ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Once Upon a Fairy Tale Teaching Revision as a Concept
Contains plans for five lessons that teach the difference between revision and editing using fractured fairy tales. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well as...
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Building Background Knowledge
The importance of background knowledge is especially salient in the age of Common Core. This article offers practical classroom strategies to build background knowledge such as using contrasts and comparisons and encouraging...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Defining and Exploring an Author's Stylistic Choices
Contains plans for two lessons that teach students how to recognize an author's use of style in literature. These plans use "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston as an example, but the basic ideas can be adapted to other...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Avoiding Sexist Language by Using Gender Fair Pronouns
Contains plans for two lessons that teach students how to avoid gender stereotyping while using pronouns. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as well as assessment...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Comparing and Contrasting: Picturing an Organizational Pattern
Contains plans for two 50-minute lessons that teach about the comparison/contrast organizational pattern. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to PDF handouts and sites used in the lessons as...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Using Word Storms to Explore Vocabulary and Encourage Thinking
Contains plans for seven lessons about working dogs that teach critical thinking skills and a vocabulary strategy called Word Storms. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the...
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Anticipation Guide
Anticipating is an effective reading strategy for readers of all ages. Utilize this template and graphic organizer to help your students become better readers.
Other
Critical Reading: Three Ways to Read and Discuss Texts
Designed to help students think about their reading and writing skills, this page offers three different ways to interpret and discuss texts.
E Reading Worksheets
E Reading Worksheets: Figurative Language Activities
Numerous activities, games, quizzes, lessons, and PowerPoint presentations are provided for the topic of "figurative language" in writing. Students will have numerous exposures to examples. Students will also be able to practice...
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 1 Reading: Literature: Determine Theme
Determine the theme of a story with this reading activity. See the model and then practice identifying the theme.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Text Features: Non Fiction [Pdf]
Compare the printed page to an electronic web page and use this activity to discuss the similarities and differences. A cross-curricular tie-in with ecosystems. Could easily be adapted to another subject area.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Plot Structure: A Literary Elements Mini Lesson
Contains plans for two lessons that ask students to apply Freytag's Pyramid (also known as Freytag's Triangle) to pieces of writing, oral storytelling, and television shows. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Seven Strategies to Teach Students Text Comprehension
Comprehension strategies are conscious plans - sets of steps that good readers use to make sense of text. Comprehension strategy instruction helps students become purposeful, active readers who are in control of their own reading...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Teach Vocabulary by Building Background Knowledge
Students need to develop an extensive vocabulary to read with fluency. In turn, fluency in reading leads to increased comprehension. Fluency also comes from the written language of the reader since the student writes words he or she...
AdLit
Ad lit.org: Classroom Strategies: Monitoring/clarifying
The Monitoring/Clarifying strategy teaches students to recognize when they don't understand parts of a text and to take necessary steps to restore meaning. This technique is a component of the Reciprocal Teaching model in which teachers...
Wisconsin Response to Intervention Center
Wisconsin Rt I Center: Writing to Learn [Pdf]
Teachers will learn how to use Writing to Learn as a formative assessment tool. Teachers will learn how to implement the strategy, measure progress, and find research to support writing to learn. A list of Writing to Learn activities is...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Sl.4.2: Pose an Respond to Specific Questions
Links to 38 lessons and activities that build student skills in standard SL.4.2: Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information and make comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Speaking, Listening and Writing Compound Contrasting Sentences
Students will be answering text-dependent questions in which they will have to describe the differences between the different characters, settings, and major events in our stories using complex contrasting sentences. The students will...
Library of Congress
Loc: Teachers: Personal Stories and Primary Sources
Students will explore the value of personal stories and first-hand accounts when exploring history, in this case, the events of the early twentieth century, which included World War I and the Great Depression. Through this five-unit...
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Discussing "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs"
In this lesson, 1st graders will work with "The True Story of the Three Little Pigs" Jon Scieszkaby. They will describe the characters, setting, and key details in the story and help the teacher record the details on a circle map.
Better Lesson
Better Lesson: Using Word and Picture Clues to Make an Inference
First graders will use text evidence to make inferences about word and word phrase meanings in a text. Word and picture clues will be used to help students form inferences.