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.
Jan 01
Teaching play structure can be a showstopper—especially when students realize scripts aren’t just for theater kids. As part two of our How to Teach Structure Across Literary Genres series, this post dives into the storytelling magic behind plays: from stage directions to scenes, dialogue, and emotional beats. So grab your metaphorical playbill and dim the …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=17633
Dec 04
If your students’ stories have ever zigzagged through plot points like a squirrel on espresso—chaotic, charming, but utterly confusing—then this lesson will bring some much-needed narrative order. In the first of our three-part series on teaching story structure, we’ll show you how to help students wrangle their ideas into clear, compelling tales. We’re kicking things …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=17639
Nov 06
Ever heard a student say, “Y’all, this lesson’s fire”? Welcome to the colorful, quirky, and downright fascinating world of English dialects—where the way we talk reveals more than just where we’re from. This lesson helps students dig into Common Core Standard L.5.3.B, which asks 5th graders to analyze how varieties of English are used in …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=17533
Oct 02
Students often think comparing texts means looking for stories that seem alike on the surface. Strong readers go much further. They understand that comparing texts in different genres means examining how a poem, a historical article, an animated short, and even a commercial can explore the same universal idea while using completely different structures, styles, …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=17432
Sep 04
Students often say two stories are “the same” because they both have dragons, take place at school, or are funny. But comparing texts goes far beyond noticing surface details. Strong readers compare how different authors develop similar themes, characters, conflicts, and ideas. They notice that two realistic fiction stories can explore friendship in completely different …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=17430
Aug 07
Ever wish your students would stop and say, “Hey! That theme shows up in stories from everywhere!”?Well, wish granted—because this ready-to-teach lesson on RL.4.9 will have your class spotting universal themes and cultural twists faster than you can say folktale from the Philippines. And the best part? The full handout is prepped and waiting, so …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=17448
Apr 03
If you are looking for some high-interest activities, try using animated shorts to teach inference skills. This post features five animated shorts that your students are sure to love. The shorts vary from serious to funny. Select the ones you really like, or show all five videos. In the accompanying handouts, students summarize, infer, and …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5610
