Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan combines the American Dream, social inequities, and resilience into a powerful novel students truly connect with. Abueilta’s advice to Esperanza in the first chapter, “Do not be afraid to start over,” sets the tone for the novel. Steeped in the setting of the Great
Why Nonfiction Text Features Are Helpful Common nonfiction text features break down complex information, making it easier for students to understand and engage with the material they are reading. These text features act as tools that help readers locate information quickly, understand content, and retain what they’ve learned. They do
As teachers, we know that legible handwriting is essential for students. But, handwriting practice with sentences can be boring. Who wants to practice handwriting by writing the same sentence over and over and over again? Cue childhood memories of straining to read the sentence Bart is writing on the chalkboard
If you’re on the lookout for an upper elementary class novel that combines heart, resilience, and a compelling narrative, look no further – Thirst by Varsha Bajaj is the novel for you! Thirst combines a strong female protagonist Minni with social issues like unequal access to water and education. Minni’s
Nonfiction text features are the unsung heroes of comprehension. No really! Nonfiction text features serve as essential navigation tools for readers and understanding them is linked to improved reading comprehension. So teaching nonfiction text features is essential, but what are they exactly? Nonfiction text features Nonfiction text features are
Fostering strong reading fluency is a key to unlocking a lifelong love for reading and learning in our students. But it can seem a bit repetitive at times. Here are a few ideas to shake up your reading fluency routines and gain positive results! Activity 1: Reader’s Theater Extravaganza
Decodable reading passages are an amazing tool for 1st and 2nd grade students! Phonics-based reading passages allow students to get their hands on text they can read, feel successful, build confidence, and build reading skills all at the same time. What is a Phonics-Based Reading Passage? Have you ever
Reading fluency is a key skill in 1st and 2nd grade. Building fluency skills like accuracy, rate, and expression take time, but some Reading Fluency Strategies help struggling readers more than others. Below we have a list of research-based reading fluency strategies to help you get your struggling readers on
When students hear “improve your reading fluency” many equate it with speed, but fluency is so much more than that. Yes, speed is one factor, but reading fluency has more components like accuracy and expression. Together these help build up to the ultimate point of reading: comprehension. So how can
It’s important that students be able to work together as a team in the classroom. Working as a team helps students see each others strengths while also building positive relationships and a sense of togetherness. Here are a few team building ideas to try in the classroom: 1) Empty the
