Literacy and Reading Skills
25 Ideas to Motivate Young Readers
These ideas are designed for elementary students, and many will work with middle school, too.
88 Generalizations about Free Voluntary Reading
A summary of research regarding SSR/DEAR programs.
100 Most Frequent Words in Books for Beginning Readers
These words are listed in order of frequency. Access requires Adobe Reader or compatible application.
103 Things to do Before/During/After Reading
These tips from Jim Burke can be applied to a wide range of grade and ability levels.
ABCD Watermelon
In this online video game, students practice sequencing letters of the alphabet.
ABCs of Conservation
This technology-integrated lesson reviews letters of the alphabet and their corresponding sounds as students brainstorm ways to use natural resources wisely.
The Alphabet is Historic
The three lessons in this K-2 curriculum unit include short historical introductions to the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans, hyperlinks to selected illustrations, and suggestions for activities.
Beck's Literacy Wiki
Here's your one-stop site for literacy forms, ideas, and conversation. Look to the menu to the right to get started. A middle school literacy coach shares her materials and ideas.
Beginning to Read
Fifteen activities for preschool to grade 2.
Beginning Reading and Writing
Activities for the youngest readers and writers.
Between the Lions
Sponsored by PBS with a new lesson every week. Lessons are tied to specific skills.
Building a Case for Clues
Students make, confirm and revise predictions using the reading context. This activity is designed for grades 3-5 and includes an optional graphic organizer.
Character Development: Nanavi, A Girl from Benin, West Africa
Students see how Nanavi's life changes from 2003 when she was nine years old to 2006 when she is twelve years old. They use information from two video segments to complete a chart, then write a statement to express the ways Nanavi changed. Recognizing the ways in which characters change and develop throughout a story is one way students are able to respond and react to literature. Identifying ways characters change helps students understand character motivation, plot and other literary elements. Lesson plan includes 2 QuickTime videos and handout.
Character Scrapbook
In this online activity, students respond to reading by creating a scrapbook of a character. They use options to create a portrait and then list 10 things about the character before printing.
Cheryl Sigmon's Website
An extensive introduction to Four Blocks reading instruction strategy, free handouts, and learning games.
Classroom Strategies
A list of teaching strategies for before, during, and after reading. A column to the right indicates whether the strategy supports vocabulary, comprehension, or writing. If there's one you haven't heard of, click on it for a thorough explanation.
Comprehension
Scroll down to a collection of links to a variety of reading strategies.
Comparing and Contrasting Journals
Students compare and contrast journal entries from the American/Canadian Mt. Everest Quest of 2001. This lesson lends itself well to a follow-up writing lesson.
"The Dance"
In this scripted lesson students learn test-taking skills related to reading comprehension questions.
Dolch Basic Sight Words
This 3-page story, "The Best Thing in the World," contains all 220 Dolch Basic Sight Words, color-coded for 5 different grade levels. Access requires Adobe Reader or compatible application.
Fact vs. Opinion (Part I) and Fact vs. Opinion (Part II)
Designed for grades 6-8, these lessons help students understand the difference between fact and opinion and provide practice.
Fact vs. Opinions in Advertisements
Students develop criteria for determining statements of opinion and practice discerning statements of opinion in advertisements.
Fairy Tales & Folklore
Links to fairy tales like Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, and Snow White.
Finding Faulty Logic
Students analyize political ads and commercial ads, looking for generalizing, scare tactics, and exaggeration. This interactive lesson is designed for adult learners and may work with high school students, too.
First 100 sight words
Students can use these digital flashcards to review sight words. Headsets recommended.
First Sentence Prompts
You can't judge a book by its cover, but can you judge it by its first sentence? With these simple worksheets, students will exercise their skills of prediction, research, and creative writing. Designed for elementary and middle school.
Four Blocks
Information and teaching ideas.
Four Blocks Teacher Resources
Information, bulletin boards, lesson plan ideas, and related links.
Five Quick Games Build Reading Skills
Appropriate for grades K-8, these quick activities help develop a variety of reading skills.
Fry's Readability and Other Readability Information
Kathy Schrock presents Fry Readability directions and graphs, along with links to other readability formulas.
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