With my small group pull-out sessions limited to half-hour increments, I'm always looking for quick, engaging reading and writing activities to reinforce literacy skills. I used to think dice games were only for teaching math and probability, but I'm starting to discover that there are ENDLESS possibilities for using dice with literacy. Are you looking for a few ideas? Well... let's shake and roll! 3 Roll-a-Dice Activities for Reading & Writing My roll-a-dice resource collection continues to grow, but here are a few resources that I've added to my literacy toolbox that may be perfect for your students. 1. Roll-a-Story
A compilation of the best ideas I've seen for an awesome detective classroom theme.
S.T.O.R.Y. A few years ago, I was looking for a fun and engaging way to teach Fiction Text Structure to my struggling readers, when I came across Victoria Naughton's strategy, 'Picture It!' (2008), in my copy of The Reading Teacher. Naughton was recognized for her hard work in research and publication with the Shaw Fund for Literacy 2009 award by National Louis University (NLU). Although she recommends it for all grade-levels (even high school), I use it with my 2nd and 3rd grade RtI groups. Essentially, this strategy 'uses pictures and other visual elements to enhance comprehension' (Naughton, 2008). Each letter of S.T.O.R.Y. represents an
Everything you need to know about teaching 5th grade categorized and organized by topic for easy reference.
When doing a novel study, you want the novel itself to be the main focus, not the worksheets and tests. Here are some ideas for station assignment ideas.
Do you have a positive reward system in your classroom? I am a firm believer in having a positive reward system. Even as an adult, I love to hear positive things from my supervisors and colleagues. Kids are the exact same way. They want to be rewarded. I’m sure you have rules and consequences for […]
Everyone loves Boggle! Here is a template that you can use again and again – just change the letters. There are two versions, one in color for the overhead and one in grayscale for individual use. Perfect for centers, bell work, or anytime you have a few spare minutes. Download Boggle Template Rachel Lynette You ... Read More about Boggle Template for End of the Year Fun
One of our favorite summer party themes is Nautical. The bold stripes, rope accents, and anchor motif are a classic combination that never looks dated. Thi
I love to read in my class. It is just something that brings so much joy to so many, that I feel like it needs a place of honor in my room. And while we do read our fair share of nonfiction, where I find myself (and my students) drawn to is the fiction stories. They are just so full of awesomeness that I can't help myself. With those great reads comes great lessons. Books (in general) have a beginning, middle, and end. They start with introductions, take the reader through many different actions which lead to the climax, that point we have been waiting for, and then solve the problems with a nice, neat ending. (OK, OK...I know not every.single.book does that, but I am talking in general!) So this past week, I wanted to focus on that story structure we call PLOT and bring it to the attention of my students. One thing that I have been doing, and have written a bit about in the past few weeks, is take a large reading topic (character, setting, plot) and teach it to my students over the course of the week. I break the idea into smaller, 20 minute chunks, and teach from there. It is working so very well! This week's chunk lessons all dealt with the idea of plot and how everything we read follows the same basic "formula". We started with an anchor chart describing each part of the plot diagram. What is exposition? Why is rising action the longest part? What does climax do for the story? Falling action and resolution are different? Then, we discussed how There's A Boy in the Girls' Bathroom by Louis Sachar follows this plot structure. I asked them to think-pair-share with a partner to see if they could come up with examples that fall into each of the categories. Then, after a group debrief on their T-P-S, I sent them back to their seats, with a plot diagram I had made and asked them to write down their thoughts. You can grab this diagram here. Day Two and Three had us looking at a story (written by my husband!) and trying to dissect it for plot elements. We read the story aloud, and then color coded the story using our crayons to represent different elements of plot. Deciphering between the exposition and rising action, and then falling action and resolution proved to be quite challenging! Our discussion kept us moving along though and the students were able to do this quite well. On these days, I wanted them to create a little drawing/writing project that would keep them interested in the story and also serve to get their ideas from the oral discussion to a more written, concrete form. So I asked the students to take the color-coded writing and draw a picture for each of the five elements. What picture would represent the exposition? What about the climax? How would the resolution be drawn? For Day Three I asked them to do the same thing, but instead of drawing it, I wanted written EVIDENCE FROM THE TEXT (ahhh....getting some of that testing jargon in there!!) Everything seems to go back to that test, doesn't it? That then lead us into the writing portion of this for the week. I wanted the students to be able to write a clear, coherent paragraph on the subject of plot so for Day Four and Five, I had them choose a picture book that they were familiar with. I guided them towards books that I knew had a clear beginning, middle, and end (ie: Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans or Stellaluna by Janel Cannon ) and gave them an organizer to fill in outlining the plot details of the story. Then, using a paragraph organizer, I asked them to construct a complete paragraph plot summary. This was to tell what happened in the story, from exposition to resolution, without giving everything way. It was to be barebones and focus on the main ideas in the text. Using the organizer really helped the kids to do this. They were forced to only pick a few of the details, and really helped them to be sure they had parts from each plot element. I wish I had a completed one, but I forgot to take pictures of it! So sorry about that!! So that is what we did for our study of Plot in 5 Days. If you would like to have the full lesson plans, standards addressed, organizers, and all, I have complied them for you in my TpT store. I really, really love how these lessons turned out and kept my kids focused. It was great hearing them talk about Plot even out of context of language arts (ie: in theatre or when discussing a movie they had seen.) I also love that I was able to do this, and produce some bulletin board worthy products, in 5 days! Win-win for all! What are some things you do to teach your students about plot?
