3rd Grade Resources

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Veterans Day Reading Comprehension (FREEBIE!)

Informational Text Set (Sharks) | FREEBIE Print and Digital

$6.00 $0.00 Save $6.00

Reading and Writing from 1 text set!

✏️ Click here to see ALL Reading and Writing Text Sets

✏️ Click here to shop the BUNDLE and save

What are the reading and writing text sets?
The monthly text sets are two or more texts based on the same topic. Each monthly text set can be used for both reading and writing. The topic of each text set is high-engaging nonfiction topics. Each text set supports opinion or informational-based writing in response to reading.

What is included in each text set?

2 (or more) related informational articles
Reading Comprehension Questions
Writing Prompt to be used with the texts in an essay format
Writing Plan Example
Teacher Example Essay (editable)
Differentiated for Grades 3-5

Sharks
Students read articles about Sharks. Using the texts, they write an informational essay about the topic.
Standard-based reading comprehension questions help you integrate reading while using the same text you are using in writing.

Try the free text set here:
https://theliteracyloft.co/FREETextSet

These text sets go perfectly with the Informational and Opinion Writing Units:

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Check out the Monthly Text Set Bundle! The bundle includes ALL of the text sets that are currently available.

What topics are included for each month?
The topics included are thematically related to that month. However, the text sets can be used at any time of the year based on your needs.

January - MLK (Opinion Text Set)

February - Equality in Education: Thurgood Marshall & Mary Mcleoud Bethune (Informational Text Set)

March - Ants: Perk or Pest (Opinion Text Set)

April - The Benefits of Bees (Informational Text Set)

May - Sea Turtles (Informational Text Set)

June - Sharks Text Set (Try for FREE here!)

July- Hurricanes Text Set (Informational Text Set)

August - Video Games: Harmful or Helpful? (Opinion Text Set)

September - Homework: Harmful or Helpful? (Opinion Text Set)

October- Bats (Informational Text Set)

November - Paid to Play: Should College Athletes be Paid?

December - Polar Bear Problems (Informational Text Set)

Let’s connect!

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Informational Text Set (Sharks) | FREEBIE Print and Digital

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts Grades 3-5 (BUNDLE)

$20.00 $16.00 Save $4.00

This product includes anchor charts for each Reading Literature and Informational Standard for Grades 3-5 that provide skills and strategies at your students' fingertips.

Why Reading Notebook Anchor Charts?
The charts in this product are meant to be used inside students’ reading or writing notebooks. This is why they are shown two on a page. I don’t know about you, but the budget on copies has always been an issue we are always trying to find ways to save paper and copies!

More importantly, as ELA teachers we tend to use a lot of anchor charts in our classroom. With the number of charts we make- it would be impossible to keep all of them up throughout the year and sometimes students probably forget they are even there. Having them right in their notebooks allows easy accessibility to help during independent Reading or Writing. You might also find these useful for parents to use at home.

Since I began using anchor charts inside our Reading and Writing Notebooks, I have noticed my students are able to work better independently. They have the tools they need to support their learning. The charts have also been helpful in planning and presenting lessons. For example, when talking about “theme,” you have examples and ways to find it by using the chart. This helps to bring a large and broad topic down to a concrete idea.
This set also includes a variety of graphic organizers for both fiction and nonfiction.

What is included?

>>> READING LITERATURE CHARTS <<<

The following charts are included aligned to the 3 clusters of the Reading Literature Standards for Grades 3-5.

Key Ideas & Details

Wise Readers ask Questions Who… What…When…Where…Why…How
Using Text Evidence
Inference
Character Feelings
Character Traits
Recount Stories (Somebody Wanted But So Then)
Recount Stories (Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?)
Summarize Stories (Somebody Wanted But So)
Think FAST about the Characters
FAST Chart (3 Versions)
5 Elements of a Story
Story Mountain
Crafting a Theme Statement
Theme
THEMEssage
Common Themes

Craft & Structure

Literal vs. Nonliteral Language
Figurative Language
Idioms 1 (blank)
Idioms 2 (blank)
Idioms 1
Idioms 2
Allusion
Poetry, Drama, & Prose
Point of View
Point of View (blank)

Integration of Knowledge & Ideas

The Quest
Movie vs. Text (Blank)
Movie vs. Text (Filled in)
Comparing Themes, Topics, & Patterns of Events
Good vs. Evil
Thinking about Theme
Revealing the Theme

