for high school students. So many products are "childish" looking but this one is not! I have several of The SuperHERO Teacher's resources, and I've loved them all. Just like the others, this one is generic enough to fit into your own curriculum. It could work as a stand-alone, but I think it would be best to integrate it with whatever units you already have. I think it's a great way to ensure that your current units are standards-based and focused more on skills over content." -Kandi ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Having materials that can be printed and used immediately is wonderful. It is also wonderful to have a digital version right away too! " -Melissa E. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This is an amazing resource for any English teacher! It is very well organized and put together. There is a lot of material, but it is general enough to be used with anything, which is amazing! I can't wait to use this with my students." -Natasha S. **This product is designed for 9th and 10th grade, but some of the resources are also suitable for 7th-12th grade. You can find here 6th grade version of this here: 6th Grade ELA Resources You can find the 7th and 8th grade version of this here: 7th and 8th Grade ELA Resources FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE DOWNLOAD THE PREVIEW. Connect with Me SuperHERO Teacher Blog Find me on Facebook Find me on Instagram Find me on Pinterest Find me on Snapchat: Superheroteach If you like this product, please leave feedback!
4 Kinds of Sentences have two versions on how they label the sentences. Younger students learn that sentences can be statements, questions, commands, and exclamations. By 4th grade, students learn that those kinds of sentences have a new name. They learn the words declarative, interrogative, imperative, and exclamation. I call them the "grown up" words for statements, questions, commands, and exclamations. To help, here are two posters with the different 4 Kinds of Sentences. One poster shows the sentences of Statement, Command, Question, and Exclamation. The other poster shows the sentences of Declarative, Imperative, Interrogative, and Exclamatory. Click the picture to download both posters. Both posters come in a black and white copy too. Hang the posters on your Language Arts Wall or use when teaching a mini lesson on the 4 Kinds of Sentences to remind students about each kind of sentence. I have also created activity packs to go along with each of the 4 Kinds of Sentences. Each pack includes 36 task cards. Use the task cards for a reading center to identify the 4 kinds of sentences. Or use the task cards for small groups or engaging games. I have also included a pack of writing centers and worksheets. There is plenty to do in this pack. It is loaded with sentences. Students need to identify each of the 4 Kinds of Sentences. Plus these task cards and worksheets are uploaded into Google Slides and Google Forms to use with Google Classrooms. Below has a few pictures of what's included in these packs. Click on the pictures to read more about it. Purchase 4 Kinds of Sentence Pack (statement, questions, command, exclamation) right here at a discounted price! ********************************************************** I have also created a second set of the 4 Kinds of Sentences that have to do with Declarative-Interrogative-Imperative-Exclamatory sentences. This pack is also loaded with sentences. This set includes 36 task cards to identify sentences and/ or use with the other games and centers in this pack. It also has writing centers and worksheets dedicated to sentences. Plus these task cards and worksheets are uploaded into Google Slides and Google Forms to use with Google Classrooms. Click on the picture to read more about this pack. Purchase 4 Kinds of Sentence Pack (declarative, imperative, interrogative, exclamatory) right here at a discounted price! Try These: 4 Kinds of Sentences Task Cards: These packs below only includes task cards, no games or centers. Students read the sentence on the task card and decide which kind of sentence it is. Thanks for stopping by today! See you soon, Click the picture on the left to see more resources from Teacher's Take-Out!
Earlier in the school year my new teammate insisted that I read aloud 100 Cupboards to my class. She was in the middle of reading it and her class was enjoying it. I had a copy on my shelf and so we dove right in, and our class loved it too. It's definitely in the same genre of some of my favorite books (Alice in Wonderland, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Phantom Tollbooth, The Wizard of Oz) and we had many opportunities to discuss literary reference and homage. The basic premise is that Henry, whose parents have gone missing, must live with his aunt and uncle. He discovers a wall of cupboards, each of which leads to a different and strange place. There were funny moments and times that we were on the edge of our seats, and our class really enjoyed this book. My teammate also came up with a wonderful idea to have the students create their own cupboards. Using construction paper they made cupboards that open out. Students decorated the front, drew what world would be seen when opened, and then wrote a sensory description of that world. My students were so creative and had different ways that their cupboards opened and one even devised a working latch out of paper! I love this cupboard that has multiple doors, and multiple places that it leads to! A Hunger Games inspired door, key included. Look at that impressive paper latch! Many got creative with the shape of their cupboard doors!