This past week, we learned about synonyms. The kids really grasped the concept by mid-week! I am excited to see them start using synonyms...
Begin teaching theme with fables. Kids easily find story elements and consider how a character's actions affect the outcome.
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This is a reading anchor chart of who, what, where, when, why, and how in a question mark shape. There are 4 different color themes, one of which is just white with black writing so that you can make it match your room theme.
Welcome to Workshop Wednesday!! 🙂 Today is my LAST DAY OF SCHOOL!!! Oh my heavens, I can’t believe it. I can smell the sweet fragrance of summer just around the corner!! 🙂 Before I get into the meat of this post, I wanted to let you know that Workshop Wednesday will be changing JUST FOR […]
Prefixes and Suffixes Anchor Chart! This anchor chart features the most common affixes! A FREE set of task cards is also included in this blog post!
So on to the Spy Gear kit we were sent. The biggest hits were the Stealth com walkie talkies as they didn't need to use their hands. They loved these and have been played with a lot. They go in to their bedroom and communicate. Mini caught me out with the Micro Agent Motion Alarm as he put it in his bedroom, so when I went in it set the alarm off. He is very protective of his room and all his books and hates people going in it, including Maxi's friends when they visit, so this was one of his favorite items. The Night Goggles have come in to their own now the nights are getting darker and Mini can even use them over his prescription goggles. The Spike Mic Launcher did not survive Alvin and was an early casualty of #MadPup! Both boys like the Field Agent Spy Watch, but found it difficult to put on themselves. Overall the Spy Gear stuff is great and I can see us getting a lot of play out of it.
The 7 types of syllables occur in all words of our English language. When students learn the 7 syllable types they are better able to break longer words into chunks. This helps our students decode unknown words as well as helps with spelling. If you teach your students the 7 syllable types you may find ... Read More about 7 Syllable Types Posters
A Collaborative Reader Response activity to help build better answers.
FREE printable puzzles to teach preschoolers about antonyms and opposites. Includes 12 self-correcting puzzles with visual cues to find the matching pair of antonyms.
Cause and Effect Anchor Chart- If you have students who are struggling with cause and effect, check out this trick!
We have a lovely school counselor this year who came to visit each of our classrooms and explain a common "Peace Process" for conflict resolution. I loved this for so many reasons and can't wait to share it with you! For one, common language across all grades is invaluable, especially when kids experience conflict at recess, in the lunch room, or even in the hallway when they are away from their classroom teacher and intermixed with other grades. Also, the fact that this process is broken down into such simple and manageable parts gives kids the confidence to go through it themselves, complete with sentence starters and all. I want to share this Peace Process with you in case you are looking for a way to help manage conflict and empower your students to problem-solve with one another. Feel free to download the freebie to share with others in your school, or even send home to parents... this can work with anyone in any situation! Step 1: Breathe The first step is the most important: make sure your body is calm enough to engage in the process of making peace. In the heat of the moment, the "fight or flight" response is in high gear, anger may be driving the show, and there is no way the rest of the process can be successful. By stopping to breathe, everyone can get back into a more calm state. How you breathe is just as important. Start by "smelling a flower" by breathing in through your nose and counting to three slowly. Then, hold for one count, and exhale our your mouth as if you're "blowing out a candle" for four counts. Practice this with your students and see how it changes the feel in the classroom. Some may be silly for the first breath or two, but after practicing for several breaths, the whole tone of the class will be calmer and more subdued. It's a good practice to keep on hand for other times during the day, too! Remind kids to take as many breaths as they need. This process can't be rushed, so even if they need some time alone to compose themselves, that's a-okay. I would still encourage a few common breaths together at the start of the process to be sure there's lots of fresh oxygen in the brain! Step 2: "I" Statements This is the first back-and-forth conversation that takes place. The person who feels harmed begins with a statement about how they felt. The framework of: "I feel ____ because ____" always gives kids a good place to start. During this time, the other person must stay silent and practice listening. This is important, because the second part of this step is to repeat what that person said. When the first person is done with their "I" Statement, the second person repeats what they heard, including all of the important parts, not just generalities. "I heard you say you felt ___ because ___" is a perfect launching point. At the end of their retell, they need to ask if they got it right. Person 1 needs to feel confident enough to say no, if needed, and retell the parts that were left out. This may need to happen a few times, especially at the beginning. The inclusion of "I heard you say..." is also crucial because it reinforces the idea that this is a listening exercise, not just an airing of grievances. Step 3: Repairing the Harm We want to encourage kids repair the harm, and sometimes "sorry" is enough. Other times, they may need an apology and an additional follow-up about what will happen if this occurs again. There may be something that they need or can do for one another, like get an ice pack or take turns with the item in question. There are other alternatives, too, and usually