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Reading Strategies: Scaffolding Students' Interactions with Texts Grade 6 to 12
- Greece (NY) Central School District-
6812
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Find resources for teaching and modeling MANY reading strategies in your classroom, including handouts for graphic organizers and vocabulary development, all from this school-district site. Each strategy is explained and classified as before, during, or after reading and then linked to further information. This is a one-stop shop for teachers in every content area, as well as those reinforcing study skills for learning support students and helping students prepare for standardized testing. Each strategy includes suggestions for how to differentiate instruction, as well.
In the Classroom:
Give students links from your teacher web page directly to the graphic organizer they must complete for homework. Then there is no excuse such as having the dog eat it! Files are all Acrobat files, and Acrobat Reader is a free download. |
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Adolescent Literacy Grade 4 to 12
- adlit.org-
9383
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The focus of this site is to encourage better literacy and reading enjoyment among pre-teens and adolescents. A sister site to Reading Rockets and Colorin'Colorado, Adlit offers summer reading strategies, book lists, book clubs, classroom technique hints which encourage development of reading attack skills, and a special section on authors and their best books. For a Spanish language version of the main topics available as an A to Z list, click on the left side of the screen ( En Espanol ). This site has everything you already know about teaching reading in easy-to-use formats. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
In the Classroom:
If you need ideas to get students reading for fun and to help develop their confidence, try this site. Highlight this on your class website so parents can try the activities with their older students. When doing author biographies, share this site with your class using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Be sure to check out the “Classroom Strategies” link for even more literacy ideas. |
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CAST UDL Book Builder Grade K to 12
- CAST-
8060
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TeachersFirst Edge Tool: For more adventurous technology users-- and those who are willing to take the time to learn the tool. This fabulous, FREE online tool allows you to create your own interactive "books" to help young readers learn reading strategies to build comprehension. The tool allows you to enter your own text, images, and hints. The finished product is a very polished-looking book in a form that you can save on your computer or burn to a CD and use over and over and over with students for years to come.
Be sure to try the model books and read the tips for writers and illustrators. Click to see a sample we made for you and placed on our site.
In the Classroom:
Skills required: joining the site (free), locating or writing your own copyright-free text, locating or creating images for which you have the rights to make more than one copy (Fair Use does not apply!), copy/paste the text and resize/upload the images--following simple directions to create the pages and accompanying hints. Be sure to learn about the three interactive characters who teach the strategies! Publish and download the files of the finished "books" and save on your computer. Extract the zipped files and save locally, on your network, or burn to CD so your students can access them directly.
The uses of this one are endless. If you take the time to get permission from the publisher to use text from some of your textbooks or reading books, you could create interactive versions to use in your classroom or with special ed students. More simply, use student-written stories and artwork (scanned -- or created in Paint)to create the "book." Imagine creating a class "book" at the end of a unit on Communities or Animals, and including images you take with your digital camera. If you copy the CD's, students could sign out the "book" and read it to relatives using their home computer. You can keep the "library" of past books to help future classes. Or ask your middle/high school or gifted students to create books as writing/service project for struggling readers to use.
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English Online France:Free online ESL / EFL Academic Reading and Writing Exercises Grade 4 to 12
- Glenys Hanson and Fiona Robertson, et. al.-
9983
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Although this site is constructed for students who are learning English, the language and the writing, it is a great site for all students who need practice in such skills as writing paragraphs, listening skills, word choice, reading strategies for academic texts, and reading for thinking. Almost all of the links include interactive exercises which allow students to work independently, testing themselves as they go. The site includes tutorials, self-quizzes, and more. There are links to podcasts, videos, songs, “Grammar Safaris,” and many other English topics. If you go to Internet Resources (the link is found at the top of the page), you will find addition subject areas: Business English, Science and Technology, Reading, Art, and others. There is also a link to Primary Level. Go there to find interactive flashcards, online stories, and printable pages, and much more.
Be sure to check out the videos, which include commercials from the 1960s! Many of the video and audio features require Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.
In the Classroom:
This site has so much to offer, the possibilities are endless. Obviously, this site is handy with ESL and ELL students. But there is SO much here to explore for teachers of elementary (social studies or language arts), AND secondary teachers trying to reinforce grammar skills, connect history and writing, and more.
