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on June 20, 2025 · Leave a Comment

Inventors Unit Plan with Reading Resources & Cross-Curricular Extensions

inventors unit

Have you ever noticed how kids light up when they hear the words “Did you know…?” The wonder behind everyday objects—like bubblegum or crayons—makes learning irresistible. This post is packed with ideas to take your inventor study beyond the basics. Along with ready-to-use reading comprehension resources, you’ll find creative suggestions for incorporating STEM challenges, writing activities, and crafts. Whether you're teaching about famous inventors or encouraging students to think like inventors themselves, this inventors unit plan offers flexible options to spark curiosity and deepen … [Read more...] about Inventors Unit Plan with Reading Resources & Cross-Curricular Extensions

Filed Under: Curriculum, FREEBIE Tagged With: inventions, inventors, reading comprehension review, STEM

on May 30, 2025 · Leave a Comment

Beyond the Animal Report: Deepening Learning with a Habitats Unit

habitats unit

You know the classic animal report—it's a staple in elementary classrooms. Simple, familiar, and always a hit with students eager to learn about their favorite creatures. But what if we took it a step further? What if we moved beyond collecting facts and challenged students to analyze, connect, and think critically about the natural world?By expanding a traditional animal project into a full habitats unit, students can explore biomes and ecosystems through nonfiction text features—uncovering patterns, relationships, and the bigger picture of how living things interact with their … [Read more...] about Beyond the Animal Report: Deepening Learning with a Habitats Unit

Filed Under: Curriculum Tagged With: animal research, biomes, habitats, nonfiction, nonfiction text features, reading comprehension

on April 25, 2025 · Leave a Comment

Using Poems to Teach Visualizing While Reading

Visualizing While Reading with Poetry

Helping students improve their reading comprehension starts with teaching them to create mental images as they read. One powerful strategy for developing this skill—visualizing while reading—is through poetry. Short, vivid poems can spark imagination and give young readers the perfect opportunity to slow down and truly picture what’s happening in the text.Why teach visualization in early elementary?Visualization is all about making mental pictures while reading. It helps kids see the story in their minds (I always say “let’s create a movie in our mind”), using clues from the text, like what … [Read more...] about Using Poems to Teach Visualizing While Reading

Filed Under: Curriculum Tagged With: Guided Reading with a Purpose, poetry, reading comprehension, visualizing

on October 24, 2024 · Leave a Comment

Top 10 Classroom Activities for Halloween

Classroom Halloween Activities

Spooky season is my favorite and I've got several fun hands-on classroom activities for Halloween that I'm putting together as one list for you here. This list includes everything from Halloween STEM challenges to printable Halloween-themed task cards and my favorite Halloween books. I'm even including a free printable classroom activity for Halloween so let's dive in.#1 Spooky Narrative Writing This creative writing unit for Halloween is my favorite writing to do with students each year because they love it and it brings out so much of their creativity! This unit has all the tools you need … [Read more...] about Top 10 Classroom Activities for Halloween

Filed Under: FREEBIE Tagged With: Halloween, October

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Brown’s work vs. mine this week. Mason had Flu A Brown’s work vs. mine this week. Mason had Flu A and Wyatt had a horrible spell of migraines this week. 😣 I may need a vacation 😆 Luckily the boys were super sweet and thankfuk for super mom. Ha. I guess Dave did some stuff too. 💪 👨‍🚒
This anti-bullying and kindness-themed reading com This anti-bullying and kindness-themed reading comprehension and writing bundle is designed to help students analyze morals and lessons in stories while reinforcing essential comprehension strategies. Through six different mentor texts, students will explore sequencing, text connections, asking and answering questions, story elements, character analysis, problem and solution, and more. Perfect for social-emotional learning, kindness, and anti-bullying lessons!

Books included in this bundle are:
- “The Proudest Blue”
- “Each Kindness”
- “Bully Beans”
- “Weird”, “Dare”, “Tough” (3 Book Bundle)

What’s included:
- A unique craft
- Writing prompts
- Graphic organizers
- Story element posters
- Anchor chart headers
- Focused worksheets to deepen comprehension
- Book talk questions
- Parent connection materials
- Morning work or fast finisher activities
- Mini lessons
- Lesson plan ideas and more!

