ELA

Find guided reading teaching tips, freebies, centers, and activities for first and second grade! We've got you covered with engaging resources and ideas for guided reading, word work, read alouds, phonics, and more!
Latest ELA Posts

Simple Activities for Phonics Practice

Coming up with simple activities for phonics practice doesn’t have to be time-consuming! This easy-to-play phonics practice game is a lifesaver! Whether you’re working on a specific phonics skill or learning new sight words, this no-prep practice game is a quick and easy way to get your students engaged and

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Picture Books for Narrative Writing

Writing workshop… the time teachers either love or dread. When teaching narrative writing, we want students to tell a story, much like in picture books. I have the perfect set of picture books you need to grab from your school library to use for your first or second-grade students. Keep

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Word Work Centers: Everything You Need to Know

So many teachers find that their word work center is boring and time-consuming to set up, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Except for guided reading groups, one of the few centers that I take the time to plan and prep each week (or month) is the word

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My Favorite Versions of the Three Little Pigs

I love teaching compare and contrast with different versions of the Three Little Pigs. And if you’re anything like me, you LOVE a good book list. So, I compiled a list of the top 10 versions of the Three Little Pigs! Plus, at the end of this post you can download

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How to Write Complete Sentences with a Fun Halloween Twist

Teaching students how to write complete sentences is such an important skill, but it can also be extremely difficult and frustrating! When students learn how to write complete sentences filled with descriptive details, their writing improves immensely. How do I teach students what makes a complete sentence? There are a

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Main Idea In A Paragraph: How to Win Big

Finding the main idea in a paragraph can be so hard for students to understand and find. Sharing with you today are some tips and realizations I’ve learned after teaching for many years, about how to best start main idea instruction! Learn some tips and suggestions here to help you

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Reading Groups: How to Plan Teacher Tips

Have you ever felt like planning guided reading groups each week is time-consuming, complicated, and you just don’t even know where to start? You’re not alone! Here’s a peek at how I plan my activities for guided reading groups each week! My Guided Reading Groups Binder First, if you feel

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How to Create a Student Sight Word Routine

Adding sight word practice to your students’ word work routine doesn’t have to be challenging! I’ve heard from teachers over and over that their sight word routine is inconsistent, unorganized, and sometimes non-existent! If that sounds like your classroom, it doesn’t have to be that way! You can make a

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Word Work Activities: Choosing the Right Ones

Imagine creating word work centers that allow students to practice making words independently while you are with a guided reading group without interruption! Keep reading to learn how to choose the right activities for word work centers. A question I see frequently when it comes to guided reading rotations is

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Shades of Meaning & Strong Word Choice

Help early elementary students improve their writing by teaching word choices through integrating shades of meaning. These strategies will help your students grow as writers! Anyone else ever get totally sick of seeing your students use the most booooooring words ever in their writing?? The word choice is just downright

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Sight Word Books

Grab 3 free sight word practice books to add to your word work routine! With 5 sight words per book, students can practice tracing, coloring, reading, and writing those words!