A nonfiction text features scavenger hunt is such a fun, hands on, and authentic activity for students to see text features in real texts or reading passages! Using nonfiction text features is such a an important skill when reading informational texts. They can be the key for growing readers in comprehending the main body of text. ...
Reading
5 Ways to Teach Making Predictions in Reading with Elementary Students
Making predictions is a critical reading comprehension strategy to teach and practice with students. It requires students to use what they have read and know about a topic in order to anticipate what will happen in a text, or what a text will be about. Making predictions before, during, and after reading comes very naturally to skilled readers, ...
Using Differentiated Reading Passages for Nonfiction Reading
We know that all students need access to grade level content area information, but how can we make this happen with students of so many varying reading levels? Some ways to support students in understanding difficult content area information are using engaging videos, photos, presentations, and giving clear oral descriptions. However, students ...
Using Digital Graphic Organizers in Distance Learning
Graphic organizers are such an important, versatile support for growing readers and writers. They break down reading and writing skills in a visual way to make each skill clear, and therefore easier to understand and apply. In distance learning, more than ever, students need supports that can work for them in completing reading and writing ...
Teaching Efficiently: Ways to Use the Same Poster
It is so helpful to have reading and writing anchor charts or posters available for students in multiple formats. This way, students have their posters to refer to at home or in different classroom settings besides just the classroom. A few months into the school year, it can be easy to have posters taking over your walls. Although it is ...
Teaching Students to Make Connections
Teaching and practicing reading strategies with students encourages active reading and critical thinking. When students successfully use reading strategies while reading, they are more engaged, and therefore better comprehend what they are reading. Making connections is one of the most important reading strategies to teach and practice often with ...
Engaging and Meaningful Fiction Reader Response for Elementary Students
Each classroom brings students of multiple learning styles and backgrounds. It is our job to provide opportunities that reach all of the many different learning styles that come to us. For this reason, it is important that we continually switch up the types of reader response we offer to students. Below are engaging, hands-on, visual ways to ...
Reading Comprehension Strategies Crafts: Hands on Activities for Teaching Reading Strategies
Explicitly teaching, as well as continually modeling and practicing reading comprehension strategies with students is one of the most important jobs we have as teachers of growing readers. Research shows that teaching reading strategies encourages students to read and interact with text in a purposeful, meaningful way. The ultimate goal is for ...
Teaching Reading Comprehension Strategies: Asking Questions & QAR Strategy
Asking questions before, during, and after reading comes very naturally to skilled readers, but for struggling readers, this skill can be just the opposite. Asking questions of varying depths is arguably the most important reading comprehension strategy we should teach and practice often with our students. WHY IS ASKING QUESTIONS AN ...
Teaching Students to Use Background Knowledge in the Elementary Reading Classroom
Using prior knowledge is an essential strategy for reading comprehension. The more knowledge students have on a topic, the easier it will be for them to understand, and make connections to, new texts. Prior knowledge is also part of the building blocks for more difficult reading strategies, such as making inferences. Below are 8 ways you can ...