Teaching with Jennifer Findley
Upper Elementary Teaching Blog
We all know that small group reading instruction time is really important. It's important that we have that time to work with those small groups of students to help them grow as readers. However, what do the rest of the students do during this small group time? You need those students to be engaged, productive, on task, and not interrupting your small group time. This … [Read more...] about What Other Students Are Doing During Small Group Reading in 4th & 5th Grade
We all know the importance of small group instruction in upper elementary classrooms, where there can be a wide range of reading abilities and diverse needs. Often, the only way to really address these differences is through small group instruction. However, it can be difficult to fit small groups into your existing schedule, especially if your time is limited. This post … [Read more...] about How to Schedule for Small Group Reading Instruction – 4th & 5th Grade
While many students really shine in small group settings, it's not without its challenges. Have you ever noticed how some students might behave differently in small groups than in whole group sessions? Well, you're not alone! This post shares tips and strategies for managing and engaging students during small group instruction, specifically in reading groups. 1. Set … [Read more...] about Managing and Engaging Students During Small Group Instruction
Some random teaching memories stick with you as a teacher. One of those memories for me was when a reading interventionist told me that my struggling students could benefit from syllable type instruction. It stuck with me because, in that moment, I had no idea what she was talking about and definitely no idea how to teach my students this or why it was even … [Read more...] about Introducing Syllable Types in 4th & 5th Grade – Free Teaching Slides
Multisyllabic words can be challenging for students. Understanding the six types of syllables can help make these complex words much more manageable (and help you review and reteach phonics patterns). This post will describe a variety of engaging six syllable types activities that will help your 4th and 5th grade students decode and even spell multisyllabic words, … [Read more...] about Decoding Multisyllabic Words: Six Syllable Types Activities
Small group reading instruction in 4th and 5th grade can be daunting. You may have a class of readers with huge ranges. Some of your students may be struggling to read multi-syllabic words and then other students may be reading novels on grade level and beyond. This blog post will go over some different types of small groups that you can have in your classroom. Then I'll … [Read more...] about Small Group Reading Instruction in 4th and 5th Grade
When learning new math skills and concepts, it is important for students to develop a strong understanding of the math vocabulary. This blog post will share free 4th grade math vocabulary posters to help your math instruction include the necessary academic vocabulary. These math posters will help your students learn and remember key terms related to fourth grade math … [Read more...] about Free 4th Grade Math Vocabulary Posters
Are you searching for an interactive and purposeful way to review or introduce a variety of suffixes to your 4th and 5th-grade students? This post shares a free suffix reading passage with teaching posters, after-reading word work activities, and more. Incorporating this free resource into your instruction will help your students authentically explore and understand … [Read more...] about Free Suffix Reading Passage for 4th and 5th Grade
Story elements are taught beginning as early as kindergarten, but it always seems like I need to spend a little time reviewing them with my 4th and 5th graders each year. If you find yourself in the same situation and want a rigorous, engaging, and grade-level way to review basic story elements, I have a free resource to share with you that is perfect for the first weeks … [Read more...] about Free Resource to Review Story Elements: Passages, Task Cards, and More!
From prefixes and suffixes to roots, teaching morphology is a great way to expand students' vocabulary and decoding skills. While there is not a universally recommended or approved scope and sequence for teaching morphology, there are some general guidelines that teachers can use to guide their instruction. This blog post will share a leveled morphology scope and sequence … [Read more...] about Morphology Scope and Sequence
Pinpointing the reasons behind a struggling reader at the upper elementary level can be challenging. Maybe you have had a student who can decode multisyllabic words flawlessly, pause when they see punctuation, and even read dialogue with expression. Yet they get to the end of a page and cannot answer questions such as “How did the character feel about what happened to … [Read more...] about Reading Comprehension Strategy – Sentence Comprehension with 4th-5th Graders
Working with new words in a variety of ways helps build vocabulary knowledge. One strategy for working with words is to use vocabulary graphic organizers. Vocabulary graphic organizers are visual tools that help students organize and explore the relationships between words, their meanings, related concepts, and much more. These organizers provide a structured framework … [Read more...] about Free Vocabulary Graphic Organizers
