Upper Elementary Literacy Lab
166 Followers
West Babylon, New York, United States
About the store
I am an upper elementary educator with extensive experience teaching literacy through reading, writing, and inquiry-based instruction. I currently teach 5th grade ELA and Social Studies in New York, where I design rigorous, engaging lessons that build strong readers, thoughtful writers, and confident thinkers.
Over the years, I have developed a classroom full of structured literacy routines, anchor charts, writing frameworks, and assessment tools that support students in mastering complex reading and writing skills.
The resources I create are not theoretical—they are lessons, anchor charts, and tools that have been tested and refined with real students in a real classroom.
My goal is to provide teachers with materials that make rigorous literacy instruction clear, practical, and engaging for upper elementary learners.
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Writing Report Card Comments Narrative
Hi all! These are writing report card comments that I have generated for my 5th graders to make my life a little more stress-free during report card time. Even though I used them for my 5th graders, they can be tailored to any grade. They focus on Realistic Narrative Fiction Writing.
3rd - 5th
English Language Arts, Writing
5th Grade June Writing Report Card Comments
These writing comments are meant to coincide with the TC calendar for schools who are ending the year in a Fantasy Unit. They are gender neutral and separated into below, approaching, on, and above grade level. They are a MAJOR time saver and can be tailored to any child. Enjoy!
4th - 5th
English Language Arts, Other (ELA)
Reading Strategy Student Checklist
This is a teacher made student checklist. As I was teaching, I noticed that students need reminders of what they CAN do as they read. Why would they remember right!? This is just a helpful self assessment tool for students to have ideas on what they can jot about and WHEN to jot as they read. Hope it is useful!
1st - 3rd
Reading, Reading Strategies
CCSS
RF.1.1
, RF.2.3
, RF.3.3
Partner Discussion Fishbowl Inquiry
Have you ever wondered to yourself, how will I elevate the level of discussion between partners? How can I made my students question, critique, and elevate each other's learning? I like to do this by conducting a partner fishbowl lesson. This allows for effective partner strategies, jotting, and discussion to be observed through inquiry where the students make meaning for themselves. This fishbowl inquiry includes a script that you can choose two high readers to model for the class. In the scrip
2nd - 4th
English Language Arts
CCSS
SL.2.1
, SL.3.1
, SL.4.1
Partner Discussion Prompts Text Connections and Features
These are two simple tools that I made multiples of for partner discussion. This tool is meant to be used by students while in their partnerships or independently to promote purposeful, student led discussion. One set of prompts helps students find the language to support text connections, and the second set is to support text feature discussion. Hope it is useful!
1st - 5th
English Language Arts, Reading
CCSS
SL.1.2
, SL.2.2
, SL.3.2
+2
Reading Behaviors Levels L M N Tool
This is a teacher made tool that is meant to be for students (1 sheet), and parents (1 sheet). This sheet is a "cheat sheet" for students to use skills/behaviors necessary in the LMN level band, as well as for parents to know which strategies to work on with their children at home. This tool has behaviors separated by bulleted points to serve as a reminder for students as they read, as well as check off as they master these strategies Hope it is useful!
2nd - 4th
Balanced Literacy, Reading, Reading Strategies
CCSS
RL.2.10
, RL.3.10
, RL.4.10
Reading Workshop Checklist
This is a simple checklist that I made to help the students be more independent during Reading Workshop. It just reminds them to read, think, jot, and discuss their work independently. This is a useful tool when you are trying to have students become self aware and self assess.
1st - 3rd
English Language Arts, Reading, Reading Strategies
CCSS
RF.1.2a
, RF.2.3
, RF.3.3
+3
Reading Level Bookmarks
This is a teacher made tool for students that is a fantastic resource! These bookmarks are leveled as: GHI, JK, and LMN. These bookmarks make sure that students are using appropriate reading behaviors in their texts and can be stored in toolkits or right in their books as they read. The reading behaviors come from the F&P leveled resources online and they come in handy when you want to make sure that students are independently jotting and reading for purpose.
2nd - 4th
Reading, Reading Strategies
Narrative Reading Goals
This resource is great for both teacher and student. It allows for teachers to choose purposeful goals that students may choose from based on both their interest and needs. These goals are targeted as well as specific in nature. They touch upon important parts of the narrative reading unit. There are also ESL oriented goals which are translated and targeted to set up ESL students for success. From here they can develop action plans toward their goals.
3rd - 5th
English Language Arts
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About the store
Experience
I am an upper elementary educator with extensive experience teaching literacy through reading, writing, and inquiry-based instruction. I currently teach 5th grade ELA and Social Studies in New York, where I design rigorous, engaging lessons that build strong readers, thoughtful writers, and confident thinkers.
Over the years, I have developed a classroom full of structured literacy routines, anchor charts, writing frameworks, and assessment tools that support students in mastering complex reading and writing skills.
The resources I create are not theoretical—they are lessons, anchor charts, and tools that have been tested and refined with real students in a real classroom.
My goal is to provide teachers with materials that make rigorous literacy instruction clear, practical, and engaging for upper elementary learners.
Teaching style
My teaching style blends structured literacy instruction with engaging, student-centered learning.
I believe students learn best when they are given:
-clear routines and expectations
-visual supports such as anchor charts
-meaningful opportunities to discuss and write about complex ideas
In my classroom, I focus heavily on helping students:
-analyze texts deeply
-support their thinking with evidence
-develop clear and organized writing
I am especially passionate about helping students grow into confident writers and critical readers, while also providing teachers with tools that simplify the planning process.
The resources in my store reflect the types of materials I rely on every day in my own classroom.
Awards & shining teacher moments
I have received positive recognition from both my principal and district superintendent for practices they have observed in my classroom. I also have been rated highly effective for my teacher practice ten years in a row.
Some of my most rewarding moments as a teacher come from watching students discover their voices as readers and writers.
Whether it is a reluctant writer proudly sharing their first completed narrative, or a student confidently explaining their thinking during a text discussion, these moments remind me why literacy instruction is so powerful.
I am especially proud of creating classroom systems that help students feel capable and supported as they tackle challenging reading and writing tasks.
Many of the resources in my store grew directly from these moments in my classroom.
My own education history
I have my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education, my Masters Degree in Special Education, and 30 credits above my Masters.
Additional biographical information
Upper Elementary Literacy Lab was created as a place to share the classroom-tested tools that have helped my students succeed.
Here you will find resources designed specifically for grades 3–5, including:
-reading comprehension strategies
-writing frameworks and anchor charts
-evidence-based response supports
-test preparation materials
-literacy routines that build independence
Every resource is designed with the goal of making rigorous literacy instruction accessible, organized, and engaging for both teachers and students.
Thank you for supporting Upper Elementary Literacy Lab and for the incredible work you do for your students every day.
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