Novel units are a big part of my ELA classroom. I utilize them in whole class instruction, small groups, and independent reading. As students discover connections between a novel’s characters, setting and story elements, they become more engaged readers.
When I think back to the beginning of my teaching career, which began in August of 1998, while I was an enthusiastic college-grad, fresh from an enriching student-teaching experience, seemingly ready to take on a classroom of well-behaved and on-level students, I truly knew nothing! …
“A writer only begins a book, a reader finishes it.”-Samuel Johnson As a reading teacher, I find that there is so much truth to this statement. One of the essential things that I believe is that it takes a special skill set for students to …
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis is a realistic historical fiction novel your students will love reading. This is one of the first books I created my own novel study unit for, and it has been a staple of my classroom ever since. Here …
Have you read Love That Dog and Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech? If you are an ELA teacher, then you need to add them to your reading list asap! These books have a secret power when it comes to teaching poetry—they make it fun …
One strategy to try with reluctant readers in middle school is to offer novels with dogs as one of the main characters. I have several posts on here about finding high-interest books for middle school because it is a constant challenge throughout the school year. …
Spring Break has given me a chance to catch up on my reading and take a break from the everyday busyness within my household. With three kids all involved in a variety of activities, our school weeks are filled with homework, sports games, and constant …
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