✨✨CLICK the Link in Bio to get this amazing bundle!✨✨ OR COMMENT “KINDNESS” and I’ll send you the link!✨✨ 

#AntiBullying #KindnessMatters #SocialEmotionalLearning #ReadingComprehension #BookCompanion #GuidedReading #CharacterAnalysis #TeacherResources #TpTResources #LiteracyActivities #SELActivities #TeacherLife
Spread kindness in your classroom with this FREE k Spread kindness in your classroom with this FREE kindness activity! This resource includes a fun coloring sheet and a word search featuring words of compassion and inspiring quotes about being kind. Perfect for promoting social-emotional learning and building a positive classroom environment. 

✨✨CLICK the Link in Bio to download this FREE Kindness Activity!✨✨ OR COMMENT "KINDNESS" and I’ll send you the link!✨✨ 

#KindnessMatters #FreeClassroomActivity #SELresources #CompassionInClassroom #TeacherFreebies #KindnessActivities #TeachersOfInstagram #TpTFreebies #PositiveClassroom #SocialEmotionalLearning
Wyatt and I scored a day together while Mason is a Wyatt and I scored a day together while Mason is at University of Toledo Honor Band. Bonus we discovered a yummy coffee shop! @siptoledo
Teach your students about kindness, empathy, and i Teach your students about kindness, empathy, and inclusion with this engaging reading comprehension and writing unit for *Each Kindness* by Jacqueline Woodson. This guided reading unit focuses on anti-bullying, kindness, and social-emotional learning, featuring over 15 comprehension strategies with an emphasis on lessons and morals. The interactive ripple effect craft helps reinforce these important messages in a fun and meaningful way. Perfect for small or whole group instruction, this unit is ideal for Anti-Bullying Month, Unity Day, and daily social skills practice.

This comprehensive book companion unit includes:
- A unique craft
- Writing prompts
- Graphic organizers
- Story element posters
- Anchor chart headers
- Focused worksheets to deepen understanding of the story elements
- Book talk questions
- Parent connection materials
- Morning work or fast finisher activities
- Mini-lessons
- Lesson plan ideas and more!

Comprehension skills covered:
➙ Schema 
➙ Making Predictions 
➙ Text Evidence 
➙ Character, Setting, Plot 
➙ Retell 
➙ Author's Purpose 
➙ Character Analysis 
➙ Lesson & Moral 
➙ Text Connections 
➙ Key Events 
➙ Problem and Solution 

✨✨CLICK the Link in Bio to get this anti-bullying & kindness resource!✨✨ OR COMMENT “ANTI BULLYING” and I’ll send you the link!✨✨

#AntiBullying #KindnessMatters #SocialEmotionalLearning #TeachersOfInstagram #TpTResources #CharacterEducation #ReadingComprehension #TeacherLife #SocialSkills #Empathy #Inclusion #LiteracyActivities #LiteracyResources
Dive into this Antarctic penguin-themed reading co Dive into this Antarctic penguin-themed reading comprehension and writing bundle! This engaging unit includes 5 nonfiction passages that focus on text features like glossaries, bold print words, and more. It’s perfect for practicing nonfiction reading strategies such as identifying the main idea, finding text evidence, asking and answering questions, and activating schema.

Each passage is packed with helpful text features, including:
- Diagrams
- Labels
- Captions
- Glossary
- Index
- Table of contents

Topics covered include:
- Appearance
- Food
- Habitat
- Life cycle
- Predators
- Special adaptations
- Interesting facts

The bundle also includes:
- Nonfiction reader for each animal
- A unique craft
- Writing prompts
- Graphic organizers
- Story element posters
- Anchor chart headers
- Focused worksheets to deepen comprehension
- Book talk questions
- Parent connection materials
- Lesson plan ideas and more!

This easy-to-implement, penguin-themed unit will make learning fun and memorable. It’s perfect for guided reading groups and will help your students develop key nonfiction reading skills! 🐧

✨✨CLICK the Link in Bio to grab your penguin reading bundle!✨✨ OR COMMENT "PENGUINS" and I’ll send you the link!✨✨

#PenguinThemed #NonfictionReading #ReadingComprehension #GuidedReading #TextFeatures #TeacherResources #PenguinFun #LiteracyActivities #TpTResources #TeachingWithPenguins #TeacherLife

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