Idea by Debbie, 4th Grade Teacher, Waldo, FL I make fluency fun by using a Reader’s Theater technique to practice reading. With this method, students read play scripts aloud, with more than one student reading each part in unison.

Idea by Marie, 1st Grade Teacher, Las Vegas, NV When teaching phonics, I always use American Sign Language. I have a poster of the sign language alphabet in my room. I also use hand signs for things like flower, tree, run, kick, and more.

Idea by Natalie, Elementary Teacher, Cookeville, TN When I taught 2nd grade, reading comprehension was a main focus of our reading instruction. To boost comprehension, I taught my students how to visualize story elements (characters, settings, actions, etc.) by projecting them onto their “TV Brains.”

Idea by Deborah, 2nd Grade Teacher, Mobile , AL To teach fluency pick a sentence that your students can read fairly easily. Write it on a sentence strips three times. Leave one strip whole. Cut the next one in phrases. Cut the next one word for word. Explain to the students what a fluent reader would
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Idea by Maja Terre, a Kindergarten Teacher, in Terre Haute, IN. This year we are hosting a summer used-book exchange. We are asking all of the kindergarten students to bring in three gently used books that they will then be able to exchange for three “new” books. The exchange will allow each child to have
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Idea by Ruth, a 2nd Grade Teacher, from Brandon, FL. To encourage summer reading, I purchase an inexpensive chapter book for each child to take home and keep. I purchase these books from the dollar store. You can also check out the discount bins at bookstores as well as summer yard sales. These purchases mean
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Idea by Lisa, a 2nd Grade Teacher, from Harrod, OH. As a literacy coach, I enjoy establishing summer reading goals for each grade level. I also send home summer reading logs. Students who complete their summer logs get their picture posted on our back-to-school fall “Reading Hall of Fame” bulletin board. They also receive coupons
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How wonderful would it be if your incoming students this fall had already mastered most, if not all, of their grade level sight words?  Think of the things you could focus on instead!  Before you say goodbye to your students for the summer, print out the Dolch Sight Word list below for the grade they
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By Arielle and Lauren, Guest Bloggers As the weather gets hot and your students are itching to be outside, we thought we could prepare you with some perfect summer must-reads. After all, we can’t really blame them for their renewed Spring energy. Here are some great ideas to help your students continue to build their
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Jumpstart students’ enthusiasm for reading with some great ideas from really good teachers.  Their tips and tricks focus on everything from guest readers to students’ senses of adventure.  If your students are struggling to maintain a great attitude toward reading, try on the ideas below to help tap into their natural desire to hear and
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