What is this illness Reading Comprehension Resource?

This Illness Reading Comprehension Unit is about germs, health, and vaccines. It includes tons of printable resources like leveled reading comprehension passages, discussion questions, writing prompts, vocabulary cards and activities, assessments, worksheets, and much more. You’ll have what you need to teach a comprehensive unit or series of lessons on this non-fiction topic.

What Does This Illness Resource Include?

This illness reading comprehension resource includes the following:

Teaching Guide

The teaching guide walks you through the different resources and suggests how to implement them in your classroom. You’ll have what you need to confidently implement the printable illnesses reading comprehension worksheets and activities.

Vocabulary Cards

The vocabulary cards each have the vocabulary term, an image that represents the word, and a kid-friendly definition.

Vocabulary Activities

The vocabulary activities help students develop an understanding of each of the vocabulary terms and be able to confidently use them in conversation.

3 Leveled Reading Passages

The three illness leveled reading comprehension passages help you differentiate and meet the needs of all your students, and help them feel confident in their reading abilities. Each illnesses reading passage was carefully crafted to look similar and have the same key vocabulary, but be scaled to meet the needs of a typical class with varied reading abilities.

Discussion Prompts

The discussion prompts promote reading comprehension and thoughtful class or small group discussions.

Discussion Prompt Cards

Laminate, cut out, hole-punch, and put the discussion cards on a ring so you can reuse them year after year.

Reading Comprehension Activity

This illness reading comprehension worksheet is based on the text structure of the reading passages, which gives students valuable practice opportunities.

Writing Prompt and Thematic Writing Paper

The writing prompt and thematic writing paper support students in practicing their writing skills in this integrated unit.

2 Comprehension Check-Ins

There are two comprehension check-ins with answer keys. This allows you to grade them quickly and differentiate as needed.

Why Teachers Love Our Non-Fiction Reading Units

Listed below are some of the reasons elementary teachers love our non-fiction reading units.

1. Our non-fiction units include an abundance of resources to choose from. This allows you to select which activities are best for your students.
2. All of the activities are either low-prep (some quick cutting) or no prep (just print and go) which saves you tons of time while still offering engaging learning opportunities to your students.
3. We’ve intentionally designed many of the resources to be open-ended and to include differentiated versions to make it easy for you to meet the needs of all your students. This also means that if you change grade levels in the future, you will likely still be able to use them with minimal modification.
4. All of our non-fiction units follow the same format and include the same types of activities customized to each topic. This creates a cohesive, year-long routine where students know the expectations and are able to focus on the topic.
5. All of our non-fiction units integrate reading, writing, and speaking standards with a timely and engaging topic, so students are fully engaged while practicing important skills.

Related Illness Picture Books

Check out the related illness picture books below that pair well with the illness comprehension worksheets and passages.

Other Illness Resources

Below are some other illness teaching resources that you may be interested in.

In closing, we hope you found this post about these illness reading comprehension passages, activities and worksheets helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Create a Healthy Classroom Environment to Reduce the Spread of Germs
• January Activities for Elementary Students
• 100+ Winter Activities for Elementary Students

The post Illness Reading Comprehension Activities for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is this New Year Reading Comprehension Resource?

This Happy New Year Reading Comprehension Unit is about the history of New Year’s Eve. It includes tons of printable resources like leveled reading comprehension passages, discussion questions, writing prompts, vocabulary cards and activities, assessments, worksheets, and much more. You’ll have what you need to teach a comprehensive unit or series of lessons on this non-fiction topic.

What Does This New Year Resource Include?

This New Year reading comprehension resource includes the following:

Teaching Guide

The teaching guide walks you through the different resources and suggests how to implement them in your classroom. You’ll have what you need to confidently implement the New Year reading comprehension worksheets and activities.

Vocabulary Cards

The vocabulary cards each have the vocabulary term, an image that represents the word, and a kid-friendly definition.

Vocabulary Activities

The vocabulary activities help students develop an understanding of each of the vocabulary terms and be able to confidently use them in conversation.

3 Leveled Reading Passages

The three New Year leveled reading comprehension passages help you differentiate and meet the needs of all your students, and help them feel confident in their reading abilities. Each New Year reading passage was carefully crafted to look similar and have the same key vocabulary, but be scaled to meet the needs of a typical class with varied reading abilities.

Discussion Prompts

The discussion prompts promote reading comprehension and thoughtful class or small group discussions.

Discussion Prompt Cards

Laminate, cut out, hole-punch, and put the discussion cards on a ring so you can reuse them year after year.

Reading Comprehension Activity

This New Year’s Eve reading comprehension worksheet is based on the text structure of the reading passages, which gives students valuable practice opportunities.

Writing Prompt and Thematic Writing Paper

The writing prompt and thematic writing paper support students in practicing their writing skills in this integrated unit.

2 Comprehension Check-Ins

There are two comprehension check-ins with answer keys. This allows you to grade them quickly and differentiate as needed.

Why Teachers Love Our Non-Fiction Reading Units

Listed below are some of the reasons elementary teachers love our non-fiction reading units.

