The Reading Toolbox

Use the anchor chart to teach students how to analyze poetry. Give students the bookmarks of the anchor chart for independent application of the skill. The anchor chart reminds students to determine the meaning of words and phrases as they read poetry by disitinguishing between literal and nonliteral language. The chart also focuses students to consider the structure of the poem, as well as other poetic elements.

An author has a plan when he/she writes. An author wants to inform the reader and provides details that support the topic. Readers can use the author’s blueprint, or plan, to determine the main idea.

Good readers visualize when they read. Students picture themselves with the character and draw a selfie to capture an important event from the story. Add a # caption that includes the character's important words and actions from the text. Students may choose between 3 organizers to create a selfie: camera, cellphone, or filmstrip. The filmstrip organizer would be great to turn into an anchor chart for the visualization reading strategy.

Strategic readers can sift through text details to find relevant quotes. Have students fold the pocket and glue into their interactive notebooks. Then, students can use the note cards to record relevant details or quotes during a close reading of the text. You can have students review their quotes in partners or guided reading to determine relevancy. Thank you for your purchase! Follow me on twitter and Leading for Literacy Blog for literacy ideas and coaching tips. Premium subscribers receive

Teach students to look for syllable patterns to decode unknown words. Use the anchor chart to introduce the 6 syllable types during word study. Give some examples of words that fit the patterns. Make a copy of the chart for students to glue into their interactive reading journals. Copy and laminate the bookmarks for students to apply the decoding strategy during independent or guided reading. Keep the anchor chart displayed in the classroom near your phonics cards for reference.

The GIST Strategy can be used to monitor comprehension when reading novels. After each chapter, students create a statement using 20 words to identify the main events of the chapter. To motivate students to use the GIST Strategy I added a little twist by relating a GIST statement to a tweet on Twitter.

Students create a character profile by describing a character's traits and how they are revealed through words and actions.

Support your readers' metacognition during reading with this reading information text bookmark. Featuring: Text Organizational Patterns, Text Connections, Text Features Follow me on twitter and Leading for Literacy Blog for literacy ideas and coaching tips. Premium subscribers receive invites to monthly coaching webinars and newsletters with free downloads from my TpT store.

This free reading response rubric can be used as a bookmark by students to guide reading response writing. Teachers use the rubric to quickly score students' responses and paste in journals for grading and record keeping. The rubric is similar to the Common Core rubric, but more kid friendly. Consider purchasing the anchor charts from my TpT store that support this rubric. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Response-Journal-Rubric-Anchor-Charts-1610832

This foldable is for interactive reading journals and encourages students to make inferences when reading. Then, students learn to read closely to find supporting quotes. The resource is learner-centered and common core friendly. Thank you for your purchase! Follow me on twitter and Leading for Literacy Blog for literacy ideas and coaching tips. Premium subscribers receive invites to monthly coaching webinars and newsletters with free downloads from my TpT store.

Get your students engaged with finding the logical connections between sentences and paragraphs in a text. This activity includes drawing and writing about the main ideas of a text and how the author connects them logically. Formally referred to as text organizational patterns. At the bottom of the sheet is a special section for students to share their ideas in a collaborative discussion.

Encourage students to practice fluency by rereading poetry. Each time a student reads a poem he/she may "catch a bug" by crossing out a bug on the task card. On the back of the task card the student or teacher records the date and title of poem.

In this Writer's Workshop lesson, students choose an illustration from a previously read story. Then student imagine the character and event to develop their own narrative. This organizer takes your class step by step to develop their own stories.

The color coded arrows help students identify text features and explain how they help a reader understand non-fiction text. Simply print and laminate.

Give you students a homework pass as a present for the winter holidays.

The Character Spotlight Flipbook helps students compare and contrast two or more characters in a story or drama. Students use the visualizing strategy to draw an image of the character and setting on the front. Then, on the back, students find specific details from the text to determine character traits and connections between the characters. To make the flipbook use 2 sided copying make multiple copies, staple, and cut in half with the paper cutter. Thank you for your purchase! Follow me on t

This foldable helps elementary students reflect on their growth and achievements at the end of a unit. Students are encouraged to draw and write examples for a self-assessment. Thank you for your purchase! Follow me on twitter and Leading for Literacy Blog for literacy ideas and coaching tips. Premium subscribers receive invites to monthly coaching webinars and newsletters with free downloads from my TpT store.

Students can use this foldable to compare 2 settings from a story. Top Flaps: Visualize and draw the 2 settings. Side Flaps: Read closely and add relevant quotes and details. Center. Use the information on the foldable to write a comparison of the settings and events. Thank you for your purchase! Follow me on twitter and Leading for Literacy Blog for literacy ideas and coaching tips. Premium subscribers receive invites to monthly coaching webinars and newsletters with free downlo