Students can struggle with reading for a variety of reasons: rich vocabulary, lack of background knowledge, the author's writing style. To scaffold difficult texts, teach students to annotate through the gradual release process.
Hi friends! I wanted to share my readers use thinkmarks poster today. This is something my students really enjoy doing during guided reading or even independent reading. This allows them to jot down their idea, but not interrupt me. We have a different focus each month and last month was making predictions, and this month is making connections. We also cover visualizing, and inferencing as well. We cover a ton of things each month, but these are our focus! I just love teaching them. I love read alouds and would do it all day if I could. I wanted to see if I could show them think marks. So I whipped up this chart with them. They were REALLY excited to get some sticky notes - (note to self - I need more little ones, but am too much of a hoarder to share my own) I left out the ones that are blank because we haven't learned those skills yet. So as we learn, I will add more to it. I sent each child to independent reading and read to self that day with one sticky note. All they had to do was use one. I didn't want them using a whole pack because then it is work on writing instead of reading! They were so excited. I had one girl read her same book twice with nothing. I asked why she was reading her book again, and she said " I only have one sticky note, I want to make it a good one". Gosh I love first graders. Here's the thing. In order to use the think mark, you had to be able to explain WHY you chose it. If you chose LOL that is great, but what was so funny about it? If you chose prediction - you had to say what you predicted and if you were correct initially or if you had to revise your thinking. The best part was that there were kids with "C" written on their sticky, and even better * and ?. I let them know if they had those they had to explain. During snack, I had them all take out their book, and we went around to share our think marks. One kiddo said "C" because she didn't know that Penguin babies were with their dads and are 4 feet tall. (I was beaming with pride for her) she said it from her memory - then opened the book to the page to share with everyone. One little boy had a Henry and Mudge book and had an (!) - he said that it was exciting because Henry and Mudge were cracking the code of the lost cookies! HOW CUTE! Kids were using the vocabulary "I made a connection, I predicted, I thought so and so was funny BECAUSE". It was truly amazing to hear their thinking and even my lowest readers were able to put something down - even if it was a favorite part! I will eventually not have every kid share during snack, but not until I know that they have it down for what they are supposed to be doing and explaining. I will have the kids partner up and share so it is over fairly quickly. They want to talk about their books, but need guidance on what they can share!! I decided that once we learn all of our think marks, I will blow this up and put it on my wall. I will also print a smaller one for them to keep in their readers notebook, along with a bookmark with the other side being their reading strategies bookmark. I made this Story Map from this pin . I don't know who it belongs to, but I had a vision of this thing and this was it! Each time we read a story together, we complete this together. I have printed them their own and put it in a sheet protector. They will read their own books and days we don't use sticky notes, I will have them fill out the map and share with a buddy. I want them to be accountable, but like I said I don't want it to be read to self/writing - I also sent this home with parents with a dry erase marker and and sheet protector and said to have them do this after they read to or listen to their child read. This is my focus wall. This is the size of a regular bulletin board - Each day we focus for just five minutes on a couple of these things that we have covered in the month! I use panel wall clips so that the holes are only put in once and I never pull them out - allowing me to use this board for years to come. The kids love going over this board because they know all the answers!!! I only made the make a prediction sheet. The tattooed teacher made the reading strategies posters and the charts and graphs poster pack was free from here. I created these reading strategies along with bookmarks to use during guided reading and for them to use during read to self or independent reading. Click on any picture to snag these babies for only a buck a rooney! An example of one of the posters and the bookmark types. I am also going to use the circles during guided reading. As they use a strategy, they will grab it from their pile and explain what they used. I will put them on popsicle sticks. :) They go with my reading comprehension posters that you can find here for just a dollar! Aly
It’s that time of year when parents are scrambling to put together a fun and easy school Halloween party for their kids. Here are 12...
