Four different book review pages to fit different classroom/student needs. ...

LitPick Book Reviews reviewer's opinion of Historical Heartthrobs: 50 Timeless Crushes review by dancechicka. Leader and Hero Betrayal, Diversity, Honesty, Love World Culture

LitPick Book Reviews reviewer's opinion of Bloody Times review by SHa_WMS.

Are your students reading the same book over and over again? Or maybe you want them to encourage each other to read? These student-made book reviews are a great no prep activity! This product includes multiple worksheets for students at different levels, as well as a handful of different styles. The...

This is the worksheet the students were to complete after finishing their "choice" reading books and before beginning to record their podcasts. After creating their podcasts they post them to the blog. Students then listen to classmates podcasts and comment. Some students may have already read the book and have a differing view that they share. Other students have listened to the podcast and commented that they were going to read the book. Then they would check out the books from the library and post something after they have completed the book. It is a great way to get kids interested in reading!

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about Knucklehead. Genre: Biography, Humor Age level: 8 - 12

Use these free printable Parts of a Book Poster & Worksheet to teach your pre-readers about book awareness and concepts of print.

This simple book review form for kids is perfect for reflecting on a book and giving details to recommend or not recommend it to a classmate.

I posted this super simple gift I made for my middle schoolers during their last week of school. It’s now updated to have other options for distance learning or for other breaks. Plus there is now a blank bottom text option, so you can add whatever you want. Some people asked for the gift tag, ... Read more

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about Snakes and other Reptiles. Genre: Poetry Age level: 12 and up

Finding nonfiction books your students enjoy can be tough. But despair no more - here are 5 nonfiction series (one has 200+ books!) that are sure to make the grade in your classroom. Over 300 teachers weighed in on their favorites, and these were their top picks!

Reading response journals - what are they and how can they be used to enhance reading in upper elementary and middle school.

LitPick Book Reviews reviewer's opinion of Ten Leaders Who Changed the World review by SR_Geneseo. Leader and Hero Bravery

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about The Battle of Nashville. Genre: Educational, Historical Nonfiction Age level: 8 - 12

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about Lost Childhood. Genre: Biography, Historical Nonfiction, Nonfiction Age level: 12 and up

Pompeii was a large Roman town in Campania, Italy which was buried in volcanic ash following the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. Excavated in the 19th-20th century, its excellent state of preservation...

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about The Kid Table. Genre: Fiction, Humor Age level: 12 and up

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about Surviving the Angel of Death. Genre: Educational, Historical Nonfiction, Nonfiction Age level: 12 and up

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about Requiem: Poems of the Terezin Ghetto. Genre: Historical Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Poetry Age level: 12 and up

LitPick Book Reviews reviewer's opinion of Etched in Clay:The Life of Dave, Enslaved Potter Poet review by tkh2002. Afro-American, Boy as main character Bravery, Bullying, Love, Racism, Romance, Survival Slavery, U.S. Civil War

Reading teachers can start learning new strategies to implement in your classroom with this roundup of the best professional books.

Learn about high-quality resources for elementary reading classrooms including nonfiction ebooks, nonfiction print books and research.

LitPick Book Reviews reviewer's opinion of Prince of Stories review by RBae.

Early finishers need activities so you are not scrambling to find something meaningful for students to work on when they complete work.

Are you struggling to get your reluctant readers excited about the books available to them? Are your students losing interest in reading in favor of daydreaming about warmer weather? Here are some of my favorite ways to get my students excited about books throughout the school year!

Reading teachers can start learning new strategies to implement in your classroom with this roundup of the best professional books.

These easy to create end of year memory books make a great keepsake and are perfect for student-led conferences. Created using an 8 x 8 format, these memory books are a fun end of year activity, and parents love to keep them as a keepsake for years to come.

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about Anne Frank. Genre: Biography, Historical Nonfiction, Nonfiction Age level: 12 and up

Love podcasts? Check out this post in the form of a podcast episode on The Classroom Commute Podcast :

Get your students ready for the testing season with these test prep strategies for reading in upper elementary.

Reading comprehension doesn't have to be a daunting task. Use these simple, no-prep sticky note activities to help your students understand!

Book Talk tips, templates, ideas for upper elementary to help instill a love of reading and engage students in meaningful discourse about books.

