Written by Gennifer Choldenko, Al Capone Does My Shirts is a captivating and engaging historical fiction novel. It will transport readers back in time to the infamous Alcatraz Island during the 1930s. Reading Level Lexile 600L Interest Level Grades 6-8 Length 241 pages Award Newbery Honor Jump to Section Book Summary Book Details Teaching Activities ⭐ …
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Mar 09
Testimonial Persuasive Technique
In Part 2 of the series “Teaching the Persuasive Technique – Testimonial,” 2017 Super Bowl commercials are featured. Many stars came out to promote products. Actors, sports figures, and even Bill Nye the Science Guy promote products. With a 30-second spot costing $5 million, many companies went with big celebrities. Check out these materials for teaching …
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Mar 06
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda by Roald Dahl is a wildly imaginative and beloved children’s novel set in a small English village. This classic novel is perfect for upper elementary readers. Its humor, memorable characters, and themes of courage, justice, and self‑empowerment make it ideal for teaching character traits, theme, author’s craft, and figurative language. Reading Level Lexile 840L …
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Feb 27
Out of the Dust Lesson Plan
Out of the Dust is a haunting and beautifully written verse novel that captures the hardship, grief, and resilience of life during the Dust Bowl. Through Billie Jo’s voice, readers experience the stark landscape, the emotional weight of loss, and the slow, painful journey toward forgiveness and healing. Reading Level Lexile 1040L Interest Level Grades …
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Feb 23
Analyzing Conflict and Resolution in Song Lyrics
Music has a way of telling stories, and many songs highlight challenges and the solutions that follow. In this post, we’ll explore songs your students can use to analyze conflict and resolution in song lyrics, making reading skills both fun and memorable. A special thank-you goes out to Nancy Davis’s middle school music class, whose …
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Feb 20
The Tale of Despereaux Activities
If you’re searching for Despereaux teaching ideas, this beloved Kate DiCamillo classic offers meaningful reflection. The Tale of Despereaux follows a tiny mouse with enormous ears, a love of stories, and a heart full of courage. His curiosity leads him to Princess Pea, whose kindness and gentle nature captivate him instantly, and whose world pulls …
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Feb 16
Teaching Cause and Effect in Narrative Song Lyrics
Cause and effect is one of the trickier skills to teach, but songs make it stick. This post is part of my series on using music to analyze literature. While finding songs that clearly show cause-and-effect relationships took some digging, the results are worth it. From heartfelt ballads to humorous camp letters, these songs help …
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