Are you looking for Sign of the Beaver activities? Grab this free unit study and lapbook and take a deep dive into this fantastic book.
This week my minilesson for writing was prepositional phrases! My students need to focus on adding more detail to their writing so I though...
BACK TO SCHOOL ACTIVITIES - This craft will make your classroom colorful by hanging this on your ceiling. This mini packet will help you get to know a little about your little ones while keeping them occupied on the first day/s of school. Fun to do, easy to assemble and colorful when done! ;) This can also fit to your back to school unit. 14 pages: Beginning of the Year Mini Unit: 3D Balloon Craft: Topics covered: Self-Portrait My Family My School What I Want to be Someday My Favorite Things My Favourite Things (Australian and English spelling) My Happiest Memory What I Like to Read What Makes Me Smile What Makes Me Special You DON'T have to purchased this unit if you bought my ALL ABOUT ME BALLOON before. Other products you might be interested in: For 1st Grade CCSS assessments & other materials, Click Here For 2nd Grade CCSS assessments & other materials, Click Here For 3rd Grade CCSS assessments & other materials, Click Here For 4th Grade CCSS assessments & other materials, Click Here For 5th Grade CCSS assessments & other materials, Click Here For 6th Grade CCSS assessments & other materials, Click Here Classroom Jobs- Click Here Word Wall Header Jungle Theme- Click Here Me and My Family- Click Here Behavior Chart- Click Here Realistic Fiction Writing Unit- Click Here Fairy Tale Writing Unit- Click Here Fairy Tales- Click Here Poetry Writing- Click Here Reading Response Unit- Click Here Figurative Language Unit- Click Here Making Inferences Unit- Click Here Predictions Unit- Click Here Author's Purpose Unit- Click Here Cause and Effect Unit- Click Here Parts of Speech Unit- Click Here Main Idea Unit- Click Here Reading Comprehension- Click Here Tags: All About me, all about me craft, Back to school, back to school craft, first day of school activity, back to school activity, all about me activity. back to school writing prompt, all about me |writing prompts |All About me| all about me craft| Back to school| back to school craft| first day of school activity| back to school activity| all about me activity| back to school writing prompt| all about me writing prompts| Back to School activity for lower elementary| Back to School | Back to School incentive | Back to School rhyme | Back to School fun | Back to School bookmark | Back to School center activity| Back to School certificate | Back to School fun | Back to School Fun | Back to School Page | |Back to School | Back to School activity for kindergarten | Back to School activity for first grade | Back to School Award | Back to School worksheet | Back to School printable | Back to School activity for first grade | Back to School activity for second grade | Back to School activity for third grade| Back to School| Back to School activities | Back to School craft| Back to School printables | Back to School fun | Back to School unit| Back to School literacy| Back to School math| Back to School literacy fun| Back to School math fun| Back to School activity for third grade | Back to School activity for kindergarten
--Extra Freebie Alert-- Have you ever wished that you had a short story that specifically taught metaphors, idioms, hyperbole, personification, etc.? Try out a printable mini booklet for free from my new figurative language series. Each booklet has many instances of a specific figurative language skill occurring many times within a short story. Each booklet also comes with a worksheet to determine if students understand each skill. Try it out for free. Click Here To Access It Choice BoardsI love choice boards so much. Not only are they fun, but they also appeal to different learning styles. I created this choice board to use with my students. The great thing about it is that choice boards can be used with any book. How to use them: After assigning a chapter for students to read, ask them to select an activity to complete from the list. Since there are multiple activities to choose from, students can use the same choice board over and over again. Use this free reading resource in your classroom. Click Here To Access This Free Literature Choice Board
Not long before I made the move from a local Club to BGCA, I started playing a game with my middle grades members that they LOVED. I adapted it from something I heard on a podcast and called it Dum…
January is when my grade level focuses on the scientific method. My class will do several class experiments together, practicing, but in ju...
