First Week of School Activities for Upper Elementary
Are you ready for the first week of school? Ready or not, a brand new class of students is coming, and they will be eager
August 22, 2023
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Tag: Reading
End of Year Activities for Reading and Math
Can you believe it’s time to plan your end of year activities?! We’re so close to those golden days of carefree fun and relaxation. No more homework or tests–just long summer days full of possibility. Until then, you need simple yet engaging activities to sustain the end of year classroom chaos. Students have been soaking up new reading and math skills all year long, and now is a great time to review those skills before you say goodbye for summer. Luckily, the End of Year Reading and Math Review Pack is the perfect resource to have students brush up on their skills!
April 17, 2023
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Using Reading Assessments to Guide Instruction
Before testing, teachers set a big goal for their students—mastering reading comprehension skills! Using reading assessments is one way to do this. Honestly, comprehending reading is a massive part of being a successful reader. However, this can put a ton of pressure on teachers as they try to ensure each student receives the individualized instruction they need before end-of-the-year testing. Since every student has a different reading comprehension level, Reading Quick Checks are here to help!
March 19, 2023
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How to Teach Making Inferences
Teaching your students how to make inferences is essential to unlocking their reading potential. This challenging skill requires sharp critical thinking and the ability for readers to understand more than just what’s written on paper. Inferencing is a concept often referred to as “reading between the lines.” If you are having difficulty teaching this important lesson, here are some helpful tips. These 5 steps will take your students from struggling with inferencing skills to becoming masters!
February 28, 2023
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Teaching Nonfiction Text Features – 5 Strategies That Work!
Nonfiction text features are essential to reading comprehension and help students better understand the topics they’re studying. Teaching nonfiction text features in the classroom is a great way to engage students, build their understanding, and improve their overall literacy skills.
In this blog post, we will explore five simple strategies teachers can use to teach nonfiction text features in the classroom. With these strategies, you will be able to provide your students with the knowledge and skills they need to interact effectively with any nonfiction material they encounter. Let’s get started!
February 10, 2023
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5 Quick Wins for Teaching Point of View
Students love to be detectives, right? Well, if you are teaching point of view in the upper elementary classroom, now is the perfect time to get your student’s magnifying glasses out! Here, I will show you some tips on how to engage your students in learning all about point of view.
February 9, 2022
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Teaching Figurative Language
Does the thought of teaching figurative language make you feel as sick as a dog? Teaching figurative language like idioms, adages, and proverbs can be daunting if you don’t have a plan in place before you get started. Using figurative language in everyday conversations is something we as adults take for granted, but our young learners haven’t acquired the skills necessary to use idioms, adages, and proverbs correctly just yet. We all know the proverb, “A friend in need is a friend indeed!”, and I’m here for you my friends! I am so excited to share my tips and tricks for teaching figurative language with you.
April 25, 2021
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My #1 Tip for Teaching Poetry in an Exciting Way!
Do you dread teaching poetry? I get it! I’ve been there! The concepts of poetry are oftentimes difficult for children to understand and that makes it challenging to teach. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. After years of teaching and practice, I’ve nailed down a few strategies for teaching poetry effectively in the classroom. They say practice makes perfect, right?
April 13, 2021
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Strategies for Teaching Main Idea and Supporting Details – FREE Main Idea Activities
Teaching main idea and supporting details to students isn’t all that easy. Many students struggle with the concept and the process. They get confused and caught up in all of the little details when reading through the text. Some even confuse summarizing a passage with finding the main idea. So, how can you as a teacher make sure that this doesn’t happen to your students? After many years of trial and error, I have the solution that has worked in my classroom time after time. I’m excited to share with you my strategies for teaching main idea and supporting details.
March 17, 2021
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March Classroom Activities for Upper Elementary Students
March is a month of budding potential in the upper elementary classroom. It’s a time when the academic year is in full swing, students are eager for a change after the winter blues, and teachers are looking for engaging activities to keep the learning environment exciting and educational. From springing into new seasonal reads to adding some St. Patrick’s Day charm in lessons, here’s a pot of gold full of ideas to enrich your upper elementary classroom.
February 27, 2021
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The Ins and Outs of Bloom’s Taxonomy
Bloom’s Taxonomy was created by educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom and his colleagues in 1956. It is a great tool to encourage higher-order thinking in the classroom. Teachers have used this as a framework for education for many years to guide their students to deeper levels of understanding and mastery. In recent years we have seen the inclusion of higher-level thinking skills in educational reform. These more rigorous standards and skill requirements make it imperative that we incorporate these skills into our classroom. Let’s dive right in and discuss what Bloom’s Taxonomy is and how we can use it to guide instruction.
February 21, 2021
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February Activities for the Upper Elementary Classroom
Can you believe it’s already February? For a short month, there sure is a lot to do! This month has so many great things to celebrate: Valentine’s Day, Groundhog Day, Presidents Day, Black History Month, and much more! Here are some fun February activities your students are going to love.
February 3, 2021
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The 100th Day of School for Upper Grades
The 100th Day of School is a milestone worth celebrating! However, if you’re an upper elementary teacher, you might feel like this fun day is
January 27, 2021
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January Activities for Upper Elementary
As the new year begins, it’s a great time to kick off with some fresh ideas in your upper elementary classroom. January marks the perfect opportunity to energize your students’ learning and get them thinking differently while exploring exciting topics! This blog post provides eight engaging winter activities for grades 3-5. Each resource is designed to help your students build collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. Keep reading to discover activity ideas, tips for success, and printable resources that will prepare you each step of the way.
January 3, 2021
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November Activities for Upper Elementary
The autumn chill is in the air, and Thanksgiving is around the corner! Planning activities to keep your upper elementary students engaged and motivated during November is important. From reading comprehension and Thanksgiving writing activities to hands-on math – let’s dive into what types of engaging challenges are out there that will keep student minds thriving! Here are some fun, creative ideas that can be implemented in any upper elementary classroom this month!
November 1, 2020
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WELCOME!
I’m Kim, the founder of A Love of Teaching. My ultimate goal is to empower teachers to reclaim their afternoons and weekends, all while feeling confident in their role as educators. I’m passionate about inspiring teachers with fresh ideas and providing them with time-saving materials.
I’m happy you’re here!