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.
Feb 17
Perspective and point of view walk into the classroom hand in hand… and immediately start causing confusion. Students think they’re twins, but they’re more like siblings with wildly different personalities. Perspective focuses on how characters see the world, not how the story is told, and once students understand that difference, their comprehension deepens dramatically. Are …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=439
Jan 13
Teaching character traits in upper elementary can feel a little like explaining why your dog needs a Halloween costume. It’s confusing at first, but surprisingly rewarding once it clicks. Students often think traits are just random adjectives, but they’re actually the engine behind a character’s choices, relationships, and growth. When kids understand what motivates a …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=427
Jan 06
Students love to summarize the setting of a story as “It takes place in a house,” but we both know setting is so much more than a location. It shapes the plot, builds the mood, influences characters, and sometimes becomes a character itself. When students understand how setting works, they begin to see why events …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=405
Dec 16
Using animated shorts to teach character traits can be a powerful way to engage students in storytelling and character analysis. One fantastic example is the Pixar-produced short film Geri’s Game. This entertaining and content-rich animation provides valuable opportunities for students to explore character traits in depth. Conveniently embedded below, the film is easily incorporated into …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5618
Dec 09
If you want to add high-interest activities to your lessons, use animated shorts to teach problems and solutions. Animated shorts provide a captivating way to engage students in understanding and identifying problems and solutions within a narrative. This post focuses on using the animated short “Taking the Plunge” to teach problems and solutions. Handouts for …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5620
Dec 02
Students can usually recognize problems and solutions in everyday life, but identifying this text structure in informational reading requires more practice. This lesson bridges that gap through modeled examples, graphic organizers, and guided practice. You’ll find strategies, organizers, and practical examples to help students master this critical reading skill. Grade Level4th–6th Skill FocusProblem & Solution …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=3567
Nov 11
Introducing students to the concept of cause and effect can be both challenging and rewarding. Animated shorts offer a unique and engaging way to explore this literary concept. This lesson plan uses the animated short film “Feast” to teach cause and effect. The post also provides a list of interesting animated shorts for additional practice. …
Permanent link to this article: https://bookunitsteacher.com/wp/?p=5619
