2018 | Crafting Connections
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Reviewing Skills with Reading Games!

Friday, December 21, 2018
Have you ever heard the saying "With one polka dot, nothing can be achieved"? This saying speaks to the power of repetition. Most teachers agree that repetition plays an important role in education. If a teacher attempts to teach an objective one isolated time during a school year, chances are good that few students (if any) will remember that objective at the end of the school year. However, if a teacher periodically reviews and builds upon the objective after the initial lesson, the likelihood that students WILL retain what they learned increases. That's why the concept of a spiral curriculum is such a hot educational topic. Plus, it's the main reason why we teachers like to review concepts before our students are required to take standardized tests.

Make reading test prep meaningful and fun by using reading games! After reading a passage, students will answer 6 multiple choice questions and try to earn the lowest number of points. This blog post contains a FREE nonfiction reading passage!


A few weeks ago, I decided that I wanted to create some engaging reading activities where students would be reviewing important reading skills they have already learned. In order to make them engaging, I decided to add a competitive element so that students would view them as games.

I was quite pleased with the end result! The picture below shows 1 of 12 nonfiction passages in my 4th/5th grade set.

Make reading test prep meaningful and fun by using reading games! After reading a passage, students will answer 6 multiple choice questions and try to earn the lowest number of points. This blog post contains a FREE nonfiction reading passage!

UPDATE!  These games are now available in a digital format (Google Slides), as well!  

MATERIALS NEEDED (Print Version)

Each student needs:
  • Reading passage
  • Die
  • Pencil
  • Red pen or marker

Each group needs:
  • Directions
  • Answer Key


DIRECTIONS FOR PLAYING (Print Version)

  • Choose how many students you want to compete in each group. I have mainly played this game with groups of 2 to 4 students, but you could certainly play with a larger group, as well.
  • Distribute the passage to everyone in the group, and tell them to read it carefully. (Also tell your students that if they finish reading it early, they should not start answering the questions yet!)
  • When everyone has finished reading the passage, instruct each student to pick up a die, roll it, and then record a tally mark on the line beneath the passage. (Students will add a tally EACH time they roll the die.)
  • Tell students to answer the numbered question that matches the number shown on the die. (For example, if Student A rolled a 4, she should answer Question #4.)
  • Instruct students to roll the die again and record a tally mark. 
    • If a student rolls the number of a question that has already been answered, he or she should immediately roll the die again.
    • If a student rolls the number of a question that has not yet been answered, he or she should go ahead and answer the question.
  • When a student finishes all six questions, the number of tallies at the bottom of the page should be counted and that number should be multiplied by 2. 
  • When everyone in the group has finished answering the questions, have students check their answers together.
  • Students should record the number of correct and incorrect answers at the bottom of the page, and multiply accordingly. 
  • Instruct students to determine the grand total by adding the three subtotals.
  • The person(s) with the LOWEST GRAND TOTAL is the winner!
Make reading test prep meaningful and fun by using reading games! After reading a passage, students will answer 6 multiple choice questions and try to earn the lowest number of points. This blog post contains a FREE nonfiction reading passage!
Print this page for student reference.


DIRECTIONS FOR PLAYING (Google Slides Version)

The rules are the same as above. The main difference is that there is a dice-rolling option in the menu bar, so students do not have to roll a real die (unless they want to!) As you can see, each question has its own slide, and there is also a slide at the end of the game that guides students through the process of determining their score.


FREE GAME

Click here (or on the image below) to download one free nonfiction game. This game includes both the print and the digital version!

Make reading test prep meaningful and fun by using reading games! After reading a passage, students will answer 6 multiple choice questions and try to earn the lowest number of points. This blog post contains a FREE nonfiction reading passage! Skills include main idea, text structures, context clues, cause and effect, citing text evidence, and vocabulary.


MORE GAMES ARE AVAILABLE!

Click on any of the images below to check out the reading games I have available in my TpT store! Each set includes 12 reading passages!
These reading games are perfect for test prep! This set includes 12 fiction passages. After reading each passage, students answer 6 multiple choice questions. Reading skills include theme, character traits, context clues, cause and effect, figurative language, and more!


