Teacher+Resources

Literacy Resources for Teachers

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Lesson Plans
1. Compact for reading [] Good resource for school to home connection, pdf’s to download k-3 at home activities. Students will practice skills taught in the classroom and will also aid teacher in making home-school literacy connections. (PEI A1, A2, A3, NS 12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

2. Literature units to foster critical thinking [] Has downloadable units for popular books such as Freckle Juice, Cam Jansen, The stories Julian Tells, etc. Included in the units are a vocabulary section, a thinking cap section, literary section, end of book projects, internet connections, and a fun sheet. (PEI A1, A2, A3, NS 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, TS 1A, 3A,)

3. http://www.teachingideas.co.uk/english/contents.htm Lots of resources to reinforce and practice using dictionary skills, ideas to reflect on reading, and predicting. (PEI A1, A2, A3, NS 12.1, 12.3)

4. http://www.dositey.com/2008/index.php?page=free_activities&sub=k2&subsub=l Offers a dynamic collection of interactive K-2 Language Arts activities to reinforce phonics skills, vocabulary, spelling, grammar, reading, and writing. This site also offers printable worksheets. (PEI A1, NS 12.3, TS 3B, 3C, 4A, 6A, 6B)

5. http://www.dositey.com/2008/index-page-free_activities-sub-34-subsub-l.php Offers a dynamic collection of interactive 3-4 Language Arts activities to reinforce vocabulary, spelling, reading, writing, and critical thinking skills. Printable worksheets are also available on this site. (PEI A1, NS 12.3, TS 3B, 3C, 4A, 6A, 6B)

6. http://www.abcteach.com/directory/reading_comprehension/grades_46/fictional/ Downloadable lessons great for teachers grades 4-6 to help improve students' reading comprehension using fictional texts. (PEI-A1, A2; NS 12.1, 12.3)

7. http://www.abcteach.com/directory/reading_comprehension/grades_46/informational/ Downloadable lessons great for teachers grades 4-6 to help improve students' reading comprehension using informational texts. (PEI-A1, A2; NS 12.1, 12.3)

8. http://www.abcteach.com/directory/reading_comprehension/grades_46/holidaysseasonal/ Downloadable lessons great for teachers grades 4-6 to help improve students' reading comprehension using holiday/seasonal texts. (PEI-A1, A2; NS 12.1, 12.3)

9. http://www.abcteach.com/directory/reading_comprehension/grades_24/informational/ Downloadable lessons great for teachers grades 2-4 to help improve students' reading comprehension using informational texts. (PEI-A1, A2; NS 12.1, 12.3)

10. http://www.abcteach.com/directory/reading_comprehension/grades_24/fictional/ Downloadable lessons great for teachers grades 2-4 to help improve students' reading comprehension using fictional texts. (PEI-A1, A2; NS 12.1, 12.3)

11. http://www.abcteach.com/directory/reading_comprehension/grades_24/holidaysseasonal/ Downloadable lessons great for teachers grades 2-4 to help improve students' reading comprehension using holiday/seasonal texts. (PEI-A1, A2; NS 12.1, 12.3)

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/units/units_with_books.htm Reading Unit Resources for Teachers that has vocabulary, comprehension questions and activities for selected chapter books.

12. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading9/alexander_and_the_no_good.htm Lesson for a whole language classroom on Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viost. This lesson integrates writing, drama and social studies. (PEI-A2,A3; NS-12.1)

13. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/dixie/because_of_winn_dixie.htm Online or print a quiz for each chapter in "Because of Winn Dixie" by Kate Decamillo. This site also has facts about topics that come up in the story such as alcohol and single parent families. (PEI-A2,NS-12.1,TS-6a)

14. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading37/best_christmas_pageant_ever.htm Online or printable questions and activities for each chapter of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" (PEI-A1, NS-12.1, TS-6a)

15. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading32/bud.htm This site has links to discussion guides, activities and teaching ideas for "Bud, Not Buddy" by Christopher Paul Curtis. It includes a web based thematic unit with overview, lesson outline and assessment tools. (PEI-A2,A3; NS-12.1,12.2; TS-6a)

16. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading15/buffalo_before_breakfast.htm Vocabulary, questions and activities for each chapter of "Buffalo Before Breakkfast" by Mary Pope Osbourne in The Magic Tree House series. (PEI-A1,A2,A3; NS12.1,12.2)

17. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading2/chocolate_touch.htm Printable and online questions for each chapter of "The Chocolate Touch" It also includes many educational activities. (PEI-A1A2A3; NS-12.1,12.2;TS-6a)

18. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading52/city_of_ember.htm Questions and activities for every chapter of "The City of Ember". There are 5 writing lessons to improve the way we use quotation marks. The site also has many skills worksheets. (PEI-A1,A2,A3; NS12.1,12.2,12.3)

19. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading13/civil_war_on_sunday.htm Literary Unit for the book "Civil War on Sundays" from the Magic Tree House Series. Site is full of vocabulary, online vocabulary activities, printable and online questions for each chapter. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

20. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading4/dinosaurs_before_dark.htm Literary Unit for the book "Dinosaurs Before Dark" from the Magic Tree House Series. Site is full of vocabulary, questions, and activities for each chapter. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

21. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading39/holes.htm Literary Unit for the book, "Holes" by Louis Sachar. This site provides all you need to teach this book from vocabulary lists with vocabulary practice ideas, online and printable questions for groups of chapters. Each group of chapters also provides lesson activities focusing on author's purpose, thesis statements, topic sentences, ordering sentences, staying on topic, and concluding sentences. (PEI- A1 A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

22. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading47/maniac_magee.htm Literary Unit for the book "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli. This site is full of vocabulary, printable and activities for groups of chapters. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3; TS 1A, 1D, 2A, 3A, 3B, 3D, 4A. 4C)

23. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading23/number_the_stars.htm Literary Unit for the book "Number the Stars" by Lois Lowry. This site is full of vocabulary, printable and online questions, and activities for each chapter. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3; TS 1A, 2C, 3A, 3B, 4A, 5A, 5C)

24. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading45/sparks.htm Literary Unit for the book "People of Sparks" (sequel to City of Ember). This site is full of vocabulary, online vocabulary activities, printable and online comprehension questions for groups chapters. Each group of chapters also has lessons focusing on types of sentences, punctuating, subject/verb agreements, choppy and run-on sentences. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3; TS 2A, 4A, 4B, 4D)

25. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading14/pirates_past_noon.htm Literary Unit for the book "Pirates Past Noon" from the Magic Tree House Series. Site is full of vocabulary, online vocabulary activities, printable and online questions for each chapter. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

26. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading3/sarah.htm Literary Unit for the book "Sarah, Plain and Tall" by Patricia MacLachlan. Site is full of vocabulary,, printable comprehension questions and activities for each chapter. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

27. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/dogs/fox/stone_fox.htm Literary Unit for the book "Stone Fox" by John Reynolds Gardiner. This site is full of vocabulary, vocabulary activities, printable and online comprehension questions and activities for each chapter. This site also has an additional link to lesson plans for a dog sleedding unit. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3; TS 2A, 4A, 4B, 4D)

28. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading31/thanksgiving_on_thursday.htm Literary Unit for the book "Thanksgiving on Thursday" from the Magic Tree House Series. Site is full of vocabulary, online vocabulary activities, printable and online questions for each chapter. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

29. http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading8/whipping_boy.htm Literary Unit for the book "The Whipping Boy" by Sid Fleischman. This site is full of vocabulary, online vocabulary activities, printable comprehension questions and activities for each pair of chapter. (PEI- A1, A2; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3; TS 2A, 4A, 4B, 4D)

30. http://www.readinga-z.com/ Hundreds of printable leveled readers K-6. Reading lessons and worksheets can also be downloaded to enhance the books. A subscription is needed to download books, lessons, comprehension questions and activities. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.2, 12.3) 31. http://www.rhlschool.com/read7n3.htm A poem is provided with discussion questions that follow to focus on reading comprehension. (PEI A1, A2, NS 12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

32. http://www.rhlschool.com/read6n3.htm Various reading selections are provided with questions that follow to work on inferencing, being able to "read between the lines," (PEI A1, NS 12.1, 12.3)

33. http://www.rhlschool.com/read5n27.htm A reading passage is provided with multiple choice comprehension questions that follow to check for understanding. (PEI A1, A2, A3, NS 12.1, 12.3)

34. http://www.rhlschool.com/read5n26.htm A poem is provided with discussion questions that follow to focus on reading comprehension. (PEI A1, A2, NS 12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

35. http://www.rhlschool.com/read5n18.htm** Sentences are given and a pair of words will be in parenthesis. These words are antonyms. Students need to underline the word that makes sense in the context. (PEI A1, NS 12.3)

36. http://old.sandi.net/dingeman/teachers/rw_lessons.htm There are book lists and lessons to support different mini-lessons in reading for teachers; such as: author's craft, author's message, inferring, contextual clues and much more. (PEI- A1, A2; NS- 12.1, 12.2, 12.3; TS- 1A, 2B, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4C)

37. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=370 Pictures can help increase students' understanding of the text, topic, or story. In this lesson, students are asked four different types of questions about the pictures found in a wordless picture book. The questions range in difficulty from those with answers that can be found in the text to those that require inferences. Students learn to categorize questions by the four question types and use pictures to help them better understand a story. (PEI- A1, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.3)

38. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=26 Studying the lives of others—biographies—is of interest and value to young learners. This lesson supports 3rd-5th grade students' exploration of multiple sources to create a timeline about the life of a person of their choosing. Further, the experience requires students to work together and to research and resolve potentially conflicting pieces of information about the life they research. Extension activities include developing essays from their research. (PEI- A1, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.3)

39. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=67 This "just for fun" book club was a student-organized, student-driven reading experience that built community in the classroom and encouraged students to read independently, taking responsibility for their reading. (PEI-A1; NS 12.1)

40. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=267 Stories have one main character that works to solve a problem. Story maps are used to help create a full summary of the story. A character perspective charting is an alternative to story mapping, a strategy that digs deeper into different character points of view, goals, and intentions so students can better understand, infer and appreciate the story. (PE-A1, A3; NS- 12. 1, 12.3)

41. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=188 Teachers of reading and writing always look for new and engaging texts to use in the classroom. An often-overlooked genre is comics. While comics in the past were thought to not be challenging enough for students, the opposite is true. Comics cause students to infer and use their imaginations. Students think they are reading for fun, but through comics are using all of the higher-level thinking skills. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS- 12.1, 12. 2, 12.3)

42. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=64 Students give recommendations on books they have read. As students hear what other students have been reading, and hear their excitement for the books, they too will want to enjoy this piece of literature. These are required activities, with two students giving a recommendation each class day. (PEI- A3; NS- 12. 3)

43. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=2 Students will investigate the reading process and end up with a working definition of reading using different types of books. Each student brainstorms what it means to be a successful reader. Based upon shared findings and discussions, students will create a living definition of reading. This definition can be posted and revised as more is learned about reading during the year. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

44. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=240 This lesson uses folktales, myths and fables to introduce students to the comprehension strategy of knowing how words work. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

45. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=409 In this lesson, the students will be introduced to a character from a literature series. Students will use story mapping to analyze and show the characters development in a particular story. They will show how a character changes, develops and is successful throughout the story. Then students will use another piece of literature tto try and create a similar character map on their own. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

46. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=172 Reader's Theater gets students excited about reading and presenting. In this lesson students will create scripts, perform in groups to depict characters from texts through their voice. (PEI- A1, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.3)

47. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=946 (K-2) This lesson is designed to help first- and second-grade students learn new vocabulary by taking them on virtual adventures that replicate field trips. Students access prior knowledge through writing. Students use an online Alphabet Organizer to complete a final writing activity, which they compare to the writing they did during the first session. Although this lesson focuses on the moon, its activities can be used with any content area topic. (PEI- A1, A3; NS-12.1, 12.3; TS-2A, 3B, 3C, 4A)

48. . http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=183 (K-2) These activities provide support in teaching nonfiction. Students use thinking strategies, gather information through nonfiction text, graphs, pictures and other nonfiction text features to help answer clarifying questions. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

49. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=847 (K-2) This lesson uses the book //Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type// by Doreen Cronin to teach students word identification strategies. With repeated teacher modeling and guided practice, students learn to identify rimes or word families and apply their knowledge of these words to the decoding of new words. (PEI- A1, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.3)

50. http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=239 (K-2) Snowmen are of interest to young students. This lesson suggests building a snowman as one way to provide food for birds and animals during the winter. Students read fiction and nonfiction books and access the Internet to gain information about how animals survive during the winter. They also use a K-W-L graphic organizer to activate prior knowledge and increase their understanding of the topic. Students then use their graphic organizers to write stories. Extension activities involve writing poetry, building snowmen to feed animals, and doing art projects. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS- 12. 1, 12.2, 12.3; TS-2A, 3B, 3C, 4A)

51.http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=264 (K-2) This lesson is most appropriate for second graders, but can be adapted for kindergarten or first graders. The activity begins with the singing of the song "A-Hunting We Will Go" with its original verses and several new verses that support rhyming concepts. Students brainstorm pairs of rhyming words and create their own verses for the song. The activity culminates with the practice of rhyming skills using an online interactive tool. (PEI- A1, A3; NS- 12.1, 12.3)

