Category Archives: READING COMPREHENSION / SKILLS

Back-to-School Classroom Activities to Build Critical Thinking and Community

The start of a new school year is buzzing with excitement — and maybe a little nervousness, too! It’s the perfect time to set the stage for a year filled with learning, laughter, and lots of “aha!” moments. One of the best ways to do that? Building a classroom community where students feel safe, connected,Continue reading “Back-to-School Classroom Activities to Build Critical Thinking and Community”

📚 Why Reading Escape Rooms Work in the Elementary Classroom

If your students groan when it’s time for another reading worksheet, it might be time to shake things up—without sacrificing learning. Enter: the Reading Escape Room. These literacy-based adventures are popping up in classrooms everywhere, and for good reason. Reading escape rooms combine engagement, standards-based instruction, and critical thinking in a format that students beg to repeat. So, what makesContinue reading “📚 Why Reading Escape Rooms Work in the Elementary Classroom”

💬 Real Teachers, Real Classrooms: How Sweet Reads + Skills Are Making a Difference

When I first created Sweet Reads + Skills, my dream was simple:To give busy teachers meaningful, easy-to-use reading packs that students would actually enjoy. Now that more classrooms are trying them out, I’ve started hearing from educators who are seeing the results—and I couldn’t be more excited to share some of their stories with you. 🌟Continue reading “💬 Real Teachers, Real Classrooms: How Sweet Reads + Skills Are Making a Difference”

✨ Making the Most of Sweet Reads + Skills Packs in Your Classroom

If you’ve downloaded your free mini pack (Missing Monarch) or purchased a full Sweet Reads + Skills unit, you might be wondering:“How do I actually use this during my busy week?”Great question! These packs were created to be flexible and practical—no fluff, just meaningful literacy work. Let’s break down a few easy ways to integrate them into yourContinue reading “✨ Making the Most of Sweet Reads + Skills Packs in Your Classroom”

📚 What Are Sweet Reads + Skills Packs? A Peek Inside!

🌸 The Week Everything Felt Off I’ve always loved teaching my ELA block in a way that feels cohesive and connected—where the reading, vocabulary, grammar, and writing all build on each other like puzzle pieces. But one week, I just didn’t have the time. I stayed up late pulling together a mix of passages, grammar reviews,Continue reading “📚 What Are Sweet Reads + Skills Packs? A Peek Inside!”

Understanding Structured Literacy: A Comprehensive Approach to Effective Elementary Education

In this article, I will delve into structured literacy, its components, and its significance in elementary education.

Making Reading Connections: Text to Text, Text to Self, and Text to World

By incorporating text connections, teachers not only enhance students’ understanding of a book but also promote critical thinking. Students will learn to compare and contrast stories, relate the story to their own experiences, and connect it to the broader world. These connections will deepen their engagement with the book and foster critical thinking skills that extend beyond the pages of the story.

The Power of Systematic Instruction in Elementary Literacy: Building Strong Foundations for Lifelong Learning

How teachers teach is crucial in elementary school, where kids start their learning journey. One way that helps kids learn is called systematic instruction. This article explains what it means, how it works in a classroom, and why starting with the basics is so important. What Is Systematic Instruction? Systematic instruction is a fancy wayContinue reading “The Power of Systematic Instruction in Elementary Literacy: Building Strong Foundations for Lifelong Learning”

Boosting Reading Comprehension: Encouraging Summarization and Note-Taking

Incorporating summarization and note-taking into your child’s reading routine is a powerful strategy for enhancing their reading comprehension.