Share portions of this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. With primary students, set up learning stations. Have cooperative learning groups explore the site together. Have groups investigate a specific area of this site and create a multimedia presentation to share with the class: wiki, blog entry, podcast, online book, or video. Need some “technology tips?” How about having students create a podcast using Podomatic (reviewed here). Share the "student-created" videos on a tool such as TeacherTube (explained here). Have students write online books using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here. |
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Reading For All Grade K to 12
- TeachersFirst-
9628
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This TeachersFirst professional page includes extensive resources for Reading in the Content Areas, Graphic Organizers, Reading Strategies, Vocabulary Development, Elementary Reading, independent reading, and special topics reading lists. The page also includes a link for you to purchase books from Amazon and have TeachersFirst receive a portion of the proceeds. TeachersFirst is a free service of a non-profit since 1998. Why not shop through this link to help TeachersFirst continue its service to teachers worldwide?
In the Classroom:
No matter what you teach, these resources will help you target reading and study skills for better comprehension and more. |
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This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics Grade 7 to 12
- U.S. Geological Survey-
8243
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This site provides an organized and user-friendly explanation of the history of plate tectonics as described by the U.S. Geological Survey. It includes a lot of detailed information as well as photographs and diagrams. This site has some tough reading depending on the reading level of the user. Allow plenty of time to take in all of the information.
In the Classroom:
This site is useful as a supplement to a geology unit or for review. Include it on your teacher web page for students to access both in and out of class. It is also a great reference tool when preparing your lesson plans. This is a great site to use when teaching about informational text(s). Open it on an interactive whiteboard and review reading strategies using highlighters and pens as you learn about plate tectonics. |
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Language Arts Presentations Grade K to 12
- Jefferson County Schools-
8130
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Wow - this website provides ready-to-use PowerPoint presentations on over 100 topics. The presentations were created by teachers - for teachers to use in their classrooms. This website organizes topics by general grade levels (K-5 and 6-12). Just to give you a taste of the uniqueness of these presentations, topics include such diverse topics as Shakespeare, "grammar goofs," active reading strategies, haunted house graphic organizer, phonics millionaire game, pronouns, and numerous others. Any language arts teacher is guaranteed to find something useful at this website. Do yourself a favor and check it out! You may need PowerPoint software to be able to view these files, depending on how the site creators save them. Note: while files are downloading, it may appear that nothing is happening and that the links are dead. Look for a tiny "downloading" icon in the lower left corner of your screen, and please be patient!
In the Classroom:
Try these ready-to-go PowerPoint presentations on an interactive whiteboard or projector in your classroom. Some may also be well-suited for individual students to run on a single classroom computer for remediation or review. There are games, resources and a lot of information. The site includes a disclaimer asking to be notified if users find any copyrighted material. TeachersFirst recommends that you NOT download copies but instead use them online, just in case. |
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TogetheRead Grade K to 12
- TeachersAndFamilies.com-
7198
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Share family reading and activities around a monthly theme using this outstanding series by our partner site, TeachersAndFamilies. Interwoven into each TogetheRead theme are questions and activities based on reading strategies for effective readers. Parents and children of all ages can select books from the annotated lists, read together, and do related free or low-cost activities. Written in language understandable to parents and without education "jargon" so familiar to teachers, these themes will help any child become a a better reader and enjoy sharing family time. Books are grouped into "bands": preschool/picture books, early elementary, upper elementary to middle school, upper middle school to young adult, and mature teen to adult books. Activities accompany each age group, and participants can contribute their own activity suggestions, as well.
Libraries, schools, parent organizations, and teachers will find free, downloadable materials to promote good reading and family time. They can also sign up to receive advanced notice of upcoming themes to be able to locate the books for their families. There is even an FAQ-style page to help parents get started. Sound reading strategies help EVERY child!
In the Classroom:
Share this link on your teacher web page or in a newsletter. You might even talk to your parent organization about promoting TogetheReads as a whole-school activity. Maybe even host a TogetheRead family evening in the gym or library. |
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Reading Comprehension Connection Grade 4 to 11
- Merit Software-
5814
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Give your students some independent practice in reading comprehension with this collection of interactive lessons. Select a subject (vocabulary in context, reading for understanding, or reading strategies) and a skill level. Check out the lesson summaries for guidance in determining the reading levels addressed by each module. This site offers great practice for state assessments. Be aware: this site does sell software but teachers can use this portion of the site for free.
