Help young readers build comprehension monitoring with a simple rereading routine. Try practical activities that teach students to notice confusion, check the print, reread, and explain what the text means.
Category Archives: Reading
12 Fun and Engaging Literacy Activities for Your Classroom
We all know the struggle—keeping students engaged during reading and writing can sometimes feel like an uphill climb. But here’s the good news: when learning is fun, kids actually retain more. Fun activities spark curiosity, build positive emotions, and make reading and writing stick in a way that worksheets alone never could. In other words, whenContinueContinue reading “12 Fun and Engaging Literacy Activities for Your Classroom”
Building Reading Stamina, One Book at a Time
A child opens a book. Two minutes later, the page turning stops. Then comes a request for water, a trip to the pencil sharpener, or the familiar question: “How much longer do we have to read?” Sound familiar? In my previous blog, I explored the benefits and risks of AI in the classroom. One concernContinueContinue reading “Building Reading Stamina, One Book at a Time”
Is AI Helping Students Learn?
Technology should support the teacher, serve a clear learning objective, and then step aside when students need to concentrate, persevere, and think for themselves. We can embrace helpful innovation without losing the books, conversations, and productive struggle that help children become confident readers.
Engaging Texts and Discussions Boost Reading Skills
Reading comprehension is often considered one of the hardest skills to teach in second and third grades. At this age, students are expected to do much more than simply read the words on the page. They must understand what is happening, remember important details, make connections, explain their thinking, and sometimes determine ideas the authorContinueContinue reading “Engaging Texts and Discussions Boost Reading Skills”
10 No-Prep Reading Activities for After Testing (Grades 2–3)
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)”
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”
