It’s nice to have some literacy-related graphic organizers ready (for a crazy day, an emergency sub folder, etc.). Here’s one that asks students to analyze their favorite character in a story. This could lead to a paragraph, picture or some other enrichment activity.
Click here to download the Character analysis graphic organizer.
This page is just what it sounds like: a graphic organizer set up to compare 2 characters. Add this to your collection of go-to’s when you’re not sure just what to do with that reading group… Easy-peasy!
Click here to download the Character analysis venn diagram graphic organizer
As an elementary school teacher, you’re never really done reviewing parts of speech. So how about doing a parts of speech graphic organizer as a literacy block assignment? This graphic organizer is simple enough to work for both lower and upper grades. Enjoy!
Click here to get the PDF of the parts of speech in the story graphic organizer.
It’s nice to have some literacy graphic organizers to use during centers, guided reading, story writing, etc. So here’s another one. It’s great for younger grades, since it doesn’t ask too much. Students can fill in sections for characters, setting, beginning, middle and end of the story.
Click here for the plot summary graphic organizer- easy.
Do you remember when you poked holes in a piece of paper to make an image when it’s held up to the light? Well that classic idea just got a make-over. I got these Christmas pages from a lower grade teacher and here’s what she said about it:
“I use these the whole month of December as a QUIET fast finisher. Kids get a pattern page and a piece of construction paper. They put the pattern on top and poke holes through both pages where the pattern directs. I have them sit on the floor and do it, because it’s way easier to poke holes through paper on carpet than at a wooden desk. Then the kids get to take home only the construction paper. We use the patterns a few times until they’re shot. It usually takes my 2nd graders a while to get through 1 page, so it’s great for those kids who finish everything fast. And who doesn’t want a little holiday cheer in their classroom?!”
Click here to download the Push Pin Christmas activities.
*Thanks to those who have submitted comments/ideas. If you have something to share, I’m all ears! 🙂
This is one of my absolute favorite teaching tools for writing. Kids love being creative and they love to share their creativity with others. These “scribbles” have been circulating for years, but I’ve added a ton of my own to make a big set of 27 scribbles. Here’s how they work:
1. Students turn the scribble at the top of the page into something (you can limit the amount of time if you need to).
2. Students write about what they turned the scribble into. This is your chance to help reinforce paragraph concepts, grammar, spelling, etc. I used to give my students a specific prompt and writing requirements that addressed something in the state or common core (persuasive, informative, etc.). We also used some of these as editing practice.
3. Have students share their writing (under the document camera, go read it to 2 classmates, whatever…). This part is CRUCIAL. It adds so much enthusiasm and energy to the project. When I didn’t let the kids share, they weren’t as excited the next time I passed one of these out. I had a space on one of my bulletin boards for the “Super Scribble” (the one I felt best completed the writing aspect we were focusing on).
4. I’d recommend not making a single book out of these and giving them to the students all at once. If kids see them ahead of time, it kind of kills the project. Some kids might also be tempted to draw on all of them before your class is supposed to do the scribble.
Like I said, this is one of my favorite writing tools. Let me know how it worked in your classroom!
Click here to get the 54 page PDF: Scribble writing- master set with back page of lines
Here are some (PDF) samples one 2nd grade teacher sent me: Scribble 1 and Scribble 2. Her class had fun doing these and the students wanted to send their work to me! So flattered!
When I was working in a 2nd grade classroom recently, the teacher and I came up with this simple story summary graphic organizer for the kids to complete on a decodable book during literacy centers time. It’s got the basics of the story: who, what, where, when, why.
Click here to get the Story summary graphic organizer- easy.
I recently found these little paper/brad projects. My 2nd grade teacher used to to one every week (or day… I don’t remember which) and I absolutely loved them! She had tons of them, but I only found 4. So here they are, just for memory’s sake…
Squarehead Teachers 