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Dave's ESL Café Grade 4 to 12
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996
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Here's a site with resources specifically for ESL students. The concentration is on building fluency in English using a variety of conversational and reading strategies. There are also links to a number of other ESL resources. Some of the material is designed for adult learners, but could be adapted for secondary students.
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Imagination Cafe Online Magazine Grade 2 to 6
- Rosanne Tolin-
9092
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Can’t afford classroom magazine subscriptions? Check into this original online magazine for children ages 7-12. As its name implies, the articles, games, tunes, recipes, career center, and much more-- feed the imagination of youth. The feel of the magazine is positive, such as the celebrity interviews, articles on careers, contests, and quirky quizzes. The magazine has lively colors and easy access the different sections. It’s all free. One note of caution: This magazine has a bulletin board for “dishing.” Sign-in, with password, is required for its use, and may need monitoring. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..
In the Classroom:
Include this site on your class web page or newsletter. Use selected articles in class to teach main idea or reading strategies on your projector or interactive whiteboard. Parents would appreciate knowing about this engaging place on the ‘net for their children. Students are invited to submit articles or comments in several places in the magazine. Encourage your students to participate in online publication possibilities at this site -- with written parent permission, of course! |
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Fleck Grade 3 to 12
- Fleck.com-
8769
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TeachersFirst Edge entry: for slightly adventurous technology users. Fleck allows you to put sticky notes and other annotations onto existing web pages and share them with others. Now you can tell students exactly what you want them to do on a page, point out instances of bias or unsafe Internet practice, etc. You can put effective reading strategies right ON the text of the page. See an example here. Your students can also "fleck" to each other as they work on group projects, noting how they will use information or categorizing what they find. Fleck uses FLASH and does not work well on TOP of Flash-driven pages. The annotated pages take a few moment to load, even on a quick connection.
In the Classroom:
Possible uses:
Student research projects, guided reading of web sites, comprehension questions, guiding questions, annotations for tough vocabulary with younger students, Internet safety lessons, students analyzing sites as part of information literacy lessons, art critiques by you or students, student collaboration and source-sharing, professional notes for your own reading or graduate work, etc. Assign students to "Fleck" a site as an assignment in critical thinking and turn it in by sharing with you.
Skills needed: Join the site and wait for the confirming email (our review team said it took a couple of hours). While you are waiting, click over to the HOME page and watch the "How this works" animation. Then try the link to "So why don't you give it a try." (This trial will NOT be saved!) Enter the URL of a page you wish to annotate at the top of the Fleck screen and click GO. Use the toolbar that appears with the web page to add notes, etc. and SAVE. You can also download an extension for Firefox or bookmarklet for Internet Explorer (to make a Fleck button on your toolbar). Be sure to choose public or private for Flecks you make when you SAVE (can be changed). Share your Fleck by clicking the Share button and emailing a note to your recipients-- or click the "blog" button to get a permalink you can copy/paste to share via email or other means, such as on your web page or an electronic assignment handout.
To use Fleck safely, you can have students use your login account to make their own Flecks. If students have their own email, they can also have log-ins, but you have no monitoring over what they do. For safety's sake, you might want to require all student Flecks to be private and shared ONLY with class members. Since enforcement is tough, start with the teacher-only account and make Flecks for students to SEE. Once you are comfortable with the tool, allow students to use your account. You will not know WHO made inappropriate Flecks, but you can see and delete them from one place. Of course, you will need to test whether Fleck is blocked in your school (we hope not).
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: This is a public site, and some of the "recent Flecks" that show on the HOME page are NOT school-appropriate. TeachersFirst has contacted Fleck about this concern, and they tell us they are unable to "filter" these flecks at this time. We recommend always starting students from your member home page and avoiding Fleck HOME altogether.
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Activities: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Grade 4 to 8
- TeachersFirst-
8500
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TeachersFirst offers a chapter-by-chapter set of activities for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." Designed to be used after each chapter, the activities include science searches, writing, and art projects suitable for individual or group use. The ideas and activities ask students to respond, extend, discuss, create, and more. There is simply no better way for students to try new “After Reading" strategies. Don’t miss this great collection as a way to encourage your students to get the most from reading and re-reading a new favorite.