Learn how I teach the writing process in elementary. Get free bulletin board printables and learn how to make sure your students use the writing process on the state test!
Did you know that a clean classroom can impact learning and so much more? Read on for motivation and information on classroom decluttering!
Do your kids need a little help organizing their thoughts for book reports? This free printable book report form should help. Print away!
This week we were learning a few prefixes and suffixes! We introduced the lesson with an anchor chart. Here is a super cute flipchart I found on Promethean Planet. It uses Mr. Potato Head to explain the root word, prefixes and suffixes. The class loved it! It includes a short quiz at the end. We used our ActivExpressions for this! Prefix/Suffix lesson with Mr. Potato Head We then made these flipbooks to add to our reader's notebooks. We used the books to quiz partners on prefixes and suffixes. Prefix Flipbook Suffix Flipbook As one of our reviews we completed this page: Prefixes/Suffixes Page
Classroom magazines have become an invaluable resource in my classroom for exposing my students to informational texts. Our language arts curriculum lacks quality non-fiction selections. Classroom magazines, such as Time For Kids and Scholastic News have been great for exposing my students to engaging and current non-fiction material. However, I use to struggle with the best way to work them into my language arts block. This post explains what I have done to make the most of all those classroom magazines. Each year, I am so excited when our magazines start to arrive. However, they use to quickly start pile up, week after week, and I found myself squeezing them in whenever I could. Looking back, I realize that I was using them as filler. My challenge this year was finding a way to integrate them into my language arts program in a way that was more meaningful and focused. So, here are several ways that I have been using magazines in my classroom this year. Focus on Text Features At the beginning of the year, we first spent a lot of time focusing on the parts of a magazine, particularly the text features. We talked about each feature and students identified them in their magazines. Then we talked about the information that can be gathered from different text features, and how they are used to add meaning to the text. Later, my students started “collecting” text features in a packet. We wait until the end of the week, when we are done with the entire magazine, then they cut out the different text features and sort them in their packet, adding to their “collection” each week. They love this!! Focus on Text Structures After several weeks of reading the magazines as a class, we began to focus on the different text structures. Instead of simply summarizing or identifying the main idea, we began to take a closer look at the structure of each text. We talked about the different structures and identified signal words for each type. Now when my students read and respond to each article, there is an emphasis on the particular text structure. Practice Close Reading Now that my students are comfortable with text features and structures, we put it all together to practice close reading. My students use a checklist to read through a text, at least 3 times to identify text features and structure, to find the main idea and evidence, and to truly comprehend what they are reading. Close reading helps students to dig deeper and to understand what they are reading in different ways. Expand Student Vocabulary Reading classroom magazines exposes my students to new ideas and new vocabulary that they might not otherwise be exposed to. They use context clues to determine the meaning of each word. Then they define and draw pictures for each new word to show their understanding, and to help visualize the meaning of the new words they learn. They have developed quite a collection! Talk and Write About Informational Texts Lastly, I use magazine articles as meaningful topics for class discussions and writing assignments. Sometimes, after reading a debate or opinion piece, my students will share their opinions with their classmates, then write an opinion essay on the topic. I also ask them to choose articles to do additional research on, in order to produce an informative writing assignment. It is so important that students use texts to write, and that they learn to refer to texts when providing evidence in their own writing and conversations. The current events and ideas from classroom magazines serve as a great springboards for both conversation and writing. I like to have my students organize all of their materials in reading folder, so that they have all the tools they need when working with non-fiction texts!! If you would like to learn more about some of the resources from this post, check out my Non-Fiction Toolkit in my teacher shop by clicking on the pic below.
Journal writing, essay topics, story starters, and more.