1. Our non-fiction units include an abundance of resources to choose from. This allows you to select which activities are best for your students.
2. All of the activities are either low-prep (some quick cutting) or no prep (just print and go) which saves you tons of time while still offering engaging learning opportunities to your students.
3. We’ve intentionally designed many of the resources to be open-ended and to include differentiated versions to make it easy for you to meet the needs of all your students. This also means that if you change grade levels in the future, you will likely still be able to use them with minimal modification.
4. All of our non-fiction units follow the same format and include the same types of activities customized to each topic. This creates a cohesive, year-long routine where students know the expectations and are able to focus on the topic.
5. All of our non-fiction units integrate reading, writing, and speaking standards with a timely and engaging topic, so students are fully engaged while practicing important skills.

Related New Year Picture Books

Check out the related New Year picture books below that pair well with the New Year comprehension passages and worksheets.

Other New Year Resources

Below are some other New Year teaching resources that you may be interested in.

In closing, we hope you found this post about these New Year reading comprehension activities and worksheets helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• New Years Activities for Elementary Students
• New Years Books for Kids at the Elementary Level
• January Teaching Ideas and Activities

The post New Year Reading Comprehension Activities for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is this Martin Luther King Reading Comprehension Resource?

This Martin Luther King Reading Comprehension Unit is about Martin Luther King Jr.’s impact on the United States. It includes printable resources like leveled reading comprehension passages, discussion questions, vocabulary cards and activities, assessments, worksheets, and more. You’ll have what you need to teach a comprehensive unit or series of lessons on this non-fiction topic.

What Does This Martin Luther King Resource Include?

This Martin Luther King reading comprehension resource includes the following:

Teaching Guide

The teaching guide walks you through the different resources and suggests how to implement them in your classroom. You’ll have what you need to confidently implement the MLK reading comprehension worksheets and activities.

Vocabulary Cards

The vocabulary cards each have the vocabulary term, an image that represents the word, and a kid-friendly definition.

Vocabulary Activities

The vocabulary activities help students develop an understanding of each of the vocabulary terms and be able to confidently use them in conversation.

3 Leveled Reading Passages

The three Martin Luther King leveled reading comprehension passages help you differentiate and meet the needs of all your students, and help them feel confident in their reading abilities. Each Martin Luther King reading passage was carefully crafted to look similar and have the same key vocabulary, but be scaled to meet the needs of a typical class with varied reading abilities.

Discussion Prompts

The discussion prompts promote reading comprehension and thoughtful class or small group discussions.

Discussion Prompt Cards

Laminate, cut out, hole-punch, and put the discussion cards on a ring so you can reuse them year after year.

Reading Comprehension Activity

This Martin Luther King reading comprehension worksheet is based on the text structure of the MLK reading passages, which gives students valuable practice opportunities.

Writing Prompt and Thematic Writing Paper

The writing prompt and thematic writing paper support students in practicing their writing skills in this integrated unit.

2 Comprehension Check-Ins

There are two comprehension check-ins with answer keys. This allows you to grade them quickly and differentiate as needed.

Why Teachers Love Our Non-Fiction Reading Units

Listed below are some of the reasons elementary teachers love our non-fiction reading units.

1. Our non-fiction units include an abundance of resources to choose from. This allows you to select which activities are best for your students.
2. All of the activities are either low-prep (some quick cutting) or no prep (just print and go) which saves you tons of time while still offering engaging learning opportunities to your students.
3. We’ve intentionally designed many of the resources to be open-ended and to include differentiated versions to make it easy for you to meet the needs of all your students. This also means that if you change grade levels in the future, you will likely still be able to use them with minimal modification.
4. All of our non-fiction units follow the same format and include the same types of activities customized to each topic. This creates a cohesive, year-long routine where students know the expectations and are able to focus on the topic.
5. All of our non-fiction units integrate reading, writing, and speaking standards with a timely and engaging topic, so students are fully engaged while practicing important skills.

Related Martin Luther King Picture Books

Check out the related Martin Luther King picture books below that pair well with the Martin Luther King comprehension worksheets and passages.

Other Martin Luther King Resources

Below are some other Martin Luther King teaching resources that you may be interested in.

In closing, we hope you found this post about these Martin Luther King Jr. reading comprehension passages, activities and worksheets helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Martin Luther King Jr. Activities for Elementary Students
• Martin Luther King Books for Kids
• 100+ Winter Activities for Elementary Students

The post Martin Luther King Reading Comprehension Activities for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is this Penguins Reading Comprehension Resource?

This Penguin Reading Comprehension Unit is about cold and warm climate penguins. It includes tons of printable resources like leveled reading comprehension passages, discussion questions, writing prompts, vocabulary cards and activities, assessments, worksheets, and much more. You’ll have what you need to teach a comprehensive unit or series of lessons on this non-fiction topic.

What Does This Penguin Resource Include?

This penguin reading comprehension resource includes the following:

Teaching Guide

The teaching guide walks you through the different resources and suggests how to implement them in your classroom. You’ll have what you need to confidently implement the penguins reading comprehension worksheets and activities.