In the Classroom:
Share the link on your teacher web page or in a parent newsletter, if you don't have time to do all the activities at school. |
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Wee Ones Magazine Grade K to 4
- Jennifer Reed-
8417
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This free, bi-monthly, online magazine offers an abundance of reading and activities to keep a child occupied during those long summer days or as an after school chill-out. While not intentionally made for the classroom market, many teachers use it for additional reading practice. Articles ranges from non-fiction, to fiction, to poetry and author interviews. Emma's Bookcase features book reviews, and one free book is given away in each issue. Articles and stories equate to those found in Highlights, so they may be viewed without concern about appropriateness.
In the Classroom:
These texts would also be easy to display on an interactive whiteboard and use to teach about main idea, summarizing, or reading strategies using the whiteboard tools. Put this link on your teacher web page for students to practice reading in the classroom or at home. To get an exact reading level, you may want to cut and paste a section of an article and submit it to an online reading level analyzer . |
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Penguin Classics Teachers' Guides Grade 8 to 12
- Penguin Books Ltd.-
8341
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From the UK, this site offers valuable teacher resources and ideas for teaching some classic literature. Penguin and Signet Classics Teaching Guides comprise a variety of activities and discussion questions to stimulate your students' reactions and responses to the classic literature they are studying. Some of the approaches offered are different than past book company offers, so this is really worth a look. All of the guides feature before-during-after reading ideas and vocabulary lists that mesh well with current research on effective reading strategies. The list of books/lessons available includes: Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne
Persuasion by Jane Austen
A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Odyssey by Homer
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare
King Lear by William Shakespeare
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Othello by William Shakespeare
Richard III by William Shakespeare
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
The Tempest by William Shakespeare
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain
In the Classroom:
As you prepare to teach one of these classics, don't miss this helpful resource, even if you use a different publisher's edition of the works! If you have highly-able students preparing on their own for the AP tests, these guides could help a motivated student recap works they read in the past or guide themselves through independent reading of the works. |
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Bookpal's Storyline Online Grade 1 to 6
- Screen Actors Guild Foundation-
7340
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This wonderful site has a collection of 17 original stories read by actors and actresses. A wonderful way to show children that reading is valued by folks in all walks of life! An example is "Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy" read by Jason Alexander. Many of the story titles are parodies of famous tales. Users can see the actor holding the book and turning the pages as he hears and sees the story being read. Accompanying activities and an activity guide complete the offerings. The activities are terrific comprehension checkers and build solid reading strategies. The video is available in three screen sizes. Flash required.
In the Classroom:
Make the stories a center or use a projector for the whole class to watch the video. Then share the link on your teacher web page for students to repeat it over and over at home. Make sure your spakers are turned up! |
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Dates That Matter Grade 5 to 12
- TeachersFirst-
7012
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Dates That Matter provides a new perspective on history by placing each day-in-history event in broader context and explaining its long-term impact. History is a fabric woven of many events, and Dates That Matter helps students see the full tapestry.
The dates display on a projector-ready screen: A single sentence reveals something about the date. You then click to see a sequence of thought-provoking questions to guide students to a greater understanding of interrelationships as they try to guess the actual event. When the historical event finally shows on screen, a further explanation, Why does it matter?, fills in the remaining context and offers reviewed links to learn more.
Teachers who work with low readers might try using these daily clues to teach the reading strategy of connecting what you read with prior knowledge to place new learning in context.
A full, annotated version of each dte is availabel from the Teacher page at the end so you can plan for student responses and have hints for guiding the discussion. You can also preview upcoming dates to choose those you may want to put in your weekly plans.
In the Classroom:
Begin your social studies class once or twice a week by sharing a Date That Matters on a projector or interactive whiteboard to foster broader understanding of the connections that form world history. Or use the links at the end as an extra credit or enrichment opportunity or for gifted students to investigate more. Focus class attention as everyone enters by projecting the date and starting sentence.
Make this one a link on your teacher web page for students (and parents)to access outside of school.
