Do you have restless students during readers' workshop? Are you looking for ways to engage students with the text? I also have struggled with this for years. I am sharing four independent reading ideas that work with keeping students on task. Reading Response Journals During independent reading time, I offer students journal choices to choose… Continue reading Unlocking Engagement: Independent Reading Activity Ideas
Students struggle using text features when reading expository text. We need to provide students the tools to understand what they are reading. How do we do that? We use text features to guide their thinking and improve their understanding. Text Features help teach Vocabulary Vocabulary is critical in the content area. Text features for vocabulary… Continue reading Beyond Words: How Text Features Enhance Understanding
Pre-reading activities help the students prepare before reading. Like most things we do, planning happens first. Gardening, scrapbooking, and cooking all require planning. Reading is no different. What are some activities that would help students get ready to read? When planning activities before reading, you need to consider the students' background on the text. Ask… Continue reading Pre reading Activities that Deepen the Understanding of Text
What is a graphic organizer template? A graphic organizer templates is a template that is organizes ideas from what was read or learned. Graphic organizer templates include the following: Concept Map / Character Map Plot Map (characters and setting, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution) Four Square Organizer (vocabulary, main idea/details, character analysis) Two Column… Continue reading Visualize Ideas with Graphic Organizer Templates
Idiom for the day is a great way to involve students in learning how figurative language works. Having seasonal idioms may make it more relevant to the students' learning. These graphic organizers work great for independent work time. What is an idiom? An idiom is a common expression that means something different than its literal… Continue reading Idiom for the day: Uncover the Meaning Behind Common Expressions
