Ideas from a Reading Specialist–Current blogs consist of free online sites and programs for a reading classroom.
As teachers begin a new school year, there are several things that they need to consider to ensure a smooth and successful academic year. It is important for teachers to establish clear expectations for their students regarding behavior, classroom rules, and a positive learning environment. Many groups I have participated in start by developing norms. […]
Lexile.com is a great resource for finding books and other reading materials that match the individual reading level of your students. It also provides information about reading assessments and other resources to help you and your students improve reading skills. Lexile.com is not new, and Reading Specialty has a previous blog post about readability which […]
About this blog post I typed the five questions in the headings below into Magic Write on Canva. The paragraphs in italics were written using AI. Following the questions, you will find my comments on GPT Zero, an AI detector. I think this could be a valuable tool for educators wanting to determine if a student has […]
I stumbled upon this opportunity and wanted to share with you. This looks like a fun series of events from Crayola! What is it? According to their website, the purpose of Crayola Creativity Week is “to celebrate children’s creativity and the joy it brings to teaching and learning any subject.” Participation is free, and this […]
Test preparation with students can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help make the process easier: Preparing Students for Essay Tests Essay tests require students to demonstrate your understanding of a subject by writing a comprehensive essay responding to a given question. The keywords used in essay tests typically require students to explain, […]
1. Snowball Fight Each student begins a story. I ask the first writer to introduce the setting and a minimum of one character. After students have several minutes to write, call time. Students crumble their paper into a snowball and toss it. Each student picks up a new paper and continues the story. After time […]
Veterans Day (originally “Armistice Day” started in 1919 but didn’t become a national holiday until 1938. It is a day to honor all those who have served their country. Here are ideas to celebrate Veteran’s Day with older students. Volunteer Encourage your students to help a charity or organization which supports active military families or […]
Even though school just started, conferences will be here before you know it. Preparing now will help to make conferences less stressful and hopefully more successful. Check out these tips for before, during, and after the scheduled parent-teacher conferences. Before the conference Early positive interaction before conferences helps to develop a rapport with the parents […]
4 Important Considerations for Starting the Year Right Setting the tone for a great school year is extremely important. Here are four important things to think about and suggestions for getting things off to a great start! Assign Seats Why does it matter and an easy solution There are many reasons to assign student seats. […]
Everyone looks forward to summer, yet it seems like boredom can quickly set in. Here is a list of activities/challenges for your students or for parents to share with their kids. Set a goal and see how many can be accomplished! Create Tap into your creative side. *Write a poem. *Compose a song. Write the […]
Origin of National Poetry Month The Academy of American Poets started National Poetry Month in April of 1996. The website states “National Poetry Month reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters.” Free poster, poem-a-day, and interactive opportunity for students The Academy website is poets.org. […]
12 Ideas to Promote Independent Reading in Your School or Class Librarians can be your best friend! Our school librarian provided monthly opportunities for our kids. They KNEW kids and they KNEW teen literature. They provided information on library resources,book talks, book speed dating, lessons on research, special presentations for banned book weeks, and information […]
This project began as famous couples (in honor of Valentine’s Day). It quickly morphed to famous duos and it is appropriate for any day of the year. The list of duos includes people in history, fictional characters, and pairs in pop culture. Each student selects one of the pairs: Mickey and Minnie Mouse Dr. Jekyll […]
Starting the New Semester With Your Students January has traditionally been a time of both reflection and looking forward and setting goals. It is a good time for a reset in your classroom. Guide your students to reflect on their first semester and begin to look forward to the second semester. Students will benefit from […]
Studying Charles Dickens in December is a highlight for Language Arts teachers. Here are 4 sites to help with your classroom study. Charles Dickens Info This website features three sections: The Life of Dickens The Work of Dickens A Christmas Carol Included in the website you will find a quiz, interactive resources, book and short […]
Trying to find classroom activities that capitalize on the interest of the holidays, provide meaningful classroom experiences, and avoid controversy can be challenging. This time of year can also be very stressful for teachers as they juggle report cards, conferences, curriculum demands, parent communication, meetings, and their own family obligations. Try this low-prep Thanksgiving activity […]