Vocabulary Cards

The vocabulary cards each have the vocabulary term, an image that represents the word, and a kid-friendly definition.

Vocabulary Activities

The vocabulary activities help students develop an understanding of each of the vocabulary terms and be able to confidently use them in conversation.

3 Leveled Reading Passages

The three penguin leveled reading comprehension passages help you differentiate and meet the needs of all your students, and help them feel confident in their reading abilities. Each penguins reading passage was carefully crafted to look similar and have the same key vocabulary, but be scaled to meet the needs of a typical class with varied reading abilities.

Discussion Prompts

The discussion prompts promote reading comprehension and thoughtful class or small group discussions.

Discussion Prompt Cards

Laminate, cut out, hole-punch, and put the discussion cards on a ring so you can reuse them year after year.

Reading Comprehension Activity

This penguins reading comprehension worksheet is based on the text structure of the reading passages, which gives students valuable practice opportunities.

Writing Prompt and Thematic Writing Paper

The writing prompt and thematic writing paper support students in practicing their writing skills in this integrated unit.

2 Comprehension Check-Ins

There are two comprehension check-ins with answer keys. This allows you to grade them quickly and differentiate as needed.

Why Teachers Love Our Non-Fiction Reading Units

Listed below are some of the reasons elementary teachers love our non-fiction reading units.

1. Our non-fiction units include an abundance of resources to choose from. This allows you to select which activities are best for your students.
2. All of the activities are either low-prep (some quick cutting) or no prep (just print and go) which saves you tons of time while still offering engaging learning opportunities to your students.
3. We’ve intentionally designed many of the resources to be open-ended and to include differentiated versions to make it easy for you to meet the needs of all your students. This also means that if you change grade levels in the future, you will likely still be able to use them with minimal modification.
4. All of our non-fiction units follow the same format and include the same types of activities customized to each topic. This creates a cohesive, year-long routine where students know the expectations and are able to focus on the topic.
5. All of our non-fiction units integrate reading, writing, and speaking standards with a timely and engaging topic, so students are fully engaged while practicing important skills.

Related Penguin Picture Books

Check out the related penguin picture books below that pair well with the penguin comprehension worksheets and passages.

Other Penguin Resources

Below are some other penguin teaching resources that you may be interested in.

In closing, we hope you found this post about these penguin reading comprehension passages, activities and worksheets helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Penguin Activities for Elementary Students
• Penguin Books that Make Great Read Alouds
• 100+ Winter Activities for Elementary Students

The post Penguins Reading Comprehension Activities for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is this Chinese New Year Reading Comprehension Resource?

This Chinese New Year Reading Comprehension Unit is about the Chinese Zodiac. It includes tons of printable resources like leveled reading comprehension passages, discussion questions, writing prompts, vocabulary cards and activities, assessments, worksheets, and much more. You’ll have what you need to teach a comprehensive unit or series of lessons on this non-fiction topic.

What Does This Chinese New Year Resource Include?

This Chinese New Year reading comprehension resource includes the following:

Teaching Guide

The teaching guide walks you through the different resources and suggests how to implement them in your classroom. You’ll have what you need to confidently implement the Chinese New Year reading comprehension worksheets and activities.

Vocabulary Cards

The vocabulary cards each have the vocabulary term, an image that represents the word, and a kid-friendly definition.

Vocabulary Activities

The vocabulary activities help students develop an understanding of each of the vocabulary terms and be able to confidently use them in conversation.

3 Leveled Reading Passages

The three Chinese New Year leveled reading comprehension passages help you differentiate and meet the needs of all your students, and help them feel confident in their reading abilities. Each Chinese New Year reading passage was carefully crafted to look similar and have the same key vocabulary, but be scaled to meet the needs of a typical class with varied reading abilities.

Discussion Prompts

The discussion prompts promote reading comprehension and thoughtful class or small group discussions.

Discussion Prompt Cards

Laminate, cut out, hole-punch, and put the discussion cards on a ring so you can reuse them year after year.

Reading Comprehension Activity

This Chinese New Year reading comprehension worksheet is based on the text structure of the reading passages, which gives students valuable practice opportunities.

Writing Prompt and Thematic Writing Paper

The writing prompt and thematic writing paper support students in practicing their writing skills in this integrated unit.

2 Comprehension Check-Ins

There are two comprehension check-ins with answer keys. This allows you to grade them quickly and differentiate as needed.

Why Teachers Love Our Non-Fiction Reading Units

Listed below are some of the reasons elementary teachers love our non-fiction reading units.

1. Our non-fiction units include an abundance of resources to choose from. This allows you to select which activities are best for your students.
2. All of the activities are either low-prep (some quick cutting) or no prep (just print and go) which saves you tons of time while still offering engaging learning opportunities to your students.
3. We’ve intentionally designed many of the resources to be open-ended and to include differentiated versions to make it easy for you to meet the needs of all your students. This also means that if you change grade levels in the future, you will likely still be able to use them with minimal modification.
4. All of our non-fiction units follow the same format and include the same types of activities customized to each topic. This creates a cohesive, year-long routine where students know the expectations and are able to focus on the topic.
5. All of our non-fiction units integrate reading, writing, and speaking standards with a timely and engaging topic, so students are fully engaged while practicing important skills.

