Reading Strategies Resources from TeachersFirst
This collection of reviewed resources includes teaching ideas and sites to promote proven reading strategies of effective readers. Find engaging texts to use as your class focuses on a particular strategy as well as professional resources to improve your own understanding of this research-based approach to building literacy skills. Don't miss "In the classroom" ideas for specific projects or ideas for before, during, and after reading.
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This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate Tectonics - U.S. Geological Survey
Grades
7 to 12
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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...more
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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.
tag(s): earth (226), earthquakes (52), geology (76), plate tectonics (22), volcanoes (65)
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.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Language Arts Presentations - Free Club Web
Grades
K to 12
13 Favorites
0 Comments
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...more
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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! This site has heavy advertising at the top of the landing page. Scroll down to find the presentations.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): air (143), grammar (205), narrative (19), shakespeare (110)
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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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CAST UDL Book Builder - CAST
Grades
K to 12
18 Favorites
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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...more
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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. Take the time to learn the tool. Click to see a sample we made for you and placed on our site.
Be sure to try the model books and read the tips for writers and illustrators. Take the time to learn the tool. Click to see a sample we made for you and placed on our site.
tag(s): digital storytelling (143), reading comprehension (132), reading strategies (56)
In the Classroom
Locate or create your own copyright-free text and 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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Bookpal's Storyline Online - Screen Actors Guild Foundation
Grades
1 to 6
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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 ...more
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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!
This resource requires Adobe Flash.
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Current Events Lesson Plans - Sean Banville
Grades
3 to 8
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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...more
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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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Activities: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - TeachersFirst
Grades
4 to 8
1 Favorites
1 Comments
TeachersFirst offers a set of chapter-by-chapter response activities for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Use art, writing, and web research to answer questions or think...more
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TeachersFirst offers a set of chapter-by-chapter response activities for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. 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 you to respond, extend, discuss, create, and more. There is simply no better way to try new "After Reading strategies. Don't miss this great collection as a way to encourage anyone to get the most from reading and re-reading a new favorite. Find links to two other sets of Harry Potter book activities on the Intro page.
tag(s): harry potter (10)
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. Ask students to design similar activities to accompany other Harry Potter (or other favorite) books.Comments
Very good way of planning.kel, GA, Grades: 3 - 5
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Reading Comprehension Connection - Merit Software
Grades
4 to 11
4 Favorites
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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,...more
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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.
tag(s): assessment (123), reading comprehension (132)
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Dave's ESL Cafe
Grades
4 to 12
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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...more
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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.
tag(s): vocabulary development (116), word study (73)
In the Classroom
Use the practice quizzes on this site to both get students more practice with reading English and content material from other classes they may be having trouble with. There are quizzes on history, geography, grammar and science topics to name a few. Allow students to work on the quizzes during a lull in the class on classroom computers or a computer lab.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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