Reading comprehension strategies for all types of learners. Encourage and
Asking questions before, during, and after reading comes very naturally to skilled readers, but for struggling readers, this skill can be just the opposite. Asking questions of varying depths is arguably the most important reading
Need to know how to help students write summaries? These lesson ideas and summarizing ideas and tips for the upper elementary classroom will help you teach summarizing and help your students write summaries as they read.
I have a quick and simple tip for you today. Another teacher gave me this tip a few years ago and I love it! (I wish I remembered who gave me this tip and where they got the idea from so I could give the credit.) Do you ever start to give directions and you ... Read More about A quick classroom management tip
Collaboration is great, isn’t it?! It brings students together and not only enhances their learning, it builds those critical social skills students are in desperate need of. Here are my 5 favorite strategies I use in my middle school classroom to encourage collaboration. They are step by step, ea
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…
Intervention in reading can be the difference that changes a student's path. What teacher doesn’t want to be that difference? But, finding...
Visualizing the text is such an important strategy used for building your students’ reading comprehension. It is very versatile as it can be used in different ways with students of all ages and reading levels. I
Are you classroom teacher looking for engaging ways to teach your students to comprehend stories? Read this post for primary ideas on how to get children to learn to visualize and build reading comprehension.
The UNWRAP reading strategy gives your students a "game plan" to tackle answering questions from fiction passages and informational articles. The strategy provides students with a solid routine to read the text and answer the corresponding questions. Display the posters on your wall for a reference. Students can refer to the posters or the bookmarks while working so they are able to do their best. The UNWRAP reading strategy will give your students one more tool in their testing toolkit to help them achieve their highest potential reading and responding to text. There is a color version and a black & white version of the posters. The color version will look best printed on white paper, while the black & white version will look sharp on any color paper of your choice. Includes: Color version of posters Color version of bookmarks (3 per page) Black & white version of posters Black & white version of bookmarks (3 per page} 1 PowerPoint presentation with the UNWRAP Strategy (1 page)
Here are some tips and strategies on how to teach reading fluency in your homeschool or in your classroom literacy centers.
What is a reading mini-lesson? Find out the key components of reading mini-lessons and how to get started using them in your classroom. Plus download the FREE planning forms!
Want to know how to ensure at-home reading accountability without using reading logs for elementary students? Read this blog post to learn how I got rid of reading logs and implemented status of the class instead to instill a love of reading and support students in their daily reading habits both at
Learn the six syllable types and their particular vowel sounds using this fun and catchy song. Build students' confidence when reading words with two syllables, as they learn how to identify, read and spell the different syllable types. The song includes the six main syllable types - closed, open, magic e, r controlled, consonant-le and vowel team - and can grow with your students' needs. If they know closed syllables, then they can learn the first verse. As they learn more syllable types, they can add more verses. And if they already know all the syllable types, this song is a great way to consolidate that knowledge in a fun and engaging way. This pack is suitable for students in First Grade all the way through to later elementary ages. The pack includes: Activity Instructions. .m4v file containing the song and visuals. Chord Sheet containing the basic chords used in the verses and chorus. Printable visuals used in the song.
Here they are: 15 formats for structuring a class discussion to make it more engaging, more organized, more equitable, and more academically challenging.
Anchor charts are a great tool for helping students remember routines and apply the strategies you've taught in class. Whether they're helping students activate their schema, recording learning, or outlining strategies that students can use on their own, these visual resources are a must-have for elementary
Free Literacy Graphic Organizers from Laura Candler
When it comes to teaching literacy skills, guided reading has proven to be an effective strategy for middle school students. Let's explore the various benefits of guided reading and how to implement it in your classroom.
