Have you ever come across a mentor text that literally covers five standards and you squeal with delight? Or am I the only crazy person that gets excited about these types of things?! After reading Verdi by Janell Cannon with my students, I just couldn't contain myself! I have so much to share … [Read more...]
3rd Grade English Language Arts Assessments and Teaching Notes
It's a miracle!!!! My 3rd Grade English Language Arts Assessments and Teaching Notes are DONE! Six months later, I have produced another 400+ page whopper! PFEW! Can I just be real with you all for a moment. I embarked on this ELA assessment journey back in September 2012. In a year and a half, I … [Read more...]
English Language Arts Print and Go Freebie
Happy snow day everyone! Well…at least to my midwest and northeast friends, right?! BRR! It is cold! I hope you are all staying safe and warm! And to my friends in the south, or wherever you are that's warm, we are all very jealous! This has been my view for the last two days: I swear the … [Read more...]
Holiday Themed Reading Comprehension
Happy November blog world! Ugh! November already?! Did you know that as I type this, there are only 48 days until Christmas?! BRING.IT.ON! I wanted to share with you my latest holiday themed product that I am SO excited about!! This might be my most favorite creation YET!!! Holiday Themed … [Read more...]
Understanding Comprehension and a Free Reading Inventory
I had some teacher epiphanies during this crazy-busy time of year. The kind that make you want to veer off the lesson plan, follow a kid's lead, and learn with your students. A teacher's dream right?! Three times a year we were required to give our students the DRA2 Reading Survey/Inventory. I … [Read more...]
Point of View Eyeballs!
I want to quickly share another cross-curricular project I did in my classroom this past week! We have been studying the Revolutionary War in social studies and point of view in ELA. So why not mix the two, right?! I got this idea from the fabulous blogger Sandy, over at Fearless in 5th! She has … [Read more...]
Teaching and Assessing English Language Arts in the Classroom Using Social Studies Content
This week, we covered 5.RL.7, which reads: Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, or poem). ***[Note: The first time I read this, I was like, "ummm, what?!"] Thank … [Read more...]
Character Study Part 2: Character Traits, Character Change, and More
Welcome to Part 2 of our Character Study! You can read up on Part 1 HERE! Our Analyzing Character Unit is in FULL swing in our classroom. We started by discussing the different types of characters in our books. Since we've had many read alouds and read a lot of mentor texts this year, it … [Read more...]
Character Study Part 1: Using The Westing Game to Study Characters
Read aloud time is a very sacred, coveted time in our classroom. My kids beg for more of it and some of the best conversations and deepest thinking happens during this time. We are starting my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE read aloud in our classroom this week, The Westing Game. We are knee-deep in … [Read more...]
March is Reading Month Ideas and Freebies
I'm here to share some fun and easy ways to celebrate March is Reading Month in your classroom! Reading month is kind of a big deal in my classroom. While we're busy creating a love of reading all year long, March is when we KICK IT UP A NOTCH! So, with that being said, I want to share a few … [Read more...]
