Language Arts Education Articles for Teachers - Page 6

Vocabulary instruction is a fundamental building block of comprehension, allowing learners to grasp ideas and expand their knowledge of the world.  Each academic discipline has words specific to its particular field that students must learn. Chemistry classes speak of atoms and covalent bonds, wh...

Many books focus on famous people throughout history. Sometimes, it is nice to shift our gaze to those who do not get their share of the limelight. The following books, geared toward elementary learners, delve into the lives of people we do not often hear about, but probably should.  The Hallel...

As spring approaches, thoughts begin to drift to outdoor activities and vacations. In my own sixth-grade classroom, I view this fragile time of year as an opportunity to change our class-time routine in hopes of maintaining the attention and motivation of my students for the remainder of the scho...

The literary phenomena known as The Hunger Games is a science-fiction trilogy by Suzanne Collins that is taking the country by storm. Stealing the hearts of adults and children alike, it is a must-read for you and your students. From the very beginning, the all-consuming storyline will capture yo...

Story element instruction, at the middle school level, is focused on the analysis of the various plot elements and their development over the course of a story. Accomplishing these objectives in a creative and unique manner can be a challenge. Most students that walk into the middle school langua...

Student portfolios are a beneficial strategy to building a sense of ownership and accountability in the classroom. Through the utilization of portfolios, students are able to reflect on past accomplishments and struggles, as well as establish goals for future learning. In my language arts classro...

Libraries provide an endless source of adventure, wonder, and educational resources. Delightfully, February brings the opportunity to not only celebrate sweethearts but a love of libraries. Library Lovers’ Month is a month long celebration of libraries of all types, including public, school, and ...

Assessment, classroom management, anticipatory set, objectives--the list of classroom terminology goes on. However, it is time to add a new one to the mix: backchannel. What is Backchannel? According to Todaysmeet.com, backchannel is “where people ask each other questions, pass notes, get distr...

A great idea can spread like wildfire. It all started with a suggestion made at our weekly teacher’s meeting. One of my co-workers asked if we would like to make Valentine’s Day cards for the soldiers in Afghanistan. She had heard a radio announcer from the area asking for cards that would then b...

Like most in-school holidays, Valentine's Day will have your classroom abuzz. Students will be a little more inclined to celebrate, and a little less focused on the normal daily routine. During the day of love, why not work with their extra fuel and incorporate a few themed activities across th...

Dating back to the 18th century, Groundhog Day grew out of European weather folklore. Perhaps most well-known for being celebrated in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the holiday stars a prognosticating groundhog named Phil. This February 2nd will mark Punxsutawney Phil’s 126th prediction. Celebrators...

February is a good time to focus on the rich, interesting poetry written by African Americans because it is Black History Month. Poets like Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Nikki Giovanni use language in such a wonderful and enticing way that pupils reading their poetry will not only gain an ap...

That once-in-a-school-year day is just around the corner. If you’re a kindergarten teacher, you and your class may have been counting every school day in anticipation. Get ready for the 100th day of school!   Your elementary students will enjoy these exciting cross-curricular activities: Math Pa...

In the language arts classroom, successful teaching methods involve incorporating purpose-driven, meaningful vocabulary instruction. In my first few years of teaching, I searched for meaningful ways to help students understand new vocabulary. From understanding root words and affixes, to using c...

Even though next week is officially No Name Calling Week, the lessons learned can last throughout the year. By discussing the negative impact name calling, and bullying can have on children, and people in general, this observance can be a time to put some positive behaviors in motion. We are all...