Category: Classroom Library

First Chapter Friday classroom bulletin board displaying featured books to spark student reading interest
Back To School, ADHD & Focus, Book Club, Classroom Library, Read Aloud

First Chapter Friday for Fifth Grade Students

Lisa

Looking to start First Chapter Friday for Fifth Grade students in your elementary or middle school classroom?

Sharing the first chapter of a novel or text builds interest and understanding for your students and motivates them to finish the book. While the booklists were created for fifth grade, the books list may be great for fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade students.

What is First Chapter Friday for Fifth Grade?

First Chapter Friday for fifth grade students sets the stage for the students to preview a variety of books throughout the year. The premise is basic enough, when you have time, read the first chapter (or first few chapters or pages) of a book aloud for your students.

When students take the time to start book, they usually get hooked. First Chapter Friday is kind of like an extended sneak peek of a text.

You can read more about the details of what First Chapter Friday is at First Chapter Friday Books and Resources for Upper Elementary & Middle School

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Multiethnic mixed-race pupils classmates schoolchildren students standing in line waiting for boarding school bus before starting new educational semester year after summer holidays
Back To School, Classroom Library, Classroom Organization, Managing Behaviors

Engaging Back to School Reading Activities for Upper Elementary

Lisa

These back-to-school reading activities include read-alouds, classroom-library introductions, student reading surveys and movement-based reading discussions for students in 4th, 5th and 6th grade.

I have developed a variety of engaging back to school reading activities for upper elementary classrooms. I love to start every school year off with a variety of engaging back to school reading activities, trying to capture the joy and excitement I feel for reading and trying to pass that on to my new class of fifth grade students. Read on for some ideas on engaging back to school reading activities for upper elementary students.

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Back To School, Classroom Library, Comprehension, Fluency, Managing Behaviors

Teach Students to Abandon Books they Don’t Enjoy

Lisa

Do you have any students that do not finish books constantly? Students can and should abandon books they aren’t enjoying. We need to strategically give students the tools and confidence to know when it’s the right time to give up on a book that does not catch their interest. Teachers need to teach students when to give up on a book they aren’t enjoying. We also need to know when to support students who chronically move on to new books without finishing any of them.

*Never give up, unless that book is going to drag you down.
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Read Aloud, Classroom Library, Fall Reading, Halloween

Halloween Reading Activities for Upper Elementary Classrooms

Lisa

Over the years I have cultivated a few Halloween reading activities that are treasures that I really enjoy using in my upper elementary classroom each year when Halloween comes around. I love celebrating Halloween in my classroom with my fifth-grade students. Halloween packs a fun punch toward the end of October and really spices up the enjoyment level in the classroom. Check out these Halloween reading activities for upper elementary classrooms.

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Elementary student reaching for a chapter book on a classroom library shelf
Back To School, Classroom Library, Comprehension, Conflict in Reading, Elements of Plot, Read Aloud

10 Book Recommendation Resources Every Teacher Should Know

Lisa

I love the unique challenge of students that are voracious readers in the classroom. You know, the students that have read everything. They are such a treat because, as any good reading teacher knows, they push you to think how to find good books of your students to read more.

Finding more books can become a challenge because they will read it all. Ah what a treat! Read on to learn tips on how to find good books for upper elementary independent reading.

Resources to find a variety of good books for upper elementary independent reading books.
Resources to find a variety of good books for upper elementary independent reading books.
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