ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Guided Comprehension: Semantic Analysis
Lesson introduces young scholars to comprehension of knowing how words work. Students learn semantic feature analysis and examine folktales, myths, and fables using this analysis to better understand these terms and texts.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Compiling Poetry Collections and a Working Definition of Poetry
Contains plans for eight lessons in a poetry unit that asks students to write poetry in various forms after reading models. In addition to objectives and standards, this instructional plan contains links to sites used in the lessons as...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Color Personification Poems
In this lesson, Hailstones and Halibut Bones, a book written by Mary O'Neill and Red Sings, and From Treetops: a Year in Colors, a book by Joyce Sidman, are used as mentor texts. Learners will brainstorm to collect different adjectives,...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: A Poem for Two Voices [Pdf]
For this lesson students write in contrasting voices to create a descriptive poem.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Guided Comprehension: Self Questioning
Online lesson introduces students to the concept of self-questioning, assisting them in an understanding of question-answer relationships that should improve their reading comprehension skills. In-depth study will lead to improved...
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: Poetry for the Elementary Classroom
Site contains a narrative and three lesson plans. These plans are designed to assist students with various aspects of poetry. This site discusses strategies which enable students to effectively, memorize, recite, and correctly pronounce...
Writing Fix
Writing Fix: Question and Answer Books
Beginning writers work through a Writing Workshop format to create Question and Answer books. A series of mini-lessons, graphic organizers, possible texts, and samples of student work are all provided.
Hopelink
Hopelink: Reading Lesson Idea: Real Life Reading Materials
The purpose of this reading activity is to offer a reading and comprehension activity based on real-life reading materials. This gives students the opportunity to gain reading comprehension skills from real-life reading material.
Other
Trelease on Reading: "The Read Aloud Handbook," Ch.6
Author Jim Trelease presents ideas about how to make books and reading more appealing to children, which helps to raise reading rates and levels. Read these excerpts from his book on this topic.
Read Works
Read Works: Comprehension Units
[Free Registration/Login Required] Reading comprehension units for grades kindergarten through fifth grade are available on this site. Units consist of read aloud questions and paired passages. Multiple Lexiles are shown, along with...
Reading Rockets
Reading Rockets: Family Reading Activities
This site features family reading activities that will guide parents with their children's reading development.
US Department of Education
U.s. Dept. Of Education: Teaching Approaches: Text Comprehension Instruction
What is text comprehension? How does comprehension improve our reading ability? Check out this site to learn more about reading comprehension instruction. There are some wonderful suggestions for teachers to implement in their classrooms.
Other
Thoughtful Learning: Minilesson: Asking and Answering the 5 W's and H Questions
Students will learn the "5 W's and H questions" needed to comprehend a news story. Then students will apply these question words [who, what, where, why, when, and how] to real news stories and to events in their own lives.
Read Works
Read Works: Light Bounces!
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about light waves and how they travel. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: "Autumn"
[Free Registration/Login Required] A poem by Emily Dickinson about the approaching autumn. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: Knocked Down
[Free Registration/Login Required] A literary text about a boy Christopher who did not treat a friend very nicely. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Read Works
Read Works: All in a Week
[Free Registration/Login Required] This poem discusses the adventures taken while reading during a single week. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Read Works
Read Works: It's All in the Mind
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text debating whether or not psychics are real. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Favorite Poem Project
Favorite Poem Project
Created by poet laureate Robert Pinsky, this project encourages Americans of all ages and walks of life to submit favorite poems. There are videos of some readings, and help for teachers and community members who would like to sponsor a...
Read Works
Read Works: 3rd Grade Lesson: Poetry
[Free Registration/Login Required] A lesson in which students use two provided poems to learn to identify and understand the use of similes and metaphors in poetry. Lesson includes direct teaching, guided practice, and independent...
Read Works
Read Works: Fifth Grade: Five Lesson Unit: Leaf by Leaf: Autumn Poems
[Free Registration/Login Required] A five lesson plan poetry unit focusing on main idea, tone, theme, author's purpose, and figurative language in poetry. Texts must be provided by the teacher, but handouts that go along with the lesson...
Hopelink
Hopelink: Reading Lesson Idea: Qar a Reading Comprehension Strategy
Brush up on your reading comprehension skills when you check out this website. It looks at a particular strategy called QAR. QAR stands for "Question-Answer Relationships." This particular strategy helps students learn to answer reading...
Curated OER
Mc Graw Hill: Part 2: Reading Informational Text: Ask and Answer Questions
Learn about questions to ask while reading a text on this site. Also, review where to look for the answers to the questions that you asked.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Anticipation Guide
Anticipating is an effective reading strategy for readers of all ages. Utilize this template and graphic organizer to help your students become better readers.