Hi! This is Kelly, from Teaching Fourth. Journals are such an effective way to engage students in thinking and responding to reading for both literature and informative texts. They help students think about and reflect on lessons and on their reading. Even before Pinterests and blogs, I used journals as part of my instruction. Although those journals were not picture worthy, they were still great tools to use in my classroom. I have to admit, I love a well-organized journal with cut-and-paste entries, but sometimes, there is just not time to do all of that cutting and pasting. On these days, I don't abandon them, I just simplify a bit with one of these ten easy prep journal response ideas. Label the title of the page "So What?". Below, students write the main idea of the text. Then students explain why it is important in three sentences. Students list 5 most intriguing, interesting, or memorable ideas found in their reading. Include page number and short rationale. Students think of five words to use to describe ____ (topic in the text, character from the story, setting, etc.). They should then justify each choice in 2-3 sentences. The 3, 2, 1 is a great exit slip to use for many different lessons in science, history, as well as reading responses for informational texts. The 3, 2, 1 can be found in my Exit Slips package (in my TpT store), but when you need a quick journal entry, just have the students write each of these on a page in their journals. 3 Pieces of Information 2 Things that Interest You 1 Question This is similar to a T chart. Students draw a T in their journals. They label the left side, "3-5 Quotations" and the right side, "Your Reaction to Each". Students simply choose 3-5 quotes from the text and thoughtfully respond to each quote on the right side of the chart. Students create a top 10 list of the most important, most interesting, or most informative pieces of information from the text. Students can illustrate a response to a text by giving a visual representation of the knowledge gained from the text through a drawing. Whether you want your students to focus on problem/solution, example/non-example, or cause/effect situations in a text, a T-chart is the perfect way for students to respond to a text and dig deep into these concepts. For this journal entry, each student draws a circle. Then she writes something that is still going around in her head. Next, she will draw a triangle and point out something that stood out in her mind. Third, she will draw a square and write something that is all squared up or that she agreed with the thinking in the text. Students simply trace his/her handprint on a journal page. Then write 5 important facts from the text on each finger or 5 important words. Then write the main point in the palm. I know and understand the time restraints that teachers face each day. Don't abandon journals on days that a lack of time is an issue. Instead, use these creative and simple journal entries that will save you from standing at the copying machine and allow you to use your class time for instruction instead of students cutting and pasting. Your students will certainly be engaged, and your journals won't be abandoned. Thanks for stopping by! Connect with Me: Blog TpT Store Instagram Facebook Pinterest

Not every student loves to read, but few can resist a good book about animals! These 7 books contain heartwarming true stories about animals and are sure to be a hit in your classroom!

LitPick Book Reviews reviewer's opinion of Wild Boy: The Real Life of the Savage of Aveyron review by tkh2002. Boy as main character Betrayal, Bravery, Bullying, Growing Up, Love, Special Needs

Let the kids review books for each other. This two in one worksheet allows students to "review" the books for one another. Print on colored paper and hang the reviews around the book shelves, so other students can make "informed decisions" about what they want to read. Other resources you may consider for your reading block are: Reading Response Journals Online Book Reports Weekly Reading Logs Story Elements Bookmarks Created by Heidi Raki of Raki's Rad Resources. Find more ideas and products by following the Raki's Rad Resources blog, liking our the Raki's Rad Resources facebook page or following us on Teachers Pay Teachers

Are you struggling to get your reluctant readers excited about the books available to them? Are your students losing interest in reading in favor of daydreaming about warmer weather? Here are some of my favorite ways to get my students excited about books throughout the school year!

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about The War To End All Wars: World War 1. Genre: Historical Nonfiction Age level: 12 and up

Recommending books to each other is a huge part of my third grade classroom. Informal recommendations happen everyday, as kids are constantly returning books, swapping books with each other, and forcing books upon friends with a "You MUST read this now!" attitude. We also do more formal book recommendations during the course of the school year. This year we used KidBlog, and my students were able to write their own blog posts to recommend books to students in their own classes as well as our partner classes around the world. I thought it would be fun to share some of their recommendations over the summer. If you are looking for great books with a third-grade stamp of approval, this will be the place to look! (Please note that my third graders read a wide variety of books across a wide variety of genres, levels, and topics. Do not think that these books are "only" for third graders.) Student-Led Book Recommendations: FormatFor teachers or parents interested in the behind-the-scenes, here is the format that I have found works well for helping kids structure a book recommendation post. (This was originally given out as a handout with a few lines for note-taking after each question.) Directions: This week, you will be writing and sharing your first blog post on KidBlog. Use the categories below to help you plan what to include in your post. Remember to add transitions, so it all makes sense. 1. Think about a book that you think your classmates would like to read. Use this sheet to brainstorm ideas for your book recommendation post. 2. Introduce the book: include the title and the author 3. Summary: tell about the book, but don’t give away the ending! 4. Review: what makes this a great book? How do creativity, plot, characters, language, or other features make this book one that you would recommend? 5. Tell your favorite quotable quote from this book or make a connection 6. Give a recommendation: “If you like … , you will love this book” or “I recommend this book to anyone who likes …” 7. Write a concluding sentence for your review and/or include a rating Student-Led Book Recommendations: ExampleTo set students up for success, I also shared a mentor post with an example book review that I had written. Dragon Slippers had been recommended to me by a student a few weeks before, so I knew that it was one that was just starting to make the rounds among the class. Here is my review: I would like to recommend the book Dragon Slippers by Jessica Day George. It is the first book in the Dragon Adventures series. Dragon Slippers tells the story of Creel, who is sent to a dragon's cave by her aunt. The aunt wants a knight to rescue and marry Creel so that the aunt doesn't have to take care of her anymore. Creel, however, has other ideas, and she is soon off on an adventure of her own after meeting and becoming friends with the dragon. She also receives a soon-to-be-important pair of slippers. This is a great book, because the characters are brave and interesting. Creel is not helpless, and she has great adventures. She also is clever and cares about her friends. This book connects to another book I have read, called Dealing with Dragons, because in both books a girl meets up with a dragon, but she does not need anybody to rescue her. I recommend this book to anyone who likes books about dragons, brave main characters, and funny and unexpected situations. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars! Third Grade Book RecommendationsStay tuned during the summer as I share recommendations written by my students! I will compile a linked list of them here as well.

