Elementary students need to understand the structure of a story. Knowing the elements of a story will help with comprehension during reading and when writing one, not to mention it’s one of the Common Core: RL.2.7. Characters, setting, point of view and plot are the basic elements of a story. Let’s focus on the plot. TheContinueContinue reading “Structure of a Story: Plot”
Author Archives: Got to be LIT
Strategies to Build Background Knowledge
Background knowledge is often something we teachers overlook by jumping into the lesson, but it is crucial in helping students understand and retain new knowledge. For instance, a memory came up on my Facebook page recently where I posted a conversation between my youngest son and me: The joy of homeschooling is seeing those lightbulbContinueContinue reading “Strategies to Build Background Knowledge”
Teaching Thematic Units Across the Curriculum
Thematic Units Apple Book A thematic unit has a central theme that crosses all subjects. A thematic unit example is apples. An apple thematic unit for reading could be taught by choosing books like Johnny Appleseed by Stephen Kellogg, One Green Apple by Eve Bunting, or The Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree (Gail Gibbons). In History,ContinueContinue reading “Teaching Thematic Units Across the Curriculum”
Teaching Point of View According to Common Core State Standards
Teaching 1st person point of view. (Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com) Teaching the Core Standards can be difficult to navigate. In this article, I chose a particular 2nd grade reading standard to give examples on ways to address it in the classroom. CCRA.R.6: Assess how point of view or purpose shapes the content and style ofContinueContinue reading “Teaching Point of View According to Common Core State Standards”
READ-ALOUDS A POWERFUL TOOL
Reading aloud to students is a great tool to use. (Photo by Yan Krukov on Pexels.com) As teachers, we remind the parents of our elementary students to read to their children. We tell them how important it is and that it is also an enjoyable time to spend together. We need to heed our adviceContinueContinue reading “READ-ALOUDS A POWERFUL TOOL”
Engaging Students on Valentine’s Day
Keeping early finishers engaged with Valentine’s Day games and activities.
New Year
Photo by Rahul Pandit on Pexels.com Happy New Year! Time to look back over the last year and make resolutions for the new year. Last year was a time of change for my family. We spent the first part of last year preparing our house to sell. We painted every room in the house, exceptContinueContinue reading “New Year”
Favorite Christmas Books
Along with putting up the tree, I have been reading Christmas books- thinking ahead for you and your classrooms. Love all my readers! Here are three of my favorites.
Fall Poetry: Metaphors
Thanksgiving is. . . Thanksgiving is delicious, once-a-year foods. Thanksgiving is bonfires and roasting marshmallows. Thanksgiving is family and friends. Thanksgiving is giving thanks to God. Photo by Tatiana Syrikova on Pexels.com I ran across a book by Gail Gibbons called Thanksgiving is. . . at my public library. As I read through it, I realized thatContinueContinue reading “Fall Poetry: Metaphors”
Teaching Reading through Literature
Do you want your child or student to love reading? Do you want him to be an excellent writer? I know I do. When I started teaching, my principal gave me and a fellow teacher the opportunity to create our own literature units. She even bought us classroom sets of the books we chose. ItContinueContinue reading “Teaching Reading through Literature”