These reading games are perfect for test prep! This set includes 12 nonfiction passages. After reading each passage, students answer 6 multiple choice questions. Reading skills include main idea, context clues, text structures, cause and effect, affixes, and more!


These reading games are perfect for test prep! This set includes 12 nonfiction passages. After reading each passage, students answer 6 multiple choice questions. Reading skills include main idea, context clues, text structures, cause and effect, affixes, and more!


These reading games are perfect for test prep! This set includes 12 fiction passages. After reading each passage, students answer 6 multiple choice questions. Reading skills include theme, character traits, context clues, cause and effect, figurative language, and more!



Pin for future reference:
Make reading test prep meaningful and fun by using reading games! After reading a passage, students will answer 6 multiple choice questions and try to earn the lowest number of points. This blog post contains a FREE nonfiction reading passage and game! They are available in printable format and Google Slides format!







Writing Lesson: Reducing Sentences

Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Reducing Sentences Personal Anchor Chart (FREE!)- The author outlines four techniques writers can use to reduce wordy sentences. This blog post features two FREE writing reference charts.

Teaching upper elementary students to expand sentences and combine sentences has always been on my radar.... but reduce? Well, that's another story. Yes, I've helped students revise run-ons and shorten sentences that are longer than necessary, but I began to question whether this was enough... especially after I discovered that, according to the Common Core standards, fifth grade students are expected to expand, combine, and reduce sentences for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style (CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.5.3.A). Ultimately, I decided to research this topic, and I discovered a handful of practical reduction tips that can be shared with students.

Lailah's Lunchbox: A Mentor Text Activity that Focuses on Asking Higher-Level Questions

Thursday, October 11, 2018

Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story- This book is featured as a mentor text activity for teaching students how to ask higher-level questions. Includes a FREE follow-up worksheet!

Welcome to our Celebrating Diversity mentor text link-up! The book I'm choosing to feature is Lailah's Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story by Reem Faruqi. This is a powerful read-aloud that will touch everyone in your classroom. Your Muslim students will be excited to find a proud, strong Muslim main character that may be facing difficult situations similar to the ones they face on a daily basis. Furthermore, your non-Muslim students will connect with a character much like themselves, as well, who worries about her classmates' and teacher's opinion of her. The author of this book explains the tradition of fasting during Ramadan in a sensitive, positive manner that is perfect for the upper elementary classroom. (Full disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.)

Recognizing and Correcting Sentence Fragments and Run-ons

Thursday, September 13, 2018
Teaching students to recognize fragments and run-ons in their writing can be difficult.  This blog post features a few tips and a FREE writing minilesson for upper elementary classrooms!

Being able to write a complete sentence is the foundation upon which all writing skills are built. It sounds simple enough, right? As we teachers know, however, some students struggle with forming a complete sentence, even in the upper elementary grades. If they make it too short and omit the all-important subject, they're left with a fragment. If they string too many ideas together and make it too long, they're left with a run-on sentence. To quote Goldilocks, it needs to be "just right". Today I'm going to share a couple tips with you that you can use as you teach your students how to recognize and revise fragments and run-on sentences.

Improving Reading Fluency with Partner Plays

Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Fluency is said to be the bridge between word recognition and reading comprehension. Learn about my partner play scripts that provide a fun and engaging way to focus on reading fluency. Plus, they feature a reading comprehension component, as well! These scripts are designed to be used in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade reading classrooms.
This photo features my Growth Mindset set of partner plays.
It is often said that fluency is the bridge between word recognition and reading comprehension. I love the image that statement creates in my mind. I can picture a struggling reader take that first tentative step across the middle of the bridge by experimenting with aspects of fluency, like expression and phrasing. With each repeated reading and fluency activity, the reader reads more smoothly and expressively. Eventually, as the reader gains confidence in his or her ability to read fluently, his or her steps toward reading comprehension become more assured and certain.

