Students participate in a topic discussion in English. They choose a topic from a group of cards and then give their opinion on what was read. The other students have to offer their opinions as well in English.

Beginning with anticipation guide strategies is a powerful method for improving reading comprehension. First, list initial ideas for a topic the class will be reading about. These ideas are formulated into statements, some of which are...

Scholars use sticky notes to increase reading comprehension. They read a book selection and stop periodically to place sticky notes on items they want to discuss. They then write a short note, summary, or question on the sticky note to...

Are you planning to have a guest speaker talk to your class? Prepare in advance and help your class transform into an engaged and thoughtful audience. Before the visit, young writers work cooperatively to brainstorm what they want to...

Who is a champion to your class? Elementary and middle schoolers think of a role-model from their lives. Then, in their journals, they write evidence of that person's perseverance. They identify the character trait of perseverance with...

Do you have a class set of The Great Brain? If so, check out this richly detailed guided reading lesson plan. Before, during, and after reading activities are provided for every chapter as well as comprehension and interpretive...

Third graders explore Native American history by researching a reservation of his or her choice. They then identify the seven Native American tribes living in Montana and where they are located. If you live in a state with Indian...

Students ask and answer questions about the koala life cycle while visiting the zoo. In this koala lesson plan, students review mammal characteristics, read books about koalas, and answer questions about koalas while at the zoo.

Small groups of learners read text round-robin style, and then work individually to answer three questions based on the text. Next, they share their questions and responses and add ideas from the group. The reading strategies detailed...

Introduce your secondary readers to the elements and characteristics of short stories. As a class, they read a short story answering questions as the story continues. In groups, they complete post-reading activities and compare their own...

English language learners explore the Internet! First, they discuss common Internet vocabulary such as homepage, results, images, etc. Then, they complete a scavenger hunt where they visit Google, Yahoo, and MSN webpages and explore...

A review of types of figurative language leads to an opportunity for learners to make up their own examples and share. They are also introduced to four idioms, and then write a poem incorporating figurative language. While the directions...

Go bananas! Read the nonfiction book Primates, exploring text features as you go. Have the class record main ideas and supporting details while reading. Afterward, classmates can retell what they have written, which provides an excellent...

Elements of plot are explored using the Geronimo Stilton book series. Pupils identify various plot elements using sticky notes, complete a plot diagram, participate in a class discussion, and write a book review. Worksheet links and...

English learners participate in a discussion role-play activity. They identify topics that will assist them in communicating with native English speakers such as discussing the weather or social events. They define small talk, get...

How do you overcome angry or hurt feelings? Group your young learners and share Charlotte Zolotow's The Quarreling Book. There are a list of suggested questions for you to use to prompt discussion. Give your youngsters the tools they...

Learners use a map to locate World War II's Pacific Theater. Using provided links, they research this region during the war and learn about veterans. They invite a veteran of the war to visit the class and ask them questions based on...

Enhance reader comprehension! Examine different comprehension strategies with your second, third, and fourth graders. They discuss the strategy of questioning by developing their own comprehension questions to help improve their memory...

Focus on vocabulary, comprehension, and analysis while reading A Weave of Woods, a colorful picture book by Robert D. San Souci. Young learners use worksheets to preview, predict, practice paraphrasing, and make comparisons. The richly...

Here is a wonderful lesson which has youngsters interview family and local elders about the seasonal history of their local area. They focus on climate change by asking questions about rainfall, temperatures, length of the seasons, and...

Pupils define hero and identify supporting evidence in a text. They complete a hero diagram worksheet and watch a video about a little boy from China who acts as a hero. Additionally, they complete the Ping Hero evidence worksheet and...

Elementary and middle schoolers discuss the meaning of the word theme as it relates to writing. They talk about some themes of their reading book, revealing how they figured the themes out. Can they brainstorm another book they've read...

Read and discuss the story Be Good to Eddie Lee as it relates to the  ways in which people use terms to describe people. Learners suggest ways to stop people from using labels and mean terms to describe other people. They then write...

How many treats do you buy each week? Learners investigate diets and how the media tricks consumers into purchasing unhealthy snacks. They will investigate the designs and logos affiliated with cereal boxes and identify specific phrases...