Welcome to my index blog page, where I share literacy ideas and teaching materials for upper elementary students. I create various resources to help educators teach multiple reading skills to their students.
My blog includes several series, such as “Teaching Types of Conflicts with Movie Trailers,” “Plot Structures,” “Making Connections,” “Story Elements,” and “Figurative Language.” These series make learning engaging and interactive. I also offer resources to teach literacy skills like vocabulary, comprehension, figurative language, and spelling.
Teaching literacy can be challenging, so I give away many free resources that educators can use in the classroom or at home. I want to provide educators with practical, easy-to-use tools to help their students become confident readers.
I hope my index blog page will inspire and motivate educators to use innovative teaching methods and help their students excel in their literacy skills.
May 11
Book series have a special place in students’ hearts and in literacy instruction. From Harry Potter to Percy Jackson, series spark engagement, build reading stamina, and create lasting connections with characters. This post explores classroom activities for book series, including Newbery winners and the Doctor Dolittle books, that help students practice critical thinking, inference, and …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=8048
May 04
Let’s be honest, teaching students how to read graphic organizers can sometimes feel like explaining how to fold a fitted sheet. You start strong. You believe in yourself. And then somewhere around the concept map, you lose them and maybe yourself too. But over the years (and after more than a few flops), I’ve found …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=1903
Jul 14
Let’s face it—getting students to connect deeply with a text can sometimes feel like trying to get them to connect with their math homework on a Friday afternoon. But when they do make those connections? That’s when reading becomes real, personal, and powerful. In this post, I’m sharing three free lessons that help students make …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4443
Jun 10
Books are powerful tools for helping students step into another person’s shoes, understand different experiences, and embrace compassion. Whether you’re tackling topics like disability, learning differences, or prejudice, stories can create meaningful conversations that stay with students for life. Below is a collection of impactful books grouped by theme, along with classroom discussion ideas and …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5981
Apr 14
Let’s be honest—getting students to truly understand a story can sometimes feel like asking them to explain the plot of a dream. (“There was this dog… and a time machine… and we were at school, but also on the moon?”) That’s where story mapping comes in. This trusty strategy helps students see how a story …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4018
Mar 10
Let’s talk about theme. That elusive message lurking behind every story—the one we know is there, but students often treat it like a secret code they’ve forgotten the cipher for. Some kids catch on quickly. Others? You’ll get responses like “The theme of Charlotte’s Web is… pigs can talk?” (Close, but no.) Thankfully, teaching theme …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=383
Mar 03
If you’re looking for engaging activities to enhance your theme lessons, animated shorts are a fantastic way to teach this important reading skill. These short films are high-interest, visually engaging, and often convey powerful themes in just a few minutes. This post provides four animated shorts that can be used to teach the theme. Lesson …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5616