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Takako's Great Adventure Grade 4 to 6
- Brian Rhodes-
6965
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A story in 10 serial units for ESL students leads a newcomer to Canada and the English-speaking world through the agonies of arrival, acculturation, education in a new setting, and making friends. Text offers vocabulary definition through hyperlinks; audio version is available with a Shockwave plugin. (Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.) Besides the story, vocabulary, and pronunciation, sets of comprehension questions include work on word meanings and online reviews and quizzes which make use of standard reading attack skills. The stories are available in PDF downloads as well as on screen at the left. Audio files are available for MP3 downloads also.
In the Classroom:
Use the stoies for ESl students to increase understanding or for your weak readers to develop reading strategies such as vocabulary development and comprehension. MP3 files offer the option of putting the stories on MP3 players for ESL students to listen to on the bus or at home. |
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Learning Resources Grade 5 to 8
- literacyworks-
6880
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This site, intended to help build comprehension and current events knowledge, contains a “current story” from CNN San Francisco bureau and CBS 5 - KPIX (CBS Broadcasting) news stories. From the archives, you can select a story for your students to read (abridged or complete), listen to, or view a brief video. Although this site is designed for use in adult literacy, its flexibility and reading skills options (vocabulary, word selection, multiple choice, sequencing, and conclusions)support comprehension activities. Because the stories are offered in two forms, you can easily differentiate instruction. Students can also view an outline of the story before or after they listen/read. Homework suggestions and follow-up links lead students to more information.
In the Classroom:
Include this as an option if you require current events reports or are working on content reading to reinforce good reading strategies. You can build entire lessons around the activities, done on a projector, individual computers, or an interactive whiteboard.
Click "Current story" to tart the activities. |
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Current Events Lesson Plans Grade 3 to 8
- Sean Banville-
6772
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Find excellent multi-skill topical social studies lessons based on current news appropriate for limited English speakers, slow readers, and average students alike! This site offers a new comprehensive lesson plan about breaking news every three days or so. The site is rich with pre-reading and pre-listening activities, oral and written comprehension exercises, assignments, and best of all, the option of selecting the easy or more difficult session and accompanying activities.
In the Classroom:
All news stories are offered in multiple forms: auditory (can be downloaded as a podcast or played on your computer, equipped with speakers), word document, pdf, and on the web page itself. You can play the auditory version for the class or use the print forms to reinforce reading strategies while differentiating using the "easy" and "harder" versions. |
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Lesson plan for Maps and Legends: Chabon Grade 5 to 8
- Carmel Underwood and Robert Underwood-
6762
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This site provides a complete lesson plan for the essay “Maps and Legends” by Michael Chabon including pre-reading questions that help relate the essay to the students’ lives, links to online dictionaries that will help students as they read, discussion and reading skills questions, and post-reading activities that again focus on connecting the essay to the students’ own experiences. Links at the site provide opportunities for further exploration of issues brought up in the essay.
In the Classroom:
A great way to motivate students to improve their reading skills by drawing in their own experiences. |
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Activities: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Grade 4 to 8
- TeachersFirst-
6034
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TeachersFirst offers a chapter-by-chapter set of activities for "Order of the Phoenix." Designed to be used after each chapter, the activities include science searches, writing, and art projects suitable for individual or group use. The ideas and activities ask students to respond, extend, discuss, create, and more. There is simply no better way for students to try new “After Reading strategies. Don’t miss this great collection as a way to encourage your students to get the most from reading and re-reading a new favorite.
In the Classroom:
Share the link on your teacher web page or in a parent newsletter, if you don't have time to do all the activities at school. |
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Activities: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Grade 4 to 8
- TeachersFirst-
6033
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TeachersFirst offers a set of chapter-by-chapter response activities for the most recent Harry Potter tale. Students use art, writing, and web research to answer questions or think about the issues in a particular chapter. Ideal for individual use, and many of these could serve as the basis for a group discussion on topics like loyalty and leadership. The ideas and activities ask students to respond, extend, discuss, create, and more. There is simply no better way for students to try new “After Reading strategies. Don’t miss this great collection as a way to encourage your students to get the most from reading and re-reading a new favorite.
In the Classroom:
Share the link on your teacher web page or in a parent newsletter, if you don't have time to do all the activities at school. |
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