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
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Top 10 Classroom Activities for Halloween
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
Digging into Discovery: Dinosaur Unit Study
As educators, we're always on the hunt for innovative ways to spark students’ curiosity and explore their favorite topics. What better way to captivate students’ interest than with a dinosaur unit study!? Below you will find several of my engaging dinosaur activities for reading, writing, research, and more. So grab your shovel and let’s dig in!Dinosaurs, with their awe-inspiring size, mysterious extinction, and fascinating features, have a natural appeal to learners of all ages. Harnessing this fascination, we can create immersive nonfiction units that dig deep into the world of these … [Read more...] about Digging into Discovery: Dinosaur Unit Study
How to Use Task Cards in the Classroom
Task cards have been part of the teacher toolbox for a while, but have you ever realized just how versatile they are? Perhaps you're already familiar with their potential, or maybe you're just discovering the many ways they can enrich your learning environment. Regardless of where you stand on the spectrum, I'm excited to share several ideas for using task cards in the classroom. What are Task Cards?Task cards are small cards that contain a single task or question that can be used to practice, review, or assess learning across any content area. Task cards can be printed, cut, and laminated. … [Read more...] about How to Use Task Cards in the Classroom