Closing the gap between the language rich and the language poor is of upmost importance for educators. A proven way to shrink the literacy gap between the "rich" and the "poor" is by explicitly teaching vocabulary words. Research supports that teachers should be directly teaching 3-5 words per text selection and teaching them in a way that students "own" the words. Owning a word means you have a deep understanding of the word. You can pronounce the word. You understand it's meaning. You have the ability to use the word during conversation and in writing. An owned word is one that is a member of your personal lexicon. Vocabulary instruction is important for all kids, but it is vital for students who have under developed vocabularies. Teaching students vocabulary terms should happen before a text selection is read, and should be done using the following routine. 1. Pronounce the word, write it and read it. Always introduce a word orally first. Kids need to know how to correctly pronounce the word. Say it, and have them repeat it back to you. If the word is multi-syllabic, talk about the syllables and say the word in syllable chunks. Next, write the word. Say each sound, or each syllable as the write the word for all students to see. Example: Our new word is plain. Class, say plain. How many syllables does plain have? Lets clap the syllables in plain. How many sounds does plain have? Lets tap the sounds in plain. There are two spellings for the word plain.....plane and plain. We are going to learn about plain, spelled p....l.....a....i.....n. Plain is an adjective (which means it describes a noun). 2. Tell students what the new word means Use a student friendly definition of the new word. This ensures that students understand what the new word means. However, after a student friendly definition is given....don't be afraid to elevate a student's vocabulary by giving a more technical or advanced definition. Additionally, talk to the students about word origin. Point out prefixes, suffixes or any base words that may exist. Finally, give students a more concrete way to grasp the word by showing pictures, video clips, demonstrating an action or providing a hands on experience. It is always best to find real images to share as opposed to clipart images. Example: Plain means ordinary. Something that is plain is not flashy. Plain looks like this: 3. Say more about the word and give examples Once students have an understanding of the new word's meaning, use the word in several sentences. These sentences should help students further understand what the word is and what it isn't. Example: If I wanted to use plain in a sentence, I could say: My outfit is plain today because it doesn't have a lot of colors. Or, I enjoy eating plain yogurt that is only one flavor and doesn't have any mix-ins. 4. Ask Questions about the Word's Meaning Ask students yes and no questions about the word to really help the meaning sink in. Example: Students, are the outfits you are wearing plain? Is your bedroom at home plain? Do you like plain food, or food that doesn't have a lot of spice or ingredients? 5. Provide opportunities for students to use the word To help students truly "own" a word, they need ample opportunities to use the newly acquired term. Encourage students to use the word in writing and speaking activities. Have students write sentences using the word, or share a sentence verbally. Example: Students, I want you to think of a sentence using our new word plain. After some think time, have students hand up, stand up and pair up to share their sentence with a partner. Interested in seeing the vocabulary routine in action? Check out the following clip of explicit vocabulary instruction taking place in a kindergarten classroom. Make sure to check out this article from Reading Rockets, A Multidimensional Approach to Vocabulary Instruction: Supporting English Language Learners in Inclusive Classrooms, for eight more instructional tips regarding vocabulary instruction.
These Reading Comprehension Bookmarks give students the tools they need to successfully share their great ideas about what they have read.
Reading comprehension skills like making inferences, finding the main idea, and recognizing cause and effect are critical curriculum elements in any ELA classroom. As our students build their reading skills, they need to develop their understanding of 12 different reading comprehension skills. One of my favorite ways to teach students about the reading skills is with doodle notes. Don't worry...I've put together a 20+ page set of doodle notes that you can download for FREE! (Sign up at the bottom of this post!) Have you tried doodle notes in your classroom? If so, you know that... ⭐ Doodle notes are a great way to introduce students to important information. These doodle notes include definitions for 12 different reading skills. In addition, there are tips provided for each reading skill to help students use each in their reading. The definitions are simple enough for students to understand, but specific enough to help students recognize the differences in each. ⭐ Doodle notes tap into multiple learning styles. Doodle notes are obviously great for visual learners. They also create a connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This leads to an increase in learning, focus, and retention. The doodles on the note pages also help a variety of learners connect images with information. The free set of reading doodle notes also includes 4 versions for easy differentiation. There are doodle pages for lower grades, upper grades, as well as notes that are filled-in or in a guided notes format. ⭐ Doodle notes expose students to skills they can use in the classroom. Doodle notes are a fun and engaging spin on traditional notes. The free set of doodle notes focus on reading comprehension skills. Therefore, they work perfectly as a review of skills before students show off their learning while reading passages. Of course, I think reading passages should be engaging, too. So, some of my favorites to combine with the doodle notes are these... --- Reading Passages and Text-Based Evidence - R.E.A.D. Strategy --- Social Emotional Learning Passages - Read, Doodle and Do --- Nonfiction Reading Passages - Doodle and Do ⭐ Doodle notes are extremely motivating and therefore work as awesome introductions to units. The free set of reading comprehension skills doodle notes are such an awesome way to introduce students to more in-depth reading units. You could easily have students complete the packet of doodle notes before diving deeper into each reading skill. Or, you could have students complete one section of the doodle notes as they learn about different skills. The good news is that I've already created 12 reading mini-units for each reading skill. Find them here. ⭐ Doodle notes help students review and reinforce information naturally. When students complete doodle notes, first, they do the work of adding the notes to their pages. However, their learning doesn't end there. Students are super motivated to doodle, color, and embellish their note pages. As they get creative, they naturally read over and review their learning. It's the perfect way to mix creativity and learning! If you'd like to add this FREE set of reading comprehension doodle notes to your classroom, just add your email and name below. Then, check you inbox for your exclusive freebie!