two or three actions are needed to repair the harm that was done. The important part is to make sure they are reasonable, and that both are agreeable to the ideas. Person 1 should feel that the harm is indeed repaired, or on the way to being repaired as best as possible. Step 4: Moving Forward While a physical touch may not always be appropriate, it is often a useful and effective starting point for moving forward. A handshake, high five, or fist bump can be powerful "wrap up" gestures that solidify the discussion and resolutions discussed. The important part, like the rest of the steps, is that both parties agree on the common gesture. Even a thumbs-up or peace sign can work. ... Always be sure to offer your presence and guidance, especially at at the beginning, as kids are working on practicing and internalizing these steps. After a while, you will not need to be as present, although you should always need to be available to help. Some conflicts go beyond the Peace Process and will need additional intervention by you or others to be truly effective and safe. However, I think you will find that this can be an excellent tool for navigating issues throughout the day. * As you introduce this to your classroom, have kids role-play through the Peace Process with common conflicts and/or issues that you have been hearing about. Extend the areas beyond the classroom and onto the playground, bus, neighborhood, and lunchroom. This activity will also get them more familiar with the steps and language in real-life scenarios. * An even more powerful way of incorporating this schoolwide is to have older student be "Peace Aides" and help younger students work through the process. How powerful for all parties involved! If you're interested in the freebie, click HERE to find it in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store. Have you used a process like this at your school? Do you have additional steps or any feedback? Please leave a comment and share your experiences!
“Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore!” Learning social skills can feel like the journey to the Emerald City. Join Dorothy and her friends on the yellow
Need a quick reading check? Need a reading comprehension passage that is high interest? Try these free reading comprehension passages with questions. I struggle to find non fiction reading comprehension passages that are high interest for my students. Many of my students are struggling readers, so I value passages that are interesting and fun for ... Read More about Reading Comprehension Passages
Printable Secret Decoder Wheel - Attention all secret agents! Your secret decoder wheel has arrived and your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to send and receive secret messages to your friends without anyone being the wiser. No one will be able to decode your messages unless they have the secret key. This is a super
Spread the loveWhile everyone just finished welcoming in the New Year, my family and I are awaiting another New Year’s celebration. January 28th is the Chinese Lunar New Year and for my Vietnamese family it is Tết .…Continue Reading…
Why Teach Shakespeare? Is it really relevant today? This is part of our High School Shakespeare Series.
Everything you need to know about teaching 5th grade categorized and organized by topic for easy reference.
An Interactive Way to Teach Kids Their Address as well as their state, country, continent, and planet! A fun introduction to geography for kids!
LINKS WITH IDIOMS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER: GO ENGLISH IDIOMS. English Idioms & Quizzes THE IDIOM CONNECTION. THE IDIOM SITE. http://www.idioms.myjewelz.com/ http://www.saberingles.com.ar/idioms/index.html http://home.earthlink.net/~idioms/glossary/a35.htm http://www.idioms4you.com/resume.html http://englishpond.com/vocabulary/idioms/idiomsA/index.html http://online-english-lessons.eu/wordpress/2010/03/idiom-a-bad-egg/ http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-lesson-idioms-categories.php
A DIY Escape room helps kids foster a love of travel and culture. Follow our 10 steps on how to create an escape room for your kids.
Texting In The Classroom Texting in the classroom. Usually just hearing that makes you annoyed. It is no secret that our students are saturated in a world of technology. As educators there is imme…
Free story detective printables - learn and identify the parts of a story with this fun and free set!
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don't really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.
As it would turn out, making giant paper cup pyramids is difficult for preschoolers, but what a great STEM activity to supplement our Around the World theme!
Character arcs are a critical writing skill to master, affecting everything from your novels plot to your theme. There are two types of character arcs...
Tips, teaching ideas, and resources to help teach academic language to ELLs. Academic language is important for all students.
Teach your child to recognize and read consonant digraphs /th/, /sh/, and /ch/ with a digraph garden!
I am always trying to think of simple and cute little gifts for my teaching team during Christmas. I have the perfect free lip balm printable to share with you! Head over to Apples and ABC's to grab the free lip balm printable!
Verb Anchor Chart: Action, Linking, and Helping Verbs! This blog post uses a fun rock band analogy to help upper elementary students understand the different functions of action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. It contains a FREE matching foldable, too!
Do y’all remember this oldie?! Sweet little Rosie. Just a walkin’ along, singin’ her song. Leavin’ behind that pesky ol’ fox. We were...
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!
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Are you planning a Relief Society Activity? Here are 30+ Fun relief society activity ideas your congregation will LOVE!
If you (or your preschooler) has ever asked the question, "what is blood made of?", you must check out this fun activity to learn about the parts of blood.
