Animal Comprehension Practice

If we're being honest, practicing reading comprehension isn't always the most fun thing to do for students. It's a necessary thing, though, with state testing and just life, since we need kiddos to be able to read and understand. One way to check their understanding, as well as their ability to find text evidence and make inferences, is through reading and responding.

My favorite way to have students practice this is through using engaging texts. I haven't met a student yet who didn't enjoy reading and learning about animals, so I created informational texts about 18 different animals.

These are created in two different formats: half-page task cards and full-page printables. Both contain the same text and same 3 questions. The teacher gets to choose the format that works best for their needs. The task cards can be responded to on notebook paper or in a station journal, whereas the full-page printables have build in lines for students to answer on. Also, the full-pages are completely in black and white, while the task cards are in color. **Note--these print perfectly in black/white as well!

These were created with grades 3-5 in mind, and include both “right there” questions where students have to go back in the text for evidence, as well as inferential questions. These questions spiral many non-fiction reading comprehension skills and standards, including:

•Using context clues to determine word meaning

•Comparing/contrasting

•Text structure

•Author’s POV

•Inferencing

•Main idea/supporting details

•Text features

•Text structure

Would this resource be something you could use in your classroom? Would you like to win a set?! If so, pin any of the pictures on this blogpost and copy/paste the link into the comments. Please include your email address, too! You can also check out this resource on TPT!

My favorite ELA Resources

Hey guys! I'm often asked what my favorite resources to use in terms of ELA are, so I'm here today to share those with you--and the fact that I've bundled these resources with a deeply discounted price!

First up: Reading Comprehension Strategies Posters + Mini Posters

I always, always, always have reading strategies posters up for my students to reference. I never just throw them up on a wall or they become colorful displays that mainly I look at. They go up as we discuss these throughout the year. Reading skills and strategies spiral, so we reference them often. I also find that some students benefit from having these same posters in a smaller, hand-held version, which is why I created just that. I hole punch these, and just like I add the larger posters to my focus wall throughout the year, students add the mini versions to their rings. The rings stay in their table group bin, safe and sound, for easy reference on the daily.

These are available in the Mega Bundle of course, but also as just the posters, just the mini posters, or also these 2 products bundled. 

Next: ELA Stations for Bigger Kids

 There are 2 sets of stations included in this Mega Bundle: ELA Stations for Bigger Kids & ELA Stations for Bigger Kids Part 2.

What's included?

In Part 1-- there is hands-on practice with ABC order, guide words, homophones, antonyms, and synonyms. Each station has something to be manipulated (AKA not with worksheets!), whether it's literally putting file folders in ABC order, or cutting out antonyms and synonyms and using context clues to figure out where they belong. This blog post shares more about this best selling pack!

In Part 2--there are 5 stations as well. Two of the stations are the same as in part one (synonym and antonym match-up) but with completely different practice pages! If your folders are already make from the first station pack, you simply print the new pages for students to manipulate and you're done--easy peasy! Also included is a context clues vocabulary match up station, informational text station and inference station. All of these stations are text heavy, meaning they're perfect for the rigor needed in grades 3-5.

Feel free to check these out more using the links below:

ELA Stations for Bigger Kids

ELA Station for Bigger Kids Part 2

The Bundle

Also: Task Card Bundle

I love, love, love some good task cards for students to practice reading skills and then spiral them throughout the year. Each set of task cards contain a game board, which creates instant engagement and buy-in. I mostly use task cards as a station (in groups of 2-3) or at my small group table. Either way, we use them in a game format, but that isn't necessary if it doesn't work for your needs. Each set also has recording sheets, answer keys, and anchor charts.

I hope your school year is blessed, and you remember to focus on relationships above all else!