1. R.L Stine Story Club Podcast R. L. Stine Story Club has a collection of podcasts designed for ages 8 and up. The episodes are stand alone. Ariel Winter (from Modern Family) is the narrator (club president) and there are more than 20 episodes for your students to enjoy. Click here to be directed to […]
Losing 5 minutes of instructional time a day over a 180 day school year will result in a loss 900 minutes or 15 hours. The precious minutes at the beginning and end of class add up! Sometimes your great lesson ends a few minutes before the end of the hour. This blog post gives you […]
Help your students avoid the summer reading achievement slide and give them some fun opportunities to encourage reading this summer. Check out these possibilities to keep reading a part of the lives of your students during school vacation. Books-A-Million Award-winning author Kate DiCamillo and Candlwick Press have teamed with Books-A-Million for a fun summer challenge. […]
I was going through my list of potential blog topics, trying to decide which topic I would write about next. In an uncanny coincidence, I opened an email from a student who had used the resources in an old blog post. The email stated, “Yesterday my youngest was given a paper on the Statue of […]
Since the time of President James Madison, the US Presidents have joined the Easter festivities with an egg roll. The festivities were cancelled in 2020 due to COVID, and the 2021 event was destined to the same fate. Fortunately, a spokesman for First Lady Jill Biden announced alternative plans. As part of the Easter Egg […]
Easy Sign Up and Get Started The launch of Teacher Made was in September of 2020–and although fairly new to the game, this is certainly worth taking a good look. The APP is pretty amazing and is advertised as “forever free.” A pro version is coming in early 2021–but the free version is pretty robust! […]
The International Literacy Brief “Reading Fluently Does Not Mean Reading Fast” defines fluency as “reasonably accurate reading, at an appropriate rate, with suitable expression, that leads to accurate and deep comprehension and motivation to read.” Accurate reading involves developing automaticity. Reading accurately involves decoding and instant word recognition which allows the reader to concentrate on […]
I have jumped on the Boom™ bandwagon. I would like to encourage you to check it out! They are fun for your students and rather addictive to create. In today’s post, I would like to provide some answers to common questions to help you navigate the opportunities available in Boom™. What are Boom cards? Boom™ […]
Field trips make learning real and give students an opportunity to learn outside the classroom. If you want to take your students on a trip to a place far away or without the hassle of permission slips or worrying about COVID, a virtual field trip might be just the answer you are looking for. One […]
And free resources to help you do it! The Amazon River is in Africa. Dallas is a state. You can drive to Hawaii. Yes–HIGH SCHOOL students have all made these comments in my class. It is no wonder why they have trouble understanding things they read in their book when they have no idea where […]
My husband was consulting with a company which used Trello. He was talking about how they used it at the company, and I decided to have a look. So….now I am addicted. I love Trello. I use it daily. Trello is a visual collaboration tool which helps with planning and organization. Essentially it is a […]
Usually I write about Apps for your classroom. Here are two fun APPS and and a website which could be fun for your students. The first one is only useful at night. Several adult couples were running around my backyard tonight with their phones in the air using these Apps. If you have students interested […]
Holiday Fun With Academics! Halloween is fun for fall and provides a great theme for the classroom. It can provide interest for even a reluctant learner! Here are some ideas for the virtual or in-person class.SPOOKY MUSIC Spooky Music My personal preference is for instrumental background music. I feel like it is less distracting as […]
Reading comprehension is a very complex task. The background knowledge and vocabulary students have relating to what they are reading makes a huge difference in how they understand a text. I have no clue what I just read! As adults, we have all experienced this. Even with college degrees and as an avid reader, there […]
All of us like to feel like we have power over a situation. Students are no exception.Now, more than ever, students need to feel they have some control over their lives. Making a choice has been known to reduce stress. It makes us feel good. Most importantly, as a student making the choice then gives […]
Starting the school year can be stressful, but with all the added complexities of COVID, this year may be especially difficult. Establishing additional health related routines, addressing fears, and planning for uncertainty has just made the job even more difficult. Now, perhaps more than ever, starting the year purposefully is extremely important. Harry Wong, guru […]
My grandson was approaching “tablet age” about the time I took an interest in Boom™ Cards. I’ve enjoyed making some Boom cards for this 2 1/2 year old boy. You might enjoy it also, and personalized decks are fun to create using this program. (Consider yourself warned–it is a bit of a rabbit hole and […]
Develop the background knowledge of your students by sharing a historic event from each day. This post gives you an event which occurred each day in history from May 18-24. An online link for each day is also included. In this blog post you will find Plessy v. Ferguson, Guantanamo Bay, Hubble Telescope, Plato, Sir […]
