Paired passage analysis and comprehension is a tricky skill for most of my readers, but definitely for my readers who are not proficient. I have found that the more exposure and practice they have with paired passages, the more confident and successful they are. However, I have found that many of my 5th graders come to me with limited practice, which as you can imagine ... Read More
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Preparing Students for Online Assessments {Online Test Prep}
A few weeks, my team and I were told that there was a possibility that our 5th graders would be taking the state test online this year. Yikes! I immediately knew that I needed to up my game when it came to getting my students on the computer for assessments. (Note: I do not have 1:1 devices. Instead, we have a handful of computers and tablets to use.) After asking a few ... Read More
4th and 5th Grade Reading Center {Low Prep and FREE!}
One thing that I have discovered teaching 5th graders is that sometimes you need to gamify a task or activity (even in the smallest way) to get student buy-in. For math, I did this easily with my roll and answer math centers and my students really enjoyed the slightly different way of practicing computation skills. For quite some time, I have wanted to create similar roll ... Read More
Scaffolding and Differentiating Paired Passages and Texts (Free Resource)
Is anyone else feeling the push to prepare their students to be successful with paired passages and paired texts from state assessments? We are in Georgia for sure! In fact, our state test focuses heavily on constructed responses with paired passages. Yikes! The majority of my students are not strong readers when they come to me. Throw in paired passages, and we have a ... Read More
Common Core Gradebook {Free!}
Grading, grading, and more grading! Honestly, that may be the thing I like the least about teaching. Which is odd because that is what I did the most when I played school as a child. I am not missing the irony there! Last year, I created a CCSS aligned grade book in an attempt to simplify the process of recording and accessing grades. After using it all year and ... Read More
Easy Ways to Have Students Share Their Reading with Others
The social aspect of reading is one of my favorite things about being a teacher and a reader. I recently participated in a book study where we read Reading the Wild by Donalyn Miller. A "sequel" to Book Whisperer, this book is a must if you teach reading. Read my other recommended books for teaching reading here. Among other valuable teaching tips and strategies, the ... Read More
Reader’s Response Letters {Rigorous CCSS Aligned Checklists}
I am very excited about using this resource this upcoming year. I love having the students respond to their reading. It really makes me feel like I am having reading conversations with the students that you just don't have time to do on a regular basis. It also gives teachers that much needed accountability piece. I have been using reader's response letters since my first ... Read More
Common Core Reading Review Homework
My first few years teaching I went back and forth on reading homework to give my students. I teach in inner city, title 1 schools so the majority (if not all) of my students to not have access to good books to read at home. So, I knew I needed to give my students something to read and respond to, but I wanted it to be purposeful and meaningful homework, and a plus if it ... Read More
Word Study in Upper Elementary
Word study and spelling instruction in the upper elementary grades has definitely changed since I was in school. This post will share a basic overview of how I teach Word Study and Spelling in my 5th grade classroom. Word Study: Where Do I Get the Rules, Patterns, Words, ETC.? First, I always begin with a spelling rule or principle. I get my principles from all over, ... Read More
Using Kidblog to Engage {and Assess}
Happy Sunday! I wanted to post and share a resource that I have used in the past but just recently started up with my current group. It is a website that allows you to set up a class blog and interact with the students and allow them to interact. The site I use is called Kidblog and you can sign up and read more about it here. Note: I am editing this post to note that ... Read More
Data Tracking {A Fun & Delicious Way to Track Data}
All year I have been trying to think of a way to make data tracking fun and engaging for my students. My students are a lower group this year, so I needed a tracking system that was super easy and super motivating at the same time. After seeing a cupcake printout in the copy room, I had a great idea to design a tracking system around cupcakes! I worked with my good ... Read More
Guided Reading Organization
I blogged over at All Things Upper Elementary today about guided reading organization! All Things Upper Elementary is a collaborative blog with a wealth of information for upper grades. If you haven't check it out, I highly recommend that you do! For my post this month, I blogged all about my Guided Reading Organization Binder that I use to keep all my reading records ... Read More
