Remember to vary the ways students read. Varying different ways for students to read accomplish several objectives, as well as build self-confidence in fluency, vocabulary, and speaking aloud. Differentiated instruction can be made into routines to show students we all learn differently.
Category Archives: reading fluency
ELA and Stem can be taught through non-fiction
Use your favorite news or historical reading sites like Newsela or Commonlit to find related STEM subjects taught by your science or math teacher. Inquire about what is being taught to target specific levels of information that would fit with the teaching partner’s plans. For example, if the Stem or Computer Science teacher uses hamContinue reading “ELA and Stem can be taught through non-fiction”
Social Conscious Lessons for all from people from the past
“If once you forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizen, you can never regain their respect and esteem.” -Abraham Lincoln Paired-texts that center around characters doing the right thing even when it is hard to do, or without recognition, or to your own loss can be great lessons to learn. Examples: “The Count of MonteContinue reading “Social Conscious Lessons for all from people from the past”
Quotes for paired texts that include characters that have underrepresented honors
Quote: “It is better to deserve honours and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.” -Mark Twain Use Twain’s quote to help introduce the character that will do things for the good of people and not for personal gain or recognition. Paired Texts that work well with the quote examples: Themes:Continue reading “Quotes for paired texts that include characters that have underrepresented honors”
How do I add classic poetry into the elementary classroom?
Common Core and Standards-Based classroom create rigorous analysis for the ELA classroom. And justly so. Readying students for rigorous careers, jobs, and problem solving in life requires rigorous instruction. A hundred years ago the language used for writing WAS more rigorous. As writers continue to write through the decades, school teachers are in constant searchContinue reading “How do I add classic poetry into the elementary classroom?”
Comparing State of the Union Speeches during war times.
If needing a quick idea to add to any unit or week’s lesson plans, have students read two State of the Union Speeches made during times of war for either America or supporting other countries. Most of the time, an element of the speeches can be applied to the unit being taught. For example, Monkey’sContinue reading “Comparing State of the Union Speeches during war times.”
How can I add music to my ELA classroom? Poetry in Motion with the Blues.
Teaching poems by Langston Hughes, known for his early 20th century writings about life in African American culture during the times of the period often called the Harlem Renaissance, have distinctive rhythm and rhyme that can be sang to the beat of a blues song. B.B. King music is a great start. Listen to “HowContinue reading “How can I add music to my ELA classroom? Poetry in Motion with the Blues.”
Top 10 Snowy Day Poetry Reads
When the snow hits, whether teaching in the South with few and far between “snow days” or up North with its ever-ready snow days on command, having a few snow day reads ready to teach are great for teaching in the moment as well as making it real-life situations and experience for the students. “StoppingContinue reading “Top 10 Snowy Day Poetry Reads”
Teach a quote of the week. Here is why and how.
Why? Teaching quotes from different sources broadens their critical thinking, is often researched based when using educational gurus, increases exposure to more historical names and events, and increases vocabulary. How? Find your own or look around the net for teachers who have already created them for the year. One for each week. Some have evenContinue reading “Teach a quote of the week. Here is why and how.”
Write too…during our stay at home time this Spring, write anything. Read…and write. And do it again.
Read and write all the time to keep students active in learning. Free writing anything is great. Poetry. Stories. Autobiographies. If you want free writing prompts, try thinkwritten.com for tons of ideas. Write everyday whether two minutes or ten. Write an ongoing story. Use any book like Harris Burdock by Allsburg to create an imageContinue reading “Write too…during our stay at home time this Spring, write anything. Read…and write. And do it again.”
ELA On The Move 