Improve the reading of your students by helping them to develop background knowledge. Share an event with your students based on each day in history. Check out the links to related free resources to help with your lesson. Included May 9-17: Crown Jewels, FBI, Euro, Donner Party, Louis Armstrong, US Constitution, Gasoline Rationing, China Cultural […]
Present an event which occurred in history to your students each day. Develop background knowledge as you discuss the event. Use the free online resource to supplement your resource. In this blog post: Osama Bin Laden, Kentucky Derby, Freedom Riders, Cinco De Mayo, Henry David Thoreau, Palace of Versailles, Mount Everest May 1–May Day May […]
A great way to develop background information on a variety of topics is to post an event from history for each day. Check out the events listed from each day April 25-30 and use the free online resources in this blog to supplement your teaching. April 25–Watson and Crick Watson and Crick formally announce they […]
Develop the background knowledge of your students by sharing a historic event from each day. This post gives you an event which occurred each day in history from April 17 to April 24. A corresponding free online resource is linked. Check out the following topics: Bay of Pigs, Paul Revere, Boston Marathon, Columbine, Red Baron, […]
Share a historic event each day with your students. This is a great bell-ringer! Post on Smartboard or write on white board and discuss with your students to develop background knowledge. If you are searching for a way to develop reading skills, check out the differentiated passages (with comprehension questions) at the bottom of the […]
Free online resources for each of these topics: April Fool’s Day, White House Easter Egg Roll, Pony Express, Maya Angelou, Helen Keller, Sacajawea, History of the Internet, Buddhism April 1–April Fool’s Day A day of practical jokes and pranks is held every April 1. Looking for April fools’ Pranks for kids? Check out 41 Genius […]
Free online resources for each of these topics: St. Patrick’s Day, History of the Railroad, Wyatt Earp, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Pocahontas, The Equal Rights Amendment, Patrick Henry, Harry Houdini March 17–St. Patrick’s Day Shamrocks? Leprechauns? St. Patrick? St. Patrick’s Day is March 17. Looking for a St. Patrick’s Day book? Penguin […]
Free online resources for your classroom on each of these topics: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, Salvation Army, Richard Byrd, Truman Doctrine, K-9 War Dogs, Albert Einstein, Julius Caesar, and the Red Cross March 9: Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal March 9, 1933 Franklin D. Roosevelt submits the first of his […]
Free online resources for each of these topics: Salem Witch Trials, Theador Seuss Geisel, Child Labor, Hindenburg, Boston Massacre, Dred Scott, Challenger March 1–Salem Witch Trials March 1, 1692 the Salem witch trials begin in Massachusetts. The Stanford History Education Group consists of Stanford faculty, and graduate students seeking to improve education. One of the […]
Free online resources for your classroom on each of these topics: The Alamo, Japanese-American Internment, Muhammad Ali, World Trade Center, Mardi Gras, Branch Davidian Raid, February 23–The Alamo The siege of the Alamo begins February 23, 1836. Thealamo.org offers a variety of resources for the classroom. One interesting feature allows students to look at the […]
Free item for grades K-5. I’m so glad you’ve stopped by my blog. Some teacher-blogger friends and I have joined together to share some freebies that you can use at anytime during the year no matter the season. You can grab freebies by hopping to each blog until you end up back here. Or, if […]
Ku Klux Klan, Missouri Compromise, Dust Storms, Iwo Jima, US Post Office, Malcolm X, Dolly the Lamb February 16 Ku Klux Klan Ten members of the Ku Klux Klan were arrested February 16, 1952. National Geographic has a short approximately 2 min video giving a brief history of the Ku Klux Klan. February 17 Missouri […]
Boy Scouts, Daylight Savings, Chinese New Year, Nelson Mandela, Abraham Lincoln, Galileo, Valentine’s Day, Socrates February 8–Boy Scouts Incorporation of Feb. 8, 1910 on Boy Scouts of America A Popular Mechanics article published February 6, 2019 entitled “10 Wild Things You Didn’t Know About Boy Scout History” is a delightful collection of fun facts your […]
Greensboro Sit-In, Groundhog Day, Ferdinand Magellan, United Service Organization (USO), Mexican Constitution Day, Ronald Reagan,Beatles, February 1 Greensboro Woolworth Sit-In February 1, 1960, four black college students sat down at a “whites-only” lunch counter in Greensboro NC and refused to leave. C-span classroom has a Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth Sit-In video with three clips including […]
February is such a great time of year with So Many FUN Holidays to CELEBRATE!We’ve teamed up to give you a HUGE BUNDLE of Middle School Resources for February! You’ll get the products shown for a great selection of activities for your middle schoolers. Check them out here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/…/Search:FEBRUARYPRODUC…⭐️It’s EASY to Enter⭐️ Comment on this post by answering […]
February 4, 2020, a free virtual field trip for classrooms with a WWII theme. Electronic Field Trip Date and Time The National WWII Museum is offering two electronic virtual field trips on Tuesday, February 4 at 9 AM and again at noon (CDT). Each presentation is scheduled to last one hour. ‘ Topic The presentation […]