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Language Arts

Saved by the Bell Ringers in Upper Elementary

by BrainNinjasWP

It can be difficult to use every momemt of your instructional time, but bell ringers might be the key in upper elementary. We use them in every subject area to make transitions smoother, keep behaviour on track and to ignite the learning for our students. Come read about how we use bell ringers in our classroom.

Your class trickles in as you watch the time tick away and the punctual crowd starts to get restless. A student hands in work, another tells you all about the taco salad they had for lunch, while two others argue over which of two seemingly identical chairs is theirs. Does this sound familiar to you? It sounds like bell ringers might be the solution!

Bell Ringers Can Take Back That Wasted Time

Silent reading is a great way to start the day or for use during transitions. But maybe you want to shake things up? Or you want to make every minute of the day count. Bell ringers help to get things rolling from bell to bell. Read on to find out how we use them in our classroom and all the different types of bell ringers that can work.

[Read more…] about Saved by the Bell Ringers in Upper Elementary

Filed Under: Engaging Lessons, Teaching Strategies Tagged With: bell ringers, Classroom Management, French, french as a second language, FSL, Google Apps, Google Classroom, google classroom activities, Google Education, Language Arts, Reading, reading comprehension, Student Teachers, task cards, Teachers Pay Teachers, weekly readers

End the School Year With Lasting Memories

by BrainNinjasWP

Are you looking for ways to celebrate the school year with your students? We've collected some of the best ways we spend the last month of school in our upper elementary classroom (and of course we're still learning right up until the end). Come check out these ideas.

Every group of students you teach over the years will leave a special place in your heart. The names and faces might fade a little or get mixed up as the years pile up, but there are always some groups, names and faces that will stick with you. We try to make the end of each year special for our students. For some, the end of the year is a joyous occasion, but for others, it’s sad and summer break is not always wonderful for them. Here are some of the ways we end the school year in special ways to create lasting memories.

[Read more…] about End the School Year With Lasting Memories

Filed Under: Classroom Tips Tagged With: celebrations, classroom celebrations, Classroom Community, end of the school year, End of the Year, English Language Arts, Language Arts, Logic Puzzles, outdoor activities, theme days, Writing Prompts

Practical Strategies for Reluctant Readers

by BrainNinjasWP

Do you have students who avoid reading? Check out these step-by-step effective strategies for reluctant readers so you can get all of your students to enjoy reading.

Do you have students in your classroom you would label as reluctant readers? A reluctant reader is usually considered to be a person who doesn’t read for pleasure, but we’re about to debunk that myth and help you out in your classroom by giving you strategies to engage reluctant readers in ways you didn’t even know you needed.

[Read more…] about Practical Strategies for Reluctant Readers

Filed Under: Classroom Tips, Teaching Strategies Tagged With: Book Recommendations, English Language Arts, english language learners, language, Language Arts, Reading, reading strategies, reluctant readers, strategies for reluctant readers

How to Teach Research Skills in the Library

by BrainNinjasWP

With all the digital resources available, the library seems to be overlooked. Schools are cutting back on librarians and purchasing books. What a waste! There are so many valauble research skills that can be taught in the library. Come read some of the ways we do it.

When you want to do research in your school library do you often find your school just can’t afford the resources (or even the librarian) you need? This is why so often we take our students online to do research. In doing this, we often teach students that libraries are not a valuable resource because nothing could be further from the truth. Help your students build research skills by taking them back to the library and showing them the value.

[Read more…] about How to Teach Research Skills in the Library

Filed Under: Teaching Strategies Tagged With: books, Language Arts, Learning Commons, library, nonfiction texts, research skills, text features

How to Use Google Meet to Run a Book Club

by BrainNinjasWP

If you like to run Book Clubs in your upper elementary classroom, then you should try using Google Meet to run them. Come read through our post to see how we put these in place and get yourself some useful tools to make it all go easier.

Are you looking for a twist on a Book Club to help spice up your reading instruction? Using Google Meet can be just the twist you need to get students reading, writing and talking about books. If you’re teaching reading, you need to give this a shot!

The point of book clubs is to have students (or people) read the same book together and then discuss the book. It is not about reading a book and then doing comprehension questions. No one wants to do that (or mark that). It’s about fostering a love of reading for life.

[Read more…] about How to Use Google Meet to Run a Book Club

Filed Under: Teaching Strategies Tagged With: Book Clubs, Classroom Set Up, Educational Technology, ELA, Google Classroom, Google Education, Language Arts, Literature Circles, Reading, Technology Integration

How to Teach Reading With Book Clubs

by BrainNinjasWP

Using book clubs is a great way to help students read books with support while enjoying books they've chosen. We put together all our book club tips in one post to get you started. Make book clubs part of your language arts instruction. Come have a read.

Our students love to have some choice over what they read as part of our Language Arts program. Book Clubs are one way to encourage reading and discussions just like adults do. Students read for enjoyment and then talk about what they have read and recommend books to others. Setting up book clubs can be a little confusing, especially if it’s your first time. Don’t worry! We’re here to help you out.

You’re going to love book clubs!

[Read more…] about How to Teach Reading With Book Clubs

Filed Under: Teaching Strategies Tagged With: Book Clubs, Classroom Organization, Classroom Set Up, Differentiation, ELA, Language Arts, Literature Circles, Reading, Teaching Reading

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