I like to introduce point of view through a combination of lessons and activities. Even though it's not exactly the same thing, I also introduce the idea of perspective during these lessons. I typically spend about a week teaching point of view, and then I circle around back to
Teaching Main Idea and Supporting Details
Main idea and supporting details are often extremely difficult for students to identify and understand. Over the years, I've learned that my main idea and supporting details instruction needs to be highly scaffolded in order for my students to grasp this tricky skill. All of
Teaching Characterization Through Mentor Texts
One of the best ways to teach characterization and character traits is through mentor texts. In fact, after I teach basic comprehension strategies, I begin teaching story elements. I spend a week on setting, characterization, and plot. You can read my post on teaching setting
Teaching Setting With Mentor Texts
Setting is one of those reading topics that I love to teach. It's relatively easy for students to understand, and there is so much great literature that can be tied into upper elementary setting instruction. My greatest challenge in teaching setting is having students use text
Making Sense of Reading Assessments
Reading assessments can have a tremendous impact on the upper elementary classroom. However, it's imperative to understand what assessments we're giving and the purpose of those assessments. Otherwise, we fall into the trap of over-assessing, which is when we assess for the sake
Using Novel Studies to Teach Reading
I LOVE children’s literature. I love picture books and chapter books, and I’m always torn on which I should use for my mini lessons and small group lessons. When I originally created my reading units, all of the mini lessons were based on picture books, and my guided reading
Teaching Comprehension Strategies
In my first reading unit, the major emphasis of instruction is comprehension strategies. Even though not all of these strategies are specifically mentioned in my standards, they're still an essential component to my reading instruction. It doesn't matter how good of job I do
Whole Group Reading
Somehow it seems like anything whole group has gotten a bad reputation, but it doesn't have to be a negative instructional strategy. Do I believe in differentiation? Absolutely! Do I implement guided reading and guided reading groups? You bet! However, there is also a time and
Introducing Reading Workshop
To introduce reading workshop, it is essential to start the year with procedural lessons, rather than jumping right in to your curriculum. This may initially seem a little time consuming, but this will make reading workshop flow smoothly throughout the year. This post shares my
Upper Elementary Vocabulary Instruction
"Vocabulary is the best single indicator of intellectual ability and an accurate predictor of success at school" W.B. Ellet.
As a reading teacher, this quote certainly hits home. These are such powerful words concerning the importance of vocabulary instruction, which is often
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