What is a RAN chart? For me, the RAN chart is the answer to “But the KWL chart doesn’t work in my class!” RAN stands for Reading and Analyzing Nonfiction (credit: Tony Stead). I have always struggled with the KWL chart for a few reasons. I like the concept, but when I asked the students […]
Reading Strategies
Reading Strategy: Find the Main Idea
Importance The main idea is the central, or most important, idea in a paragraph or passage. Arguably, being able to identify the main idea is the most important skill for students when reading nonfiction, but it doesn’t stop there! Finding the main idea is only the first step in summarizing a text, and so being […]
Writers’ Workshop: Show Don’t Tell
Every elementary Writers’ Workshop teacher has a go-to “Show, Don’t Tell” lesson in which students learn how to show or illustrate what is happening, instead of merely stating it. But do we ever have enough? Do the students ever master this highly important writing skill?? Exactly! So here is another lesson to add to your […]
Critical Analysis of a Poem in Middle School
Most middle school students are not thrilled to learn that they will be analyzing one poem over three days.
Teaching Text Evidence Without The Groans!
There are several topics that make students groan when you announce them…proving a point with text evidence is among the top five.
Readers’ Workshop: Managing Student Choice
As a Literacy Coach, I view my main job as getting kids to love reading. Here are some of my tricks!
Activate Schema and Engage Students with an Anticipation Reaction Guide
Why? While activating background knowledge might not be one of the “Super 6” comprehension strategies, I would argue that this is where every reader should start. As a reader, when I pick up a new text, I question what it is going to be about and what I already know about the subject. Sometimes, I might […]
Writers’ Workshop: Organizing Ideas for Personal Narrative Drafts
We are getting Writers’ Workshop kicked off school-wide – K-12!