Related Chinese New Year Picture Books

Check out the related Chinese New Year picture books below that pair well with the Chinese New Year comprehension passages and worksheets.

Other Chinese New Year Resources

Below are some other Chinese New Year teaching resources that you may be interested in.

In closing, we hope you found this post about these Chinese New Year reading comprehension activities and worksheets helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• Chinese New Year Activities for Elementary Students
• Chinese New Year Books for Kids at the Elementary Level
• How to Teach Chinese New Year During a Holidays Around the World Unit

The post Chinese New Year Reading Comprehension Activities for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grade appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is Starts With a Story?

Starts with a Story is a collection of more than 600 book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Each book companion includes reading comprehension questions with sample student responses, 30 writing prompts targeting 10 different types of writing, SEL lesson ideas based on character and events from each story, printable student activities, editable teaching slides with book-based clipart, and more.

Does this sound like something you’re interested in? If so, click the button below to learn more about the Starts With a Story Collection!

Check Out All 600+ Books We Have Created Lessons and Printable Activity Packets for:

You can get a better view of the list of books by clicking “view larger version” in the bottom right hand corner.

How to Use the Alignment Guide

Watch the video below to learn how to manipulate the alignment guide so you can locate exactly what you need.

Why Teachers Love Starts With a Story

Teachers love Starts With a Story because of the following reasons:

1. The book companions follow a consistent format, which makes planning quick and easy.
2. The student activities are print and go, so you can prep them in a moment’s notice.
3. You have access to a list of high quality children’s literature, as well as what they best lend themselves for teaching, so you don’t have to hunt for book titles on your own.
4. Sharing read alouds with your class strengthens your class community as it forms connections and relationships through shared experiences and discussion.
5. They are great for sub plans, time fillers, and last minute lesson plans.
6. They don’t have to spend time finding resources that relate to a story they want to read.
7. Students are engaged during the read aloud because they love to be read to and are asked questions.
8. It exposes students to new genres, authors, and texts that they may not have selected on their own.
9. The resources help you facilitate learning experiences that help students build a love of reading, view books in a positive way, and become lifelong readers.
10. They reduce stress and anxiety by creating successful learning opportunities for all.
11. Each book companion includes a list of key vocabulary from the story with kid-friendly definitions that helps students build a stronger vocabulary.
12. They help students improve as writers by having them study mentor texts and discuss authors’ choices.
13. They improve students’ reading comprehension skills because they include reading comprehension questions and activities related to the story.
14. They help expand students’ world view and schema and build awareness and empathy by exposing them to other geographical areas and cultures.
15. It includes literature where students can see themselves represented, which helps build confidence.

What is an Interactive Read Aloud?

An interactive read aloud is an instructional practice where a teacher (or other experienced reader) models reading fluency and expression, thinking strategies, reading strategies, a love of reading, and more while reading aloud a fiction or non-fiction text. Students actively listen and discuss the book being read aloud throughout the duration of the reading.

Why are Interactive Read Alouds Important?

Reading aloud books to children is one of the most valuable experiences parents and teachers can provide to young learners. Implementing interactive read alouds has the following benefits:

1. Builds important foundational reading and writing skills
2. Models reading fluency and expression
3. Builds a love of reading and learning
4. Develops an interest in books
5. Demonstrates that written words carry meaning
6. Equips students with book handling skills
7. Exposes them to rich vocabulary above their independent reading ability
8. Makes challenging books accessible 
9. Motivates them to practice reading independently to improve reading skills
10. Strengthens auditory processing skills
11. Increases reading comprehension skills
12. Models good thinking and problem-solving strategies
13. Shows how to apply reading strategies to books
14. Improves self-regulation
15. Promotes critical thinking and higher level thinking skills
16. Creates a sense of community in the classroom
17. Provides opportunities to apply and build upon background knowledge
18. Exposes them to a variety of genres
19. Promotes curiosity and inquiry
20. Provides a framework to teach important skills, information, and lessons 

What is a Book Companion?

A book companion is a resource that helps you deliver lessons based on a story by identifying key teaching points that the book best lends itself for, as well as a collection of related activities. It’s a helpful tool for when you are delivering an interactive read aloud.

What’s Included in a Starts With a Story Book Companion?

Below is a list of everything that is included in each Starts With a Story book companion.

• 15+ text-based reading comprehension questions categorized by reading strategy with sample student responses
• list of vocabulary words from the story with kid-friendly definitions
• 30 text-based writing prompts targeting 10 different types of writing (narrative, persuasive / opinion, descriptive, expository / informative, creative / story writing, procedure / how-to, list making, letter / postcard writing, poem, and book reviews)
• SEL lesson ideas based on characters and events from each story
• list of recommended grammar topics based on what the book lends itself to teaching
• printable student activities for teaching reading strategies and skills
• 5 editable teaching slides with book-based clipart
• 15 digital student activities that you can assign through Google Classroom
• and more!

