Ideas, Tools, and Expert Advice to Get the Most Out of Teaching

Engage, English Language Arts, Learn

fiction, fifth grade, fourth grade, informational writing, informative writing, narrative writing, reading writing connection, third grade, two sides of writing, writing fiction, writing nonfiction

Teaching the two sides of writing is the essential piece in your ELA instruction. First and foremost, kids must understand structures of fiction and nonfiction writing. Fiction writing uses a…

Five Fun Classroom Games [Intermediate Grades]

June 2, 2018

classroom games, classroom review, classroom review games, five games in one, motivational learning activities, review games

Engage, Math

Five fun classroom games motivate kids to learn! Your third, fourth, or fifth grade students will love them. Fortunately, it takes only a few minutes to convert your review sheets…

Beginnings and Endings Tie Persuasive Writing Together

February 4, 2018

beginnings and endings, persuasive paragraphs, persuasive writing

Beginnings and endings can unify persuasive writing. To open the paragraph, offer an invitation to read on. For example, hook them with a question, dialogue, or surprise statement. At the…

Transitions Make Persuasive Writing Flow

January 28, 2018

persuasive paragraphs, persuasive writing, transitions

Transitions, or linking words, help readers navigate the text. When students use them, writing flows. For beginners, provide a list of terms. As they become more proficient, ask them to…

Varying Sentences Jazzes Up Persuasive Writing

January 21, 2018

persuasive paragraphs, persuasive writing, sentence variety, varying sentences

Varying sentences improves style. When kids feel finished with their writing, it’s time to shake things up. First, begin every sentence in a paragraph differently. Second, vary sentence types. For…

Elaboration Strengthens Persuasive Writing

January 14, 2018

elaborating, elaboration, persuasive paragraph, persuasive writing

Elaboration can really strengthen persuasive writing. Let’s take a look at three ways to teach it. As an easy first step, ask kids to add examples. When they get the…

Word Choice Improves Persuasive Writing

January 7, 2018

persuasive paragraphs, persuasive writing, word choice

Word choice improves persuasive writing! When kids use specialized vocabulary, their writing becomes more credible. How can your students ramp up their persuasive power? Ask them to develop specialized word…

Structure Organizes Persuasive Writing

January 3, 2018

persuasive paragraph, persuasive writing, persuasive writing fifth grade, persuasive writing fourth grade, persuasive writing structure, persuasive writing third grade