These 10 winter picture books help brighten my mood during the dreary winter days. I have compiled a list of my favorite winter picture books to use with my second and third graders. I have also included a list of…
A Chris Van Allsburg author study is a great way to engage readers and strengthen their comprehension skills. Chris Van Allsburg is one of the most thought-provoking children’s book authors. His storylines are captivating. His illustrations are eye-catching. From character…
The biography unit is one of my favorite reading units of the year! This post will highlight an easy biography poem activity that can be used with any historical figure. To introduce biographies, I use the text Gertrude Ederle: America’s…
Sled Dog Racing Informational Text Structure Book I use this book during my dogsledding unit to teach my third graders to notice the differences between the 5 different informational text structures. Students complete the graphic organizers that accompany each passage….
Looking for a holiday activity that will keep your students engaged and focused on key reading skills? This reading activity is my GO TO during this busy holiday season. I can keep my students rigorously engaged in the reading standards,…
Like many other teachers, I use a composition notebook to help my students create a reference for our reading class. In this post I will explain how I use a third grade reading interactive notebook to help boost my students’…
Use the mentor text, Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg, to help students understand how to make inferences.
The cooler temperatures make the think of pumpkin spice, bonfires, and… Chris Van Allsburg! His books are must-reads for upper elementary teachers. The fun storylines easily catch students’ attention. In this post I will highlight how I use his book,…
Common Core requires third graders to begin to find the central message of their fictional texts. This means the theme or message will be written in a short sentence. Instead of “Friendship” students will have to choose a phrase like…
I have always been a little bit of a nerd. One example of that is I LOVE reading professional books in the summer time. The time off gives me time to un-wind and then begin thinking about the changes I…
