8 Ideas for Assessing Character Descriptions through Theater and Art!

A picture of art supplies to be used for activities to assess character descriptions

Character Descriptions Teaching character descriptions is one of my FAVORITE standards. It is so fun and filled with many possibilities, so why not assess it in an engaging way for students? These ideas began in 4th grade when students just weren’t engaged with the characters in their books. They are tried and true activities used […]

3 Reading Independent Activities to Set Students Up for Success

A picture of students engaged in reading to represent a blog post that gives reading independent activities.

Reading Independent Activities Reading independent activities that establish a community of readers are important to incorporate in the first weeks of school. Teaching students how to read independently in a way that presents clear expectations requires stamina, practice, knowing oneself as a reader and important habits that should be explicitly taught in all grade levels. […]

Reading Inventory for Elementary Students that will Empower Readers

A student reading a book to show ideas for reading inventory for elementary students

Engage students while learning more about them as readers with a reading inventory for elementary students. Understanding students as readers will provide support in helping them to develop a real love for reading. Understanding our likes/dislikes and past experiences around reading makes a huge difference in better book selection and takes away the chore of […]