State testing puts so much pressure on our students to focus for long periods of time and do well. They’ve worked hard—and they deserve a break. (Does anyone else hear the McDonald’s jingle in your head?) But the school calendar doesn’t exactly allow for a vacation right before summer break. My solution? Give them activitiesContinueContinue reading “10 No-Prep Reading Activities for After Testing (Grades 2–3)”
Category Archives: Reading
7 Engaging Activities for National Reading Month
Looking for simple ways to celebrate National Reading Month without adding more prep to your day? These engaging activities will help your students build a love for reading while keeping things fun and manageable. March is one of my favorite months in the classroom because it’s National Reading Month — a time to celebrate books,ContinueContinue reading “7 Engaging Activities for National Reading Month”
Sophie Mouse Novel Study for 2nd–3rd Grade: A Guided Reading Chapter Book Approach
If you’re looking for a Sophie Mouse novel study that gently pulls students into real reading work—without overwhelming them—Sophie Mouse is a perfect fit for a 2nd grade chapter book or early 3rd grade guided reading unit. Sweet, thoughtful, and rich with teachable moments, these stories are ideal for 2nd and 3rd grade readers who are ready to grow theirContinueContinue reading “Sophie Mouse Novel Study for 2nd–3rd Grade: A Guided Reading Chapter Book Approach”
📚 Time Crunch for Grammar?
Struggling to Fit Grammar In? Try This Simple Strategy. Let’s be honest—grammar instruction often gets squeezed to the sidelines.With reading groups, testing prep, and just getting through the day, where does irregular verb practice even fit in? If that’s you, I have good news:You can teach grammar without overhauling your schedule, and it doesn’t have to be boring.ContinueContinue reading “📚 Time Crunch for Grammar?”
Why Bundling Reading + Skills Makes Teaching So Much Easier
If you’ve ever found yourself hopping from one resource to another—trying to make one reading passage fit with unrelated vocabulary practice and a random grammar worksheet—you’re not alone. It’s exhausting. It’s inconsistent. And it’s not how we want to teach. That’s why I created the Sweet Reads + Skills Packs to work as bundled, connected units—where reading comprehension, vocabulary,ContinueContinue reading “Why Bundling Reading + Skills Makes Teaching So Much Easier”
Teaching Students How to Think While They Read
Have you ever asked a comprehension question and watched students flip frantically back through the book, hoping the answer will jump out at them? Many young readers believe comprehension is about finding answers, not thinking through the text. They read the words, but their minds aren’t actively engaged. When this happens, comprehension feels hard—not because students can’tunderstand, but because theyContinueContinue reading “Teaching Students How to Think While They Read”
Reciprocal Teaching: Helping Students Lead Meaningful Reading Discussions
Have you ever led a reading discussion where you did all the talking — while students nodded, shrugged, or waited for the “right answer”? Many students understand a text better than they can explain it. Others have ideas but don’t yet know how to participate in a discussion. Reciprocal teaching helps solve both problems by teaching students how to talk aboutContinueContinue reading “Reciprocal Teaching: Helping Students Lead Meaningful Reading Discussions”
Effective Guided Reading Strategies for Elementary Students
Chapter books are full of adventure, imagination, and plot twists—but for many elementary students, longer texts can feel overwhelming 😬. Guided reading strategies provide a framework that helps students navigate complex texts with confidence, while also supporting comprehension, vocabulary growth, and critical thinking. Below are teacher-tested strategies, complete with classroom examples, step-by-step instructions, common challenges, differentiation tips, andContinueContinue reading “Effective Guided Reading Strategies for Elementary Students”
Boost Student Engagement with Interactive Bookmarks
Reading chapter books can sometimes feel overwhelming for students 📚. They might lose track of characters, events, or vocabulary. That’s where interactive bookmarks come in—they turn reading into an active, hands-on learning experience ✨, helping students stay engaged, scaffold comprehension, and reinforce vocabulary. In Sophie Mouse and The Emerald Berries, interactive bookmarks are designed to support chapter-by-chapter engagement, and you can easilyContinueContinue reading “Boost Student Engagement with Interactive Bookmarks”
How I Turn a Read-Aloud into a Full Literacy Pack
If you’re anything like me, one great picture book can spark an entire week of reading, writing, and critical-thinking lessons. Over the years, I’ve learned to take a single read-aloud and expand it into a complete, ready-to-teach literacy pack that hits multiple standards—without feeling like “busy work.” Here’s a peek at how I do it—step byContinueContinue reading “How I Turn a Read-Aloud into a Full Literacy Pack”
