When I first heard of close reading and its benefits, I thought it could be a strategy that could be beneficial in helping my students tackle a higher-level text. Many of my students were below grade level each year and struggled when it came time for assessments that were on grade level or above. I wanted them to have strategies to help them better understand the text. If you want to find out ... Read More about 9 Ways to Incorporate Close Reads Into Your Classroom
Testing is over…Now what?
It happens every year. The big standardized test comes and goes and the students think the year is over. Even as I emphasized the test less and less, I still had students that thought they didn't have to try anymore once the test was over...and we still had two months left! I had to do something because this just wasn't going to work for me. Before I knew it, this time after testing became my ... Read More about Testing is over…Now what?
Close Reading Steps for Upper Elementary
Close Reading in Your Upper Elementary Classroom I'm sure you've all heard of it...close reading. But what exactly is it and how does it work? When I first started implementing close reading into my classroom, you should've heard the groans! And who could blame them? Read a passage 2-3 times? What? Why? Nooooooooo! In this post, I will cover what exactly close reading is and the steps you can ... Read More about Close Reading Steps for Upper Elementary
Text Structure Activities Students Will Love
Text structure is something my students always seemed to struggle with. We would practice and practice and they still wouldn't understand. I finally came to the conclusion that it wasn't the text they were confused about as much as it was the vocabulary. I quickly realized we just need a little more hands on practice to be able to make it stick in a way that would be memorable for the ... Read More about Text Structure Activities Students Will Love
Test Prep Fun Your Students Will Love
Test prep is something I used to dread. I felt so much pressure from admin and myself for my students to do well. So, I would give students packets of practice test questions to practice over and over again. I would look out at them and see a glazed over look in their eyes. I did it because I didn't know any better. I thought to test prep was to practice the test over and over again. I hated it. ... Read More about Test Prep Fun Your Students Will Love
