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.
Aug 24
Let’s face it, plot patterns can sometimes feel like the grammar of storytelling: essential, but not exactly thrilling on their own. But what if you could introduce plot development in a way that grabs your students’ attention before the rising action even begins? Cue the commercials. From Gatorade ads about bouncing back from failure to …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=6360
Aug 15
Text features are powerful tools that help students understand nonfiction. Maps, charts, timelines, tables, and callout boxes give readers quick access to information. They also provide strong evidence students can use in informational writing. This lesson uses a Civil War magazine‑style page filled with real maps, data tables, timelines, and historical facts. Students learn how …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=158
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
Graphic organizers are everywhere in upper elementary classrooms, but students aren’t born knowing how to read graphic organizers. Before they can successfully complete a Venn diagram, flow chart, or cause‑and‑effect organizer, they first need to understand what each organizer is designed to show. This lesson introduces the most common graphic organizers, explains when to use …
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
Getting students to explain a story can sometimes feel like asking them to describe a dream. It’s chaotic, scattered, and full of unexpected time‑traveling dogs. Story mapping solves that problem by breaking a narrative into clear, visual parts like character, setting, plot, and theme. It’s a GPS for comprehension, helping students move from confusion to …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=4018