How to Access the Starts with a Story Resources

Below are 3 ways you can access the resources.

1. The Starts With a Story All-Access Collection

What is the Starts With a Story All-Access Collection?

The Starts With a Story All-Access Collection is a library of all 600+ of our book companions. That’s more than 20,000 pages! All new Starts With a Story book companions we create in the future will be added to this comprehensive library.

Benefits of Accessing the Resources through the All-Access Collection

• The all-access collection is the best value. You are paying less than a quarter for each book companion.
• It gives you access to the whole collection of book companions at your finger tips.
• The resources are organized in an easy-to-navigate digital library.

2. The Clutter-Free Classroom Teacher Store

Benefits of Accessing the Resources through the CFC Teacher Store

• You get a 10% off discount on the resources when you use the code CFCBLOG.
• The resources are emailed directly to you.
• You can purchase as many or as little book companions as you’d like.

3. The Clutter-Free Classroom TPT Store

Benefits of Accessing the Resources through the CFC TPT Store

• Your purchased book companion are available in your TPT purchases folder along with any other resources you purchase from TPT.
• The resources are available in cost-saving thematic bundles.
• You can purchase as many or as little book companions as you’d like.

Where Can I Learn More about Starts With a Story?

Head on over to www.StartsWithAStory.com to learn more!

Try Our Book Companion Activities for Free!

We are beyond thrilled about the launch of our literacy resource line, Starts with a Story! We know you will love it! Try a complete Starts With a Story book companion packet for free!

The post Starts With a Story: A Book Companion Collection for Elementary Teachers appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is Phonemic Awareness?

Phonemic Awareness is the ability to manipulate and recognize sounds within words. There is a clear sequence of skills that, with practice, directly apply to reading fluency and accuracy. This is the most challenging step in Phonological Awareness.

What Does Science of Reading Say About Phonemic Awareness?

The Science of Reading shows evidence that phonemic awareness skills are vital for reading fluency. Early and explicit teaching of phonemic awareness can alleviate potential problems for readers down the line. 

What Are the Elements of Phonemic Awareness?

Within phonemic awareness, there are very clear steps that get more challenging. Read below to see the different elements of phonemic awareness.

Blending Phonemes

Blending occurs when you present a student with sounds in isolation and they bring them together to state the word. For example: Teacher says “/s/ /u/ /n/.” and the student replies “sun”.

Segmenting Phonemes

Segmenting happens when we tap out each individual phoneme of a given word. For example: Teacher says “Say hat.” and the student replies “/h/ /a/ /t/”.

Adding and Deleting Phonemes

Adding and deleting phonemes are tasks that require working memory and fluid reasoning. Students have to retain a specific word and then make a shift in order to create a new word. An example of deleting would be: Teacher says “say mit without the /m/. What is left?” and the student would reply “it”. Oppositely, adding a phoneme would look like this: Teacher says “it” and add /m/ to the beginning” and the student replies “mit”. 

Manipulating Phonemes

This is the most advanced task within phonemic awareness! Here, students are presented with a word and are asked to substitute or shift sounds. For example, students may shift the /s/ in spot to the end of the word. Or, a teacher may have students switch the /e/ sound in pen to an /i/ sound. 

5 Helpful Tips to Practice Phonemic Awareness in the Classroom

Below are 5 tips for practicing phonemic awareness in the classroom.

1. Start with Continuant Sounds

Continuant sounds (ie. /m/, /s/, /f/) are easier to manipulate than stop sounds (ie. /b/, /t/, /d/). These sounds can be emphasized as we isolate phonemes and help young readers to identify the change.

2. Use Elkonin Boxes

Elkonin boxes are helpful to distinguish different phonemes in a given word. Present the student with a row of three boxes and have them finger tap each box as they isolate sounds in given CVC words. 

3. Get Multi-Sensory!

When students use multiple modalities, our brain reacts in a positive way. When using elkonin boxes, students can move stones, chips, or counters to represent each sound they hear in a given word.

4. Karate Chop Those Sounds

When practicing phonemic awareness skills in a whole group, you can say a word and students can put their hands together and “chop” up the sounds in a word. 

5. Make It Fun!

Most importantly, phonemic awareness can be hard for many students. To keep them engaged and motivated, it is best to deliver this instruction in a fun and hands-on way. Create incentives like the Phonemic Awareness Leader, or pick a secret Mystery Person that you are watching throughout the practice. If they show expected behaviors, they can earn a prize! 

In closing, we hope this post about how to teach phonemic awareness with the science of reading in mind was helpful. If it was, you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Choose a Picture Book to Read Aloud to your Elementary Students
• What Elementary Teachers Need to Know about Read Alouds
• 20 Benefits of Reading Aloud to Elementary Students (and How to Find Time for It)

The post How to Teach Phonemic Awareness with Science of Reading in Mind appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

What is a Syllable?

