You finish the read aloud. You close the book, look out at your class, and ask what the main character is like. “Nice.” You wait. Someone else raises a hand. “Mean.” And then you get nice again, from a student who did not hear the first one. If you teach
You have a student who reads every word correctly. They move through a passage without stumbling, without asking for help, without any of the signs that typically flag a struggling reader. And then you ask them a question about what they just read. Blank stare. If that sounds familiar, you
Ah, traditional ELA test prep. Nothing like a stack of dry worksheets and a 90-minute bubble-filling marathon to get kids really excited about learning, right? Wrong. Don’t you want ELA test prep that actually works? If you’ve ever watched a room full of 4th graders slowly lose the will to
Every one of us knows the magical feeling of getting lost in a good book. The thrills of an unfolding story, the anticipation of what’s to come – all woven together in a well-crafted plot. I can’t stress enough how important it is for our kids to grasp the concept
Let me tell you, creating an awesome classroom setup is about so much more than just making things look pretty. We’re talking about a whole new level of student engagement, positive vibes, and effective teaching strategies. Trust me, research has proven that a well-designed classroom setup can work wonders. When
Reader’s theaters are a great way to improve fluency and comprehension skills in the classroom. They provide a fun and engaging way for students to practice their reading skills and improve oral reading fluency. In this blog post, I will discuss what they are, how to use them in the
Elementary school students everywhere are gearing up for state tests. These tests can be nerve-wracking, especially if you don’t know how to take them properly. In this blog post, I will teach your kids some test taking strategies that will help them ace these exams! I will cover how to
Whether you’re preparing for the big test or just want some extra practice, there are ways of creating your own reading comprehension tests. I’m going to show how in six easy steps! Step 1: Choose a grade-appropriate reading passage. It is always tough to find reading passages. There are some
The Gingerbread Man books are classic Christmas stories that students of all ages enjoy. Not only are the stories fun, but there are also many activities and books teachers can use to bring the Gingerbread Man to life in their classrooms. In this blog post, I will list 10 Gingerbread
As an elementary teacher, it is important to create reading lesson plans that engage your students. Not only will this help them learn and retain the material, but it will also keep them interested in the subject. In this blog post, we will discuss five steps to make reading lesson
It’s back to school time! Are you looking for some great Back to School Read Aloud books to read to your students at the beginning of the year? Check out my list of five favorite back to school read alouds. These picture books are sure to get your students excited
Do you want to make your reading stations more fun for your students? Do you want to help them learn new vocabulary words in a way that is engaging and exciting? If so, then you need to check out this guide on how to make vocabulary activities fun! In this