Reading Comprehension Strategies: Reading Aloud and Expanding Topics

I will explore two key reading comprehension strategies in this blog post: reading aloud and gradually expanding topics. By incorporating these techniques into your child’s reading routine, you can enhance their focus, processing abilities, and overall engagement with the text.

How to Effectively Teach Plot Structure to Elementary Students

A solid grasp of plot structure and its connected elements is essential for students to understand and enjoy fictional texts. Once students master the structure of a plot, they unlock the ability to read and appreciate numerous picture books and read-alouds.

Teaching Reading with the CCSS: Making Connections to Self, Across Texts, and to the World

a picture of a child reading Introduction As teachers, we all want to inspire our students to become lifelong learners and critical thinkers. We want them to engage with the world around them and develop empathy for others. The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) provide a framework for teaching essential skills that will prepare our students for success inContinueContinue reading “Teaching Reading with the CCSS: Making Connections to Self, Across Texts, and to the World”

8 Tips to Improve Reading Comprehension for 2nd Graders: Strategies and Book Suggestions

I remember struggling with my son’s reading comprehension in 2nd grade. Although he could read the words, he often couldn’t answer questions about the text because he wasn’t paying attention to what he was reading. This is a common problem that elementary educators face with their students. It can be frustrating for both parents and teachers toContinueContinue reading “8 Tips to Improve Reading Comprehension for 2nd Graders: Strategies and Book Suggestions”

Structure of a Story: Plot

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”

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”

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”