A syllable is a part of a word that has one vowel sound. Some words have one syllable, while others have more than one, called multisyllabic words. For example, the word “dog” is one syllable, while the word “helicopter” is 4. Students typically are taught to clap out these units of syllables, or identify them by putting their hand under their chins. Each time their chin drops, that represents a syllable. 

How Many Syllable Types are There?

There are 6 main syllable types, although some programs refer to 7. Some break apart the vowel team syllable type to be vowel teams and diphthongs, while other programs group them together.

What are the Syllable Types? 

The main syllable types are closed syllables, open syllables, vowel-consonant-e syllables, vowel team syllables, r-controlled syllables, and consonant-le syllables. 

Why are Syllable Types Important?

Syllable types are important because they give clear guidelines for students as they learn to decode. Within the confines of syllables, students can take more risks and feel more confident when they apply their word attack skills!

What are Closed Syllables?

Closed syllables are parts that end with a consonant. In closed syllables, the vowel says its sound, rather than its name. Examples include “at”, “dog”, and “shin”. Later on in this group, students become exposed to digraphs and blends. Digraphs are when two letters come together but make only one sound (ie. /th/, /ch/, and /sh/). Blends are when two consonants are together, but we hear both of these sounds (ie. grab).  

What are Open Syllables?

Open syllables allow the vowels to end units and say their name! Picture the vowel on stage, blasting out its name because it is proud to be at the end of the concert. For more advanced lessons, students will also learn about the sounds of /y/.

What are Vowel-Consonant-e Syllables?

Vowel-consonant-e syllables go by many names. You may have heard of “Magic E”, “Bossy E”, or “King Ed”, but all involve the same thought process. When an /e/ is added to a closed syllable, the vowel sound changes to say its name. For example, students can change “cap” to “cape” and “Tim” to “time”. 

What are R-Control Syllables?

These r-controlled syllables can be quite tricky! Students learn that these syllable types have at least one vowel followed by an r. Students will learn about /ar/ and /or/ in isolation, but then /er/, /ur/, and /ir/ is where it can get quite tricky, as they make the same sound. Exposure and multi-sensory support help students to apply the different letter combinations when spelling. 

What are Vowel Team Syllables?

Vowel team syllables usually have two vowels next to each other that make one sound. This includes combinations such as /ea/, /ie/, and /oe/. Typically, the vowel sounds say a long vowel name. What is interesting is that when a vowel team is reversed, we can usually break apart into different syllables. For example, look at “lion”. Although /oi/ is a vowel team, we break apart lion to be li/on. 

What are Consonant-le Syllables?

Consonant-le syllables are exactly as they sound like! With this syllable type, we find a consonant, followed by the -le. Although there is no specific vowel sound, the only sound heard is the /l/. These syllable types typically end multisyllabic words. For example, you may hear /cle/ in “bicycle”.

Which Syllable Type is Generally Taught First? 

Closed and open syllables are generally taught first. As these are the most common syllable types of the English language, student mastery of these two are essential. 

10 Ideas for Teaching Syllable Types

Below are 10 ideas for teaching syllable types.

1. Practice in Isolation

When introducing syllable types, name the syllable type focus and provide a child-friendly definition. Be sure to label to /v/ for vowel and /c/ for consonant.

2. Code the Patterns

Whether you are following Fundations, Wilson, or another program, we know it is imperative to mark up our words! By marking the words, we are supporting our mapping. 

Mapping helps develop automaticity! An example would be to cross of the /e/ at the end of /vce/ words, or underlining digraphs. 

3. Use Silicone Poppers!

Students can count sounds and syllables by popping the poppers! Want to focus on just /cvc/? Students can pop the three sounds in the word, like cup. If you are just beginning syllables, students can pop for each syllable, such as four pops in hel/i/cop/ter.

4. Segment Using Cubes

Using cubes is a great way to visualize phonemes or syllables. Students can manipulate syllables to really strengthen their phonemic awareness skills! For example, have a cube represent each syllable in the word basketball. Then, have students take away the final cube. What is the new word? Basket!

5. Sort Syllable Types

To practice differentiating these syllable types, sort them! Have two baskets- one for closed syllables and one for open. Give students a piece of paper with a word written on it (ie. hat) and have them shoot it in the correct basket!

6. Play Memory

Memory is a fun way to practice skills! Have students find word matches within a specific syllable type. Make two copies of each word, then lay them face down, and take turns trying to find the pairs!

7. Syllable Go Fish

Make two sets of words within a syllable type. Then, hand 5 cards to each player. Take turns asking one another if they have a match, and if not, they say Go Fish!

8. Sort Number of Syllables Within Words

Lay out numbers 1, 2, and 3. Say a word to a student that has either 1, 2, or 3 syllables and have them hit the correct number!

9. Jump It Out

Say a word and have students jump to represent each syllable they hear.

10. Scavenger Hunt

Write words within a specific syllable type on 12 cards and hide them around the room. Students have to find, read, and write each word on a piece of paper!