LitPick Book Reviews reviewer's opinion of Space, Stars, and the Beginning of Time review by JHal.

When I was the Youth & Education Ambassador for Mensa, I started a program called the Young Mensan Book Parade. I asked publishers for books I thought gifted readers might like, and then I asked kids in Mensa to read and review them. We published all of the reviews on Amazon.

I love beginning of the year activities! Last week, I did a lesson about how to choose a "Good-Fit" book. If you've read any of my summer posts, you've probably noticed that I could not stop reading during June, July, and August! I read books for pleasure, picture books, young adult chapter books, and a lot of professional development books. A week did not go by where I wasn't spending a ton at Half Price Books or relaxing at the library with my kids. One of the books I read was called The Daily 5 Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser. I am not 100% implementing this in my classroom yet, but I am taking small steps. Inside the book, the 2 Sisters give an excellent lesson on how to teach your students to choose "good-fit" books (I-PICK). The lesson includes two of my favorite things.....shoes (anyone else have a shoe-buying problem?!) and a concrete example. Almost all my lessons I present to my students have some kind of concrete representation or example. Below is the anchor chart that I prepared a head of time, but didn't show the students until the end of the lesson. Class started with a large brown bag on one of my tables. As soon as class started, I had so many students interested in what was inside. I told the students that I had such a dilemma this morning, and that I couldn't figure out what to wear to school. Of course, some of my girly-girls jumped in and had comments about how that happens to them all the time too! So I told my class that I brought in a bunch of my shoes because I just couldn't decide what was going to look right. Naturally, everyone wanted to see the shoes inside the bag. First, I laid all the shoes out and said out loud what each shoe was called. I had a pair of brown ballet flats, Old Navy flip flops, Nike gym shoes, Nike soccer cleats (these were actually my 3 year old's cleats), Columbia work boots, and a pair of black high heels. After laying the shoes out, I had to ask myself, "What might my purpose be today? Why might I put on a certain pair of shoes?" All the students jumped in and said I was going to school today to teach. Next, I had my students tell me the purpose of each shoe that I brought. They did a great job. Here are some of the things they said: The brown ballet flat is for a casual to dressy occasion. They said it can be worn with a skirt or with capris. The Old Navy flip flops are usually worn at the beach or the pool. Nike gym shoes are for exercising, walking, running, jogging, wearing to the gym, or for going to Kings Island. Nike soccer cleats are to be worn when playing soccer. Plus, my students did mention that I would not be comfortable in the shoes because they were too small. The Columbia work boots are for shoveling the snow in the winter. The black high heels are for weddings, fancy dresses, funerals, and special occasions. After we talked about the purpose of each shoe, I said that I also have to think about which shoe I am interested in wearing. I have my students look at the shoes they are wearing at the moment. I asked them how they decided what shoe to wear this morning. (Luckily, my students had gym class today, so they all knew to say that they had to wear shoes appropriate for gym class). Once we were finished talking about the purpose and interest of our shoes, I had my students elbow talk with their friend about how picking out shoes for the day is similar to picking out a book to read. Wow....I heard a few weird answers, but I also heard a lot of great thinking. Some of the students were able to make the connection between the two. This is when I decided to pull out the "I-PICK Good-Fit Books" anchor chart. I discussed each letter with the students. I also had an anchor chart for the students to glue into their reader's notebooks under the "mini lesson" tab. Next, I let my students explore my library and practice picking out "Good-Fit" books. I think the students were able to walk away from the lesson having a good idea of how to pick out a book that is a "good-fit." How do you teach your students to pick out books to read?

Visit LitPick Book Reviews to read about The Girl in the Mirror. Genre: Poetry Age level: Mature Young Adult

Assessing a student’s learning is an integral part of teaching. An assessment aims to measure what your students have learned or will be learning in the future.