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
These nine main idea strategies will help your students successfully master this important reading skill. The Teacher Next Door shares her favorite main idea strategies for teachers of upper elementary students.
Hands-on pre-reading activities that encourage your elementary students to access their prior knowledge and make predictions.
When it’s time to teach my students to summarize, I love to use the Somebody Wanted But So Then (SWBST) strategy. Today I want to share a few tools you can use when teaching this reading strategy.
learn how to teach reading comprehension in a self-contained classroom using visual strategies during daily lessons
Real talk: classroom management has always been my biggest struggle as a teacher. I think that this is true for a lot of teachers. It’s one thing to read about classroom management strategies in a college classroom, but it’s a whole other ballgame when you’re standing in front of a roomful of middle schoolers and you are somehow expected to keep them all in line! I’ve had a few tough groups over my first few years, and I needed something to up my classroom management game. The classroom management strategy I’m going to share with you today has been a total game-changer for me, and I hope it can help you, too! This strategy is called Behavior Bingo. To implement it, you will need a 10×10 chart numbered from 1-100. I used to draw mine out on big chart paper, but I’ve since created this handy printable board so that I don’t have to draw it out each time! You will also need 100 popsicle sticks each labeled with a number from 1-100. I keep these in one of those metal pails from Target, and you will also need another pail for the sticks to go in once you have pulled them. You will need a board and set of numbers for each class you are using this with – I have used it with up to 4 classes at once! I marked each class’s set of sticks with a different color and then discarded them all into the same tub. If you don’t want to buy or have to label all the popsicle sticks, I have also seen teachers use small slips of paper numbered 1-100, or even just a random number generator online! Here are the rules that I use: The object of the game is to get 10 numbers in a row (vertical, horizontal, or diagonal) and get a bingo. At the start of each class, I write the numbers 1 2 3 on the front whiteboard. During class, I erase a number any time the students are not meeting my expectations, starting with 3, then 2, then 1. At the end of class, however many numbers are left on the board is how many popsicle sticks they get to pull that day. For example, if only the 3 was erased, then they get to pull 2 popsicle sticks. They can earn up to 3 numbers each day. The students pull out the correct number of sticks for that day. I let them take turns. I hold the jar up above their heads so they can’t peek inside. Then I color in the numbers that were pulled on the bingo board. You can certainly adjust these rules to meet your needs. For instance, you could use a smaller or bigger bingo board, depending on how quickly you want them to earn their reward. With the 10×10 board, it usually takes 1-2 months to earn the reward. You could also adjust how many numbers they can earn each day. Another thing you could do is tie the numbers to specific goals. For instance, my students know that at the beginning of class they need to be in their seats with homework out and working on their warmup. If this doesn’t happen, they know I will erase a number. As for the reward, we choose this as a class before beginning the game. I have the students brainstorm ideas (I tell them that they need to be something either relatively inexpensive or free and can only take up about 20-30 minutes of class time) and list them all on the board. Then I have the students vote for their top two choices. Some ideas we have come up with in the past include an ice cream party (I bring the ice cream, they bring the toppings), root beer float party, time outside, free time, board games, donut party, dodgeball, or popcorn and a short movie. I write their choice at the bottom of the bingo board as a reminder of what we are working toward. And that’s it! It’s very easy to keep it running, and it has been very motivating to my students, especially when they are down to only one number left for the day. You can find the printable board that I use in my Teachers Pay Teachers store if you’re interested! Do you have any awesome classroom management strategies? I would love to hear about them in the comments!
We have all heard the term, Reading is THINKING! Unfortunately, actually teaching kiddos how to think and be more metacognative while they are reading is more difficult than it sounds! This anchor chart, Reading is Thinking, has helped me to model for my students how to think, ask questions, predict, summarize, visualize, infer, and make connections while they are reading. Reading is THINKING Freebie to improve Comprehension ~ TeacherKarma.com Click on the Reading is Thinking anchor chart to get more strategies and a FREEBIE just for you. :) Best wishes!