Targeting Reading Skills with Small Group Instruction

Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Small group instruction and targeted intervention is known to improve reading comprehension skills. Learn about my Targeted Tri-folds designed for upper elementary students and why teachers love it. These trifolds target ten different reading skills, including main idea, context clues, making inferences, author's purpose, and much, much more! Reading Comprehension
Teachers who implement small group instruction activities understand the numerous benefits associated with working with a limited number of students. A few of the benefits include:

  • a reduced student-teacher ratio. Rather than trying to simultaneously meet the various needs of 30-some students at once, the teacher can focus on breaking down concepts based on the needs of 2-6 students.
  • targeted skill instruction. When a handful of students who are struggling with a certain skill are pulled aside, the teacher can provide in-depth instruction related to that particular skill.
  • individualized learning. When a teacher is focused on the needs of a small handful of students at one time, he or she can easily assess which aspects of a skill have been mastered, and which aspects will require additional learning opportunities and supports in order to eventually reach a level of mastery.
  • increased student engagement. In a large group setting, there will always be students who are able to mask their true understanding of a skill by "flying under the radar". However, when students are engaged in small group instruction, they are required to be actively involved in each lesson. Furthermore, students are often willing to ask more questions in order to clarify a confusing concept in a small group setting.

Exploring Compound Sentences

Monday, May 28, 2018
You might think I'm crazy, but I actually enjoy teaching about compound and complex sentences! I recently wrote a blog post that focuses on complex sentences at my collaborative blog, Upper Elementary Snapshots. (You can read that post by clicking HERE.) Therefore, I decided to write a related blog post, but concentrate on compound sentences!

An Anchor Chart

Compound Sentences Anchor Chart! This blog post also features a FREE printable where students write their own compound sentences.

Punctuating Titles: An Anchor Chart and a FREEBIE

Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Do you teach students how to punctuate titles? It's a 5th grade standard (L.5.2.d), but in the past, I definitely touched on the more common rules (books, chapters, poems, songs, magazines, & articles) when I taught fourth grade, as well.

Today I am going to show you the anchor chart I created to address this standard. Before class, I will create the base of the anchor chart- a simple T-chart. I will be creating most of the anchor chart during class with students. (I used clip art images that are free on TPT, just in case you want to replicate this anchor chart. To obtain the pie clip art, visit Kari Bolt's store. To download the free computer and pencil clip art, visit Tim van de Vall's store.)
Punctuating Titles Anchor Chart | Part of a free lesson that includes a free sorting activity! Use this anchor chart activity and freebie to teach your students about when to underline titles, when to italicize titles, and when to place titles inside quotation marks.

Once class begins, I will ask my students to help me fill in the anchor chart. First, I will tell my students that when it comes to punctuating titles, there is a guiding question they can ask themselves that will help them punctuate the majority of titles: Is this a WHOLE literary work, or is this a PART of a literary work? I'll explain that whole, complete literary works are underlined, while partial literary works are placed inside quotation marks. Next, I'll list associated pairs (book and chapter, for example), and I'll have students tell me in which column each literary piece should be written.
Punctuating Titles Anchor Chart | Part of a free lesson that includes a free sorting activity! Use this anchor chart activity and freebie to teach your students about when to underline titles, when to italicize titles, and when to place titles inside quotation marks.

After we've listed all of the titles that follow the whole vs. parts guideline, I will tell my students that there are a few items that need to be added to the column of titles that need to be underlined. After switching to a green marker, I will add the additional four items to the bottom of that column. Likewise, I will add a couple items to the bottom of the quotation mark list. These items written in green don't really follow the whole vs. parts rule, and simply need to be memorized.

To complete the anchor chart, I will tell my students that there is one more important rule they need to remember, and it's related to the two images at the bottom of the anchor chart. After allowing 1 or 2 students to make a guess, I will jot the final rule on the anchor chart. When the anchor chart is complete, it will look like this:
Punctuating Titles Anchor Chart | Part of a free lesson that includes a free sorting activity! Use this anchor chart activity and freebie to teach your students about when to underline titles, when to italicize titles, and when to place titles inside quotation marks.

If you don't have time to make the anchor chart, you might want to consider purchasing my Punctuating Titles PowerPoint. Slides 4 through 16 take the students through a similar part vs. whole exercise. It also makes the same point about italicizing instead of underlining when you are using a keyboard. Furthermore, it concludes with 17 practice sentences.
Punctuating Titles PowerPoint! This PowerPoint teaches students when to underline, when to italicize, and when to use quotation mark. It includes a companion handout!

