Curated OER
Race to the Finish Line
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing the importance of fluent reading, 3rd graders complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
On Your Mark, Get Set, Read
Student increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing decoding, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of their words read...
Curated OER
Flying with Adam Raccoon
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing rereading and decoding strategies , students complete multiple reads of a novel text. With the instructor, they read complete a timed...
Curated OER
Practice Makes Perfect
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing chunking and rereading, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of...
Curated OER
Watch Out for the Wasp!
Students increase their reading fluency through the use of various strategies. After reviewing chunking and rereading, students complete an initial read of a novel text. Working with a partner, they read complete a timed assessment of...
Curated OER
Express Your Reading
Students increase their reading fluency and reading expression through the use of various strategies. After reviewing decoding and rereading, students complete an initial read of a novel text without expression. Working with a partner,...
Curated OER
Books Have Feelings Too
Second gradersincrease their reading fluency and expressiveness through the use of various strategies. After reviewing decoding and rereading, 2nd graders complete an initial read of a novel text without expression. Each student reads a...
Curated OER
Flipped: After Reading Strategy
Everyone can be an expert! After finishing Wendelin Van Draanen's book Flipped, divide your class into small groups. Then, assign each group a topic to become experts on. The resource suggests topics such as characters, themes, setting,...
Novelinks
The House of the Scorpion: Multigenre Research Paper
As the culminating project for a unit study of The House of the Scorpion, class members craft a multi-genre research paper to demonstrate not only their depth of knowledge of a topic of interest to them, but also their...
Novelinks
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers: Literary Mandala
Explore the concept of yin and yang with this resource. On the first page, learners study a picture of George Bush. Then, have learners choose a character from The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. After brainstorming adjectives and choosing...
Curated OER
Biopoem
Reinforce the actions, emotions, and characteristics that determine what a character is like by having your middle schoolers create a biopoem using the model presented here. You could engage them first by having them write a poem about...
Curated OER
Guided Imagery: Canyons, Chapter 8
Individuals use words or illustrate what they experience during a reading of a passage from chapter eight of Gary Paulsen's Canyons. Complete directions for the guided imagery exercise, and a suggested passage, are included with the...
Curated OER
Canyons: Magic Square Activity
A fan of magic squares vocabulary activities? Readers use terms drawn from Gary Paulsen’s Canyons to complete an exercise. The worksheet, an answer sheet, as well as complete directions for crafting a magic square, are included.
Curated OER
Maus I and II: KWL Pre-Reading Comprehension Strategy
Prior to reading Maus I and II, class members fill in a KWL chart to determine what they want to learn and how to find information about World War II and the Holocaust. Consider gathering packets of information and research sites before...
Curated OER
Walk Two Moons: Magic Square Vocabulary Assignment
Readers work alone or in groups on complete a vocabulary exercise designed to be used with Sharon Creech’s Walk Two Moons. Using the magic square format, learners match the vocabulary words with their definitions. An answer sheet is...
Novelinks
The House on Mango Street: Discussion Web
As part of a final discussion of The House on Mango Street, groups examine a concept question about the text, record arguments for and opposed to the question, and then a draw their own conclusions.
Novelinks
The Hobbit: Writing Assignment
As a culminating assignment for a unit study of heroes that uses The Hobbit as the core text, class members engage in a multi-genre writing project.
Curated OER
Graphic Organizer: Venn Diagram for Briar Rose
Compare and contrast the characters of Gemma and Becca from Briar Rose. Using a Venn diagram (not included but easy to create), readers will explore the characters. Not much direction or explanation is included here.
Curated OER
Fighting Corruption
Twelfth graders research the different types of business ethics. In this Economics lesson, 12th graders read various handouts on corruption. Students participate in a discussion on trying to end corruption.
Curated OER
BioPoem Multicultural Activity For A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Students write a biopoem. In this literature and poetry writing lesson, students write a biopoem about the characters in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry following a specific given format. Examples and format are included.
Curated OER
A Raisin in the Sun: Vocabulary Bingo
Students study A Raisin in the Sun. Students study new vocabulary through a game of bingo. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech "I Have a Dream" as a supplementary text. Students create their own bingo cards.
Curated OER
A Separate Peace Bingo Teacher's Guide
Students complete an activity with the book A Separate Peace. In this vocabulary lesson, students get a list of vocabulary words to find the definitions of. They make a bingo card with the words and the teacher reads the...
Curated OER
Leading into Good Writing
Discuss the importance of a lead in writing with your upper graders. They examine several examples of leads from literature and practice writing leads for pieces of artwork. They then select a topic from a list and write an introductory...
Curated OER
Raise Awareness for National Learning Disabilities Month
Raise awareness of learning disabilities through reading, writing, research, and collaboration.