52. http://www.freereading.net/index.php?title=Vocabulary_Activities Reading Vocabulary lessons and activities. Also listed by specific books mainly in grades K-3. Activities are organized into three categories: introduce, reintroduce and build mastery. (PEI- A1, A2, A3; NS-12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

Activities
53. Goofs [] Daily oral language mini-lessons where students need to find the editing goofs. (PEI A1, NS 12.3)

54. http://www.dositey.com/2008/Topics/topic.php?&sub=58&subsub=l&sub_3&topicId=14 Offers an engaging and interactive way to read proverbs and write an explanation of its meaning, intended for 5-8 Language Arts. (PEI A1, A2, NS 12.1, 12.3, TS 2B)

55. http://www.spellingcity.com/ Makes teaching spelling fun! This is a free online spelling tool that provides games, reviews, and quizzes. Worksheets can be printed with students' spelling words on them for extra practice. (PEI A1, NS 12.3,)

56. http://www.freereading.net/index.php?title=Comprehension_Activities Activities are organized into three categories: introduce, reintroduce and build mastery. Introduce- students are introduced to comprehension skills through a read a loud. Reintroduce- students will complete a graphic organizer to practice the application of a comprehension skill. Build mastery- students will expand their knowledge of a comprehension skill by engaging in a variety of activities. (PEI A1, A2, A3, NS 12.1, 12.2, 12.3)

57. http://teacherszine.tripod.com/Teacherszine/AcceleratedReader.htm This site is full of online reading ideas to encourage students to read. There are engaging ideas, free worksheets, organization tips, resource links, advice and more. (PEI A1, NS 12.1, 12.3)

Strategies
58. http://www.guysread.com/ Site that has recommended books that will interest boys and get them wanting to read. (PEI-A1,A2; NS-12.1,12.2)

59. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4649807 NPR podcast episode that talks about boys reading, what might boys be interested in reading. How do we help boys love to read? (PEI-A1,A2; NS-12.1,12.2)

All three of the following sites are great strategies/ resources for reading- may be good for parents as well as teachers. Each site organizes different problems with comprehension, fluency and vocabulary and then gives strategies and resources to help improve those problems. 60. http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/Reading/resources/IScomprehension.htm(PEI-A1; NS-12.3)

61. http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/Reading/resources/ISfluency.htm(PEI-A1;NS-12.3)

62. http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/Reading/resources/ISvocabulary.htm(PEI-A1; NS-12.3)

63. http://www.educationoasis.com/curriculum/Reading/resources/more_less.htm The above site lists what the best practices in reading are. There is a broken down list in two columns by what teachers should do more and what should be done less.(PEI-A1;NS-12.3)

64. http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=944AA725-C2BB-4698-8003-66DA872AC1C3&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US Public Television Series Offers strategies to help struggling students with their reading
 * Need a subscription to view

65. http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=D37B9ED3-C49F-45DCBB20-8875F8FC0A83&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US Need a subscription to view Offers skills from sight words and context clues to phonics and syllables, introduces general reading skills and strategies. (PEI-A1; NS-12.3)

66. http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4367 Surefire strategies for Developing Reading Fluency(PEI-A1; NS-12.3)

Articles
67. http://reading.indiana.edu/www/indexwr.html Article: Understanding the Primary Role of Word Recognition. To find this article; click on the above link, then click "Reading Reserach- The Latest Finding", from there you will click the 3rd bullet down which is the title of the article and this will prompt you to download the article.

68. http://www.edbydesign.com/learning/reading/ Reading resources for parents and teachers. Links to: Strategies, what good readers do, cues readers use to help them, activities that promote reading.

Additional Resources
69. http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dkbrown/authors.html Website listing different authors and illustrators, that link to the specific author’s site. Excellent resource for teachers doing different author studies.

70. http://www.busyteacherscafe.com/teacher_resources/literacy_pages/literary_elements.htm Literacy Elements for Teachers. This site is broken up by different story elements; character traits, setting, plot, etc. Under each category are downloadable graphic organizers and activities for each literary elements. (PEI- A1; NS- 12.3)

71. http://www.emints.org/ethemes/resources/S00000737.shtml This list of sites offer various strategies to improve reading comprehension for students at all grade levels. Includes many online stories and questions to test reading comprehension. There is a reading comprehension inventory and research articles on this topic. Many pages can be printed out and used in the classroom. Some of the tips include KWL charts, story maps, word maps, and story pyramids. There are also links to eThemes Resources on graphic organizers, guided reading, and literature circles. (PEI- A1; NS- 12.3)