Engaging word work activities for upper elementary grades can be hard to find. On this post, I will share three free word work activities to use with Jenga blocks. These are super engaging and can be used in a literacy center or played whole group if you have multiple Jenga blocks. Amazon affiliate links provided if you wish to purchase the Jenga blocks mentioned on this ... Read More
Character Traits Activities
Character traits are one of my favorite reading skills. I love digging in deep and analyzing characters. I also truly believe that learning about different characters, their traits, and what makes them exhibit those traits help students gain perspective and empathy. This post will share some of the ways that I introduce, teach, and/or review character traits with 4th and ... Read More
Free Reading Exit Slips for 4th and 5th Grade
Since I prefer to teach using a reader's workshop model (read more about how I teach reading in 5th grade here), I do a lot of assessing my students on their reading strategies and behaviors authentically. However, assessing them on specific reading skills and standards I have taught has proved tricky in the past. That was before I started using reading exit slips. ... Read More
Reading Notebooks in 4th and 5th Grade
One of the things I do every year that really makes a difference in my students' learning is having them use notebooks to store notes, examples, work, and basically house all of the learning they have done that year. Having these notebooks makes it so easy to spiral content because the students have a ready-made resource to refer back to. On this post, I will share how I ... Read More
Write About Reading Ideas for Upper Elementary
Having students write about what they are reading is a great way to help students dive into analyzing a story, help make comprehension visible to the teacher, allow students to share their reading easily, and hold students accountable for reading. Whew, there is a lot of benefits for sure! However, sometimes as a teacher I found that I needed fresh ideas to keep my ... Read More
Free Reading Posters (4th-5th Grade)
Vocabulary is so important in instruction and the vocabulary of the skills and standards we teach is SO important. If the students can't tell you what theme is, they definitely can't apply that to a story or passage. On this post, I will share free reading posters to help you teach the reading vocabulary of the standards and help your students master it. About the ... Read More
Free Reading Games and Activities for Launching Reading Centers
In 4th and 5th grade, I want my students independently reading books of their choosing and lots of them. However, I also really love using reading centers a couple of days a week in addition to independent reading. It helps me make sure that I cover my reading standards and allows my students plenty of time to practice them. On this post, I will share some free reading ... Read More
Poetry Activities for Upper Elementary
Tell your students you are going to study poetry, and you’ll have varied reactions. Some kids will remember the rhymes of their early childhood days with excitement. Others will groan at the thought of cheesy “love poems.” However, you can teach poetry in a way that even the most resistant student will find something to love about this genre. Here are some poetry ... Read More
Reading Centers Management in 4th and 5th Grade
Imagine this: You spend all weekend (or summer) prepping engaging reading centers. You are excited to introduce them to your students to supplement their independent reading and help them master the skills in new, engaging ways. But, how do you make sure your students actually do the work instead of goofing off? And then those who do the work, how do you make sure ... Read More
Reading Centers for Upper Elementary
One of the most frequently asked questions I get from teachers who want to implement guided reading instruction is "What do the other students do while you are teaching guided reading?" This post will share TEN reading centers and activities that you can easily implement in your classroom and that your students will love. Before we dive into these ideas I would like to ... Read More
5 Reasons to Use Reading Centers in Upper Elementary (Free Reading Center Included)
Centers are seriously my best friend. If you follow my blog, you know I love them in math and use them on a regular basis. Well, you may not know that I also really love using them in reading, too. This post will focus specifically on the reasons for doing reading centers in upper elementary (if you are still on fence about them). This post does include a FREE reading ... Read More
5 Ways to Hold Students Accountable in Reading
One of the most frustrating aspects of teaching reading can be holding students accountable for their reading. Some times, the stars align and you get a class of readers with only a few reluctant ones. However, what do you do if you have a whole class or majority of reluctant readers? You have to hold them accountable for their reading to get them to become skilled ... Read More