Whether you choose to use the anchor chart or the PowerPoint, be sure to download this FREE PRINTABLE by clicking on the image below! I plan to use it as a quick exit ticket. This sorting activity will allow you to check for understanding.
Punctuating Titles FREEBIE- Grab this sorting activity that can be used as an exit ticket! Students differentiate between when to underline/italicize titles, and when to put titles in quotation marks.

Thanks for stopping by! 



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Punctuating Titles Free Lesson| This lesson includes an anchor chart idea and a free sorting activity! Use this anchor chart activity and freebie to teach your students about when to underline titles, when to italicize titles, and when to place titles inside quotation marks.


An Adverbs Read Aloud and FREE Activity!

Sunday, January 7, 2018
Hello! It's my turn to write today's blog post at Upper Elementary Snapshots, my collaborative blog. I blogged about my experience helping my daughter grasp the concept of adverbs. That blog post features an adverbs anchor chart and free follow-up activity, so I encourage you to take a moment to hop over there and check it out! (At the bottom of this post, you'll find a link that will transport you directly to the blog post containing the anchor chart.)

Before you check it out, though, I have one additional adverbs activity that I want to share with you. When I was researching adverbs, I found this AMAZING picture book that focuses on adjectives and adverbs! I don't know about you, but I love reading picture books to upper elementary students, especially when they help me target a specific skill in an engaging way! (Full disclosure: This blog post contains an Amazon affiliate link.)

The Book Introduction

The book I found is called The Big Problem (and the Squirrel Who Eventually Solved It): Understanding Adjectives and Adverbs by Nancy Loewen.
Use this read aloud to teach your students about adverbs and how they are used in sentences! This blog post contains an adverbs lesson idea and free printables!

It is somewhat hard to see in these photographs, but the author used a red font on every single adjective in the book, and a green font for each adverb.
Use this read aloud to teach your students about adverbs and how they are used in sentences! This blog post contains an adverbs lesson idea and free printables!

Use this read aloud to teach your students about adverbs and how they are used in sentences! This blog post contains an adverbs lesson idea and free printables!


HOW I INTEND TO USE THE BOOK IN A GRAMMAR LESSON!

This book presents the perfect opportunity to help students understand why an adverb is an adverb. The adverbs are already identified, leaving plenty of time to analyze each sentence and determine which word is being modified by each adverb, and how it is modifying the other word.

I recommend printing the two printables (shown below) back-to-back, so that it's on one sheet of paper, and then handing out a sheet to each student. 
Adverbs recording charts! Use these charts along with a read aloud book with plenty of adverbs.

I intend to use the document camera to project the book so that every student can read the pages along with me (silently) as I read them aloud. At the end of each page, identify the adverbs, one at a time, and have your students name the chart to which the adverb belongs. To do this, they must identify which word is being modified by the given adverb, and whether that word is a verb, adjective, or other adverb. If the word is a verb, they must also determine how that adverb is modifying the given verb. 

When you have finished the book, your  students' papers should look like this: 
Use this read aloud to teach your students about adverbs and how they are used in sentences! This blog post contains an adverbs lesson idea and free printables!

Teach your students about adverbs and how they are used in sentences by reading the book The Big Problem by Nancy Loewen. This blog post contains an adverbs lesson idea and free printables!
One of the things I love about this book and activity is that it shows that many adverbs do not end in -ly! Also, students are required to truly analyze the use of each adverb in the sentence! Furthermore, this book can also be used to identify adjectives... but that's another blog post! :)

If you happen to be looking for a few more ready-to-go adverb resources to use in your classroom, feel free to check out my TpT store. The image below shows the materials I created for teaching students about adverbs. If you click on the image, you'll be taken to the bundle in my store. From there, you can also check out each individual adverb resource, as well.



Have a great day!



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Use this read aloud to teach your students about adverbs and how they are used in sentences! This blog post contains an adverbs lesson idea and free printables!

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