3 Anchor Charts to Support the Syllable Types

Below are 3 anchor charts to support the syllable types.

1. Hang the Focus

It is always helpful for students to know what their specific focus is. Put up a syllable type poster in the classroom to help guide students!

2. Show the Code

Since many programs have students code syllables, be sure to have an example that students can access in the classroom. No room? You can always add a QR code to a bulletin board!

3. Letter-Syllable-Word-Sentence Poster

There are so many pieces to literacy! Having a ladder or some sort of visual to show the differences between letters, syllables, words, and sentences can help students and support their overall language development.

In closing, we hope this information about syllable types was helpful! If it was, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Choose a Picture Book to Read Aloud to your Elementary Students
• What Elementary Teachers Need to Know about Read Alouds
• 20 Benefits of Reading Aloud to Elementary Students (and How to Find Time for It)

The post Science of Reading and the Syllable Types For Elementary Teachers 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

10 Inferring Picture Books

Below are 10 picture books for teaching making inferences.

1. Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type by Doreen Cronin

The cows on Farmer Brown’s farm are causing a problem for him. They found an old typewriter and have been typing all day! Animals go on strike until Farmer Brown compromises with the animals. The descriptive illustrations allow for students to practice their inference skills. Students can answer questions about feelings, intentions, and use these inferences to predict what happens next in the story. Check out these Click, Clack, Moo activities!

2. I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen

A bear loves his hat, loses it, and desperately wants it back. He asks several other animals in the forest if they have seen it, and unfortunately they haven’t. Bear even asks a rabbit wearing a red hat if they’ve seen his hat and the rabbit gets very angry. Bear is not sure why! Students can practice inference in this book, as the rabbit is actually wearing the hat himself. Check out these I Want My Hat Back activities!

3. My Lucky Day by Keiko Kasza

The fox thinks that it is his lucky day when a piglet shows up on his doorstep. He doesn’t even have to go out hunting! His food has come and found him. He pulls the piglet inside and prepares to eat him. As the piglet outsmarts the fox, students can practice inference skills to figure out why and how he is able to escape. Check out these My Lucky Day activities!

4. Sparky by Jenny Offill & Chris Appelhans

This is a book about a young girl who wants a pet, and with lots of convincing, she gets to buy a sloth. She quickly learns that Sparky is slow and cannot do tricks. At the end of the story, the girl learns to appreciate Sparky for who he is and enjoy his company. Students can use their background knowledge to infer that sloths are not great pets throughout the story, making this a fun read aloud for the class! Check out these Sparky activities!

5. The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires

Lou and her friends love playing together: they run fast, build forts, and go on adventures. One day, she tries to climb a tree, but as it gets challenging, she makes up reasons she cannot do it. By the end, she learns the power of yet and sets her mind to a goal. Throughout the story, students can infer that these reasons are just excuses by using their background knowledge and reading between the lines! Check out these The Thing Lou Couldn’t Do activities!

6. Stellaluna by Janell Cannon 

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon is the heartwarming story of a young bat. One night when flying with her mother, an owl attacks and Stellaluna falls from her mother’s grasp. When she can’t find Mother Bat, Stellaluna joins a family of baby birds. Students can practice inference skills as they read about a bat trying to fit in with the birds through the rich illustrations, details, and their own background knowledge! Check out these Stellaluna activities!

7. Little Tree by Loren Long

Little Tree lives in a forest surrounded by other trees. This story takes Little Tree through the seasons as he loses his leaves and sees other trees gain theirs come summertime. Students can practice inference skills as they know background knowledge around seasonal change and leaves. They can also sympathize with Little Tree as he learns this, although they know his leaves will come soon! Check out these Little Tree activities!

8. Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes

It’s Kitten’s first time seeing the full moon, and she thinks it is a bowl of milk in the sky! She tries sticking out her tongue to lick the milk, but ends up with a bug on her tongue. Throughout the book Kitten tries different ways to get to the milk. After falling into the pond, Kitten heads home all wet. There, she finds a bowl of milk waiting for her. This story pairs well with learning about the moon in class, as students can practice their inference skills to know why the bowl of milk is not in the sky! Check out these Kitten’s First Full Moon activities!

9. Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry G. Allard Jr.

This story is about an unruly classroom of students and a teacher who finds a creative way to teach them a lesson. One day, Miss Nelson goes missing and Miss Viola Swamp comes into the classroom. She wears an ugly black dress, never smiles, and loads the students up with homework. It isn’t long before the students miss Miss Nelson and start to look for her. When she returns a few days later, the students are thrilled to see her. They no longer misbehave and act like angels in the classroom.

In the end, we find out that Miss Nelson was in the classroom all along and she had dressed up as Miss Viola Swamp to teach her students a lesson about being respectful. Students can answer inference questions about why Miss Swamp came, why students do not like her, and what lesson Miss Nelson taught in the end. Check out these Miss Nelson is Missing activities!