Next week marks the start of National Library Week!
Angle worksheets are an excellent tool for students learning about geometry. Our angle worksheets are the best on the internet and they are all completely free to use. These worksheets cover a wide range of topics, including identifying angles, measuring angles, and drawing angles. With our angle worksheets, students will have everything they need to master this important math concept. So if you want the best angle worksheets on the internet, look no further! Our free worksheets are the perfect resource for students of all ages and skill levels.
Long vocabulary lists can appear daunting and unlearnable at first glance, but they don’t have to be perceived in such a way. Here we have engaging and entertaining activities, games, and strategies to help your students master their vocab lists with ease. Learning is made fun with the right
There are a variety of reasons why students struggle to develop reading and writing skills, and many of these students need explicit instruction in foundational skills such as phonics for decoding and spelling, automatic fluent reading skills, and basic text structures.
Unsure of how to teach inference? These fun and engaging inferencing activities for middle school will excite your students!
This ADHD cheat sheet offers helpful information for individuals coping with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The sheet provides a definition of ADHD, Common Symptoms of ADHD, Strategies For Improving Focus With ADHD, Time Management Tips For ADHD, Organization Strategies For ADHD, Tips For Coping With Impulsivity, Effective Communication Skills With ADHD, and Resources For Managing ADHD.
This post breaks down how I teach reading in 5th grade and how my reading block is structured, including the materials needed.
Hello! It's Allison from Stuckey in Second ! I wanted to share a popular post that I recently had on my own blog. It was a big hit and I hea...
Teach your students how to explore content with depth and complexity. Here it is, a complete and ready-to-use resource for teaching all 11 elements (Big Ideas, Rules, Trends, Patterns, Language of the Discipline, Ethics, Relationships Over Time, Details, Unanswered Questions, Across Disciplines, and Multiple Perspectives) of critical thinking! Your students will explore of these elements by applying them to familiar stories, such as “Cinderella,” “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” and “The Three Little Pigs.” These enduring fairytales present countless avenues for critical analysis and can be used with many grade levels (4-10+). Everything you need is included; no need to purchase additional materials or books! Two versions–with and without icons–are now included!! What's included: Instructions: Detailed information and suggestions for implementing these materials. 6 Fairytales: Formatted and ready to print. Titles are listed above. 6 Explorations Guides: Each guide includes specific and concrete examples of how to apply the 11 different icons to the included fairytales. 11 Graphic Organizers: One for each critical thinking "Thinking Tool". (provided in color and grayscale versions). 4 Addition Fairytales: "The Frog Prince," "Little Red Riding Hood," "Rapunzel," and "Rumplestiltskin". These can be used for extension activities of your choosing. ➡FREE Depth and Complexity Posters This resource was created based on the Depth and Complexity framework, which was developed by Dr. Sandra Kaplan under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Research and Improvement: 1996 BYOB! Build Your Own Bundle Pick and choose the Depth and Complexity resources you want and receive a bundle discount. The more you buy, the more you save. The discount will appear in your cart for all qualifying quantities. 3+ Depth and Complexity Resources = 10% off 6+ Depth and Complexity Resources = 20% off 9+ Depth and Complexity Resources = 30% off Get all the latest Teacher Thrive news! ➜SIGN UP for my newsletter! ➜FOLLOW me on TeacherThrive.com! ➜FOLLOW me on Facebook! ➜FOLLOW me on Pinterest! ➜FOLLOW me on Instagram! Please read: This is a nonrefundable digital download. Please read the description carefully and examine the preview file before purchasing. © Copyright 2018 M. Tallman. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to copy pages specifically designed for student or teacher use by the original purchaser or licensee. This is intended to be used by one teacher unless additional licenses have been purchased. The reproduction of any other part of this product is strictly prohibited. Copying any part of this product and placing it on the Internet in any form (even a personal/classroom website) is strictly forbidden. Doing so makes it possible for an Internet search to make the document available on the Internet, free of charge, and is a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
I use a lot of tracing in my Orton-Gillingham lesson plans. When I introduce a new phonogram, students will trace the letters while saying the sound. When I introduce a new prefix or suffix, students
