Teaching Resources
We always want to be prepared for all things in our classroom, but one thing that is sometimes challenging but essential is being prepared for State Testing. Today, I am hopeful that I can provide a few test prep strategies for elementary students and ideas to inspire you. If your students are getting ready to take the state tests, you may… Read More
Do you notice many of your students do not have a strong foundation of word choice, and vocabulary? Let’s set the stage… you notice your fourth-grade student is struggling with reading and reading comprehension. She is able to read the words and sound them out, but for some reason, she really doesn’t like reading. One reason many students don’t enjoy… Read More
Do you know what a fable is? These popular stories feature animals and also include a moral. If you’re a teacher, then you’ve definitely heard of them when you were reading through the Common Core Standards! In the third through fifth grades, they are part of the literature requirements. But, how do you make these stories come alive and engage… Read More
Do your students love fairy tales? Teaching Fairy tales in upper elementary can be timeless, with the magic, exciting storylines, and fascinating characters. I love incorporating fairy tales into learning in my classroom! There are so many lessons to be learned! Here are some of the ways I teach using fairy tales: Teaching Fairy Tales for Writing Practice Children often… Read More
I love celebrating all holidays and especially recognizing influential women during Women’s History Month. Have you been wondering how to celebrate Women’s History Month in your classroom? Through studying women’s history, children can learn about important figures, our collective past, and current struggles for gender equality. There are many ways you can help your students appreciate and learn more about the… Read More
How do you teach reading skills in your classroom? My biggest fear as a teacher was that my students would not comprehend what they were reading. Therefore, I always set a goal to grow my students into successful independent readers. I created a plan and throughout the years I gathered many basic ideas and strategies to help me teach my… Read More
When kids come back from winter break, they are full of new energy and excitement. Sometimes it can be hard to harness their energy for school work! That’s why you need some great January resources to help them get back in the groove. I have compiled books and activities to get you started with your lesson planning. January Resources… Read More
This time of the year I love incorporating engaging resources that bring meaning to children. One of my favorite holiday books to use this time of the year is the Polar Express. This book is wonderful to read to students of all ages and is perfect to read every year. The Polar Express Activities My own children have grew up… Read More
Fall means pumpkins, leaves, bonfires, and great read alouds! Your students are never too old to be read aloud to. Upper elementary students love to hear engaging stories told by their teachers. Try some of these incredible fall read aloud books to share with your students this fall. This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. View our full… Read More
One thing I encourage my students to do outside of class daily is read! Studies show that even reading twenty minutes a day can drastically improve reading comprehension and even raise standardized test scores. Plus, reading independently helps our students enjoy reading more by focusing on texts that they love! Whether your students are reading informational or narrative texts, there… Read More
Our classrooms are competing with online stimuli, social media (yes, even in elementary school), video games, and television when it comes to intriguing, inspiring lessons that hold our students’ attention. Fortunately, you can succeed at strategies to increase students engagement by incorporating picture books, games, and making connections. Strategies to Increase Student Engagement: Writing Through Picture Books and Mentor Texts When… Read More
Chances are you have students at various reading levels in your classroom. There are students reading at grade level, students who are reading far above grade level, and students who are struggling to comprehend classroom texts. Regardless of reading levels, the strategies that promote reading comprehension skills can be used with any text. Using these skills and strategies in your… Read More
Free reading can be a joy for many upper elementary students, but for others, it can be a time of fake reading or fear. For reluctant and struggling readers, time to read in class is neither inspirational nor enjoyable. However, there are books that even the most reluctant readers can find themselves drawn to. In fact, finding the book that… Read More
Have you been searching for a quick reference of texts to support you in teaching comprehension skills? I have researched and gathered some of my top Mentor Texts to Teach Comprehension Strategies. These texts can be used to teach skills such as: Main Idea, Summary, Context Clues, Character Traits, Setting, Plot, Cause and Effect, Inference, Drawing Conclusions, Predictions, Timeline of… Read More
Did someone say book clubs? Getting started with book clubs in upper elementary classroom can benefit all of your students, from the reluctant reader to the one that lives in the library. Few things excite me more than having motivated readers in my classroom that want to gather and talk about what they’re reading. Don’t think book clubs are just… Read More
It’s a classic conundrum. Children who don’t enjoy reading often resist books because reading is hard for them. Because reading is so hard for them, it becomes more difficult to make reading enjoyable and accessible. Hesitant readers can become eager participants with some of these Strategies to Help Motivate Reluctant Readers in your classroom. Start at their level or a… Read More
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