10. Stone Soup by Marcia Brown

This folktale tells the story of three soldiers on their way home from war. Tired and hungry, the soldiers decide to stop in a village in search of food and a place to sleep. The villagers see the soldiers coming and begin to hide all their food, they too are hungry. The soldiers come to the middle of the square, sharing they will make stone soup. Each family brings a different ingredient, which ultimately ends in a feast for all! This story is a great story to teach sharing and kindness, and students can infer what the soldiers’ plan is all along! Check out these Stone Soup activities!

In closing, we hope you found this post about inferring picture books helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Use Picture Books to Teach SEL Skills
• Tips and Ideas for How to Create an Idea Class Meeting Area for Read Alouds
• How to Choose a Read Aloud Book

The post 10 Inferring Picture Books for Elementary Teachers – 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.

10 Picture Books to Teach Summarizing and Retelling

Below are 10 picture books for teaching summarizing and retelling.

1. The Other Side by Jacqueline Woods

This summer, the fence that separated the two sides felt longer to Clover. Clover’s mom told her she cannot cross the fence because it separates where the white people and black people lived. But each day, she saw a white girl playing and sitting on the fence. Eventually, these two become friends and hope for days when the fence will be taken down. This story lends itself to the skill of retelling, as there are clear characters and a setting, as well as a beginning, middle, and end. Check out these The Other Side activities!

2. Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand

Laxmi never gave much thought to the hair above her lip. That is, until when pretend playing with her friends, they said she should be a cat. Laxmi wanted to be a chicken, not a cat, but her friends said she had the whiskers for it. She ran home and asked her parents for answers. This story provides a clear problem and solution, making it a great resource for teaching the skill of retelling. Check out these Laxmi’s Mooch activities!

3. Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale

Clark is a shark and gets really excited when he is at school! He talks really loudly, plays really hard, gets overly excited, and has a hard time making good choices. His classmates start to be annoyed with him. Clark’s teacher Mrs. Inkydink teaches him that being excited is okay but we have to remember to stay cool at school. This story lends itself to teaching retelling as the students can identify the characters, setting, problem, and solution. Check out these Clark the Shark activities!

4. Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library by Julie Gassman and Andy Elkerton

There are many rules to follow when visiting the library: no running, no shouting and you must take care of the books. However, the most important rule that everyone must follow is not to bring a dragon to the library. Students can practice summarizing this story and retelling why dragons are not allowed in libraries. Check out these Do Not Bring Your Dragon to the Library activities!

5. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett

At bedtime, grandpa told a tall tale bedtime story, inspired by pancake breakfast… In the town of Chewandswallow, there was a main street, a school, and lots of pets and all meals came from the sky. Life in the town was wonderful, that is, until the weather took a turn for the worse. This story is a great resource for students to practice retelling, as there are many steps to identify in the plot! Check out these Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs activities!

6. Elmer by David McKee 

Elmer is not elephant colored, he is patchwork. So when Elmer goes to a berry bush, he gets the idea to cover himself with the juice. But will this help him fit in with the others? This story is a great resource for teaching students about problems and solutions when it comes to character development and identity. Check out these Elmer activities!

7. Everyone Loves Cupcake by Kelly Dipucchio 

Cupcake was perfect in every way, but eventually people thought she was too perfect. She sought out Cookie, who gave her advice: just be yourself. Cupcake embraced this advice and shouted that she hates birthday parties and that her frosting isn’t even her real color! This story allows students to practice identifying the characters, setting, problem, and solution in a fun and cupcake-filled way! Check out these Everyone Loves Cupcake activities!

8. Fatima’s Great Outdoors by Ambreen Tariq

One weekend, Fatima’s family picked her from school and tried a new American pastime: camping! They drove to a state park, built their tent, cooked dinner, and slept under the stars. This story beautifully intertwines Fatima’s Indian family cultures, backgrounds, and challenges providing great practice for retelling! Check out these Fatima’s Great Outdoors activities!

9. Listening with My Heart by Gabi Garcia

Esperanza finds a heart-shaped rock and tells herself to listen with this heart for everything she does. Using the rock, she rescues a kitten and is friendly to others. When her rock breaks, Esperanza is forced to give herself some compassion as well. Having a clear beginning, middle, and end, students can retell the story of Esperanza and her journey with the rock. Check out these Listening with My Heart activities!

10. Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea by Meena Harris

Kamala and Maya had the great idea of turning the courtyard in their building into a playground. After all, it wasn’t being used and it would give the children a place to play. However, the landlord kept saying no. That is, until more people helped! The neighbors, children and landlord were all impressed with Kamala and Maya and what they were able to accomplish. This story shows the resilience of these two characters and how they changed a problem into a solution. Check out these Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea activities!

In closing, we hope you found this list of picture books to teach summarizing and retelling helpful! If you did, then you may also be interested in these posts:

• How to Use Picture Books to Teach SEL Skills
• Tips and Ideas for How to Create an Idea Class Meeting Area for Read Alouds
• How to Choose a Read Aloud Book

The post 10 Picture Books to Teach Summarizing and Retelling in 2024 appeared first on Clutter-Free Classroom | by Jodi Durgin.