Extra Reading Charts & Tools

The Story in a Nutshell Graphic Organizer (1 per page)
The Story in a Nutshell Graphic Organizer (2 per page)
Main Idea & Details Boxes & Bullets (2 per page)
What's the Big Idea?! Boxes & Bullets Graphic Organizer for Text
Writing a Summary (1 per page)
Let's Talk Genre! (Genre Notebook Chart)
Traditional Literature Notebook Chart
My Reading Log (2 per page)
Words We Should All Spell Correctly
Transitions
Responding to Fiction 1
Responding to Fiction 2
Responding to Nonfiction
Readers Choose Just Right Books
My New Year's Reading Resolutions
Ways I Can Help Myself Grow as a Reader
Parts of Speech
Reading is Thinking (boy)
Reading is Thinking (girl)

>>> READING INFORMATIONAL NOTEBOOK CHARTS <<<

Key Ideas & Details

Super Star Partnerships
Wise Readers Ask Questions
Using Text Evidence
Types of Informational Texts
Main Ideas and Supporting Details
Inference
Talking about the Text
Main Idea and Key Details (Graphic Organizer)
Main Idea and Key Details (Graphic Organizer)
Summarizing Nonfiction (Somebody Wanted But So)
Summarizing Nonfiction (Notes with Example)
Summarizing Nonfiction (Notes with Example) cursive font
Determining Importance
Determining Importance (Interesting or Important)
Sentence Starters for Main Idea
See, Think, Wonder (Blank)

Craft & Structure

Alpha Boxes
Context Clues
Firsthand vs. Secondhand Account
Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Description
Sequence
Compare & Contrast
Cause & Effect
Problem & Solution
Cause & Effect Graphic Organizer
Nonfiction Signal Words 1
Nonfiction Signal Words 2

Integration of Knowledge & Ideas

Reasons & Evidence
Text Features 1
Text Features 2
Text Features 3
Combining Texts
Combining Texts
Combining Texts (Graphic Organizer)
Bonus* Readers Gonna Read (My To-Read List)

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

If you ever find that you are looking for a specific chart that is not included, please let me know at help@theliteracyloft.com. I am ALWAYS looking for ways to improve the quality of my resources. :)

Let’s connect!

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts Grades 3-5 (BUNDLE)

Grammar & Vocabulary Notebook Charts

$6.00

About this Resource

Notebook Charts are an easy way to support your students during independent practice. This resource includes 44 Notebook Anchor Charts & Word Lists to support your students in developing their Language and Vocabulary Skills in Reading and Writing. The charts come two on a page so that they can be glued into an interactive notebook.

Ideas for Classroom Use

Reading Centers: If students are practicing a specific skill using a practice sheet or task cards, they can use the chart to help them remember how to use the specific part of speech, punctuation, etc.

Writing Workshop: I used the charts to teach a mini grammar lesson at the beginning of Writer's Workshop or at the end to help students revise and edit their work. If you do not use a Vocabulary Notebook, students could glue some of the charts in their Writing Notebook to help revise and edit for sentence structure, language, and conventions.

Small Group Reading and Writing: If I noticed all of my students were having difficulty with a particular skill such as verb tense, then I used that chart to pull a small group and teach this lesson. They used the chart to help them complete an activity independently to identify the correct verb tenses.

Quick Vocabulary & Grammar Lessons: If you are looking for easy ways to tuck in language, grammar, and vocabulary lessons, these charts can help! By providing students with a chart, you can quickly teach a short lesson and they have the chart in front of them to practice independently.

These are just a few ideas for using this resource in your classroom! I would love to see or hear how this resource works for you! Please let me know if you are still looking for something else in this resource. Thank you!

Charts Included

Perfect Punctuation
Relative and Demonstrative Pronouns
A or An?
Relative Pronouns
Relative Adverbs
Adverbs
Ordering Adjectives
Who or Whom?
Prepositions (with a dog for an example)
Prepositions (with a cat for an example)
Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions List
Types of Nouns
Plural Nouns
Modal Auxiliaries
Contractions
Types of Verbs
Irregular Verbs 1
Irregular Verbs 2
Verb Tenses
Coordinating Conjunctions
What makes a complete sentence?
Types of Sentences
Complete Sentences, Fragments, and Run-Ons
Compound and Complex Sentences
Tackle Tricky Words Tips Page
Commonly Confused Words 1
Commonly Confused Words 2
Commonly Confused Words 3
Homophones Word List
High Frequency Word List
Multiple Meaning Word List
4 square organizer (meaning, synonyms, antonyms, picture and sentence
4 Square Vocab (meaning, picture, synonym, antonym)
4 Square Vocab (meaning, picture, sentence, part of speech
Prefixes (Word List Chart)
Suffixes (Word List Chart)
Suffix Sort
Suffix Sort (Blank)
Prefix Sort
Prefix Sort (Blank)
Latin Roots (Word List Chart)
Greek Roots (Word List Chart)
Shades of Meaning (Feeling Words)

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Looking for something else? Let us know! help@theliteracyloft.com

Let’s connect!

Looking for something else? Let us know!

Informational Writing Unit

$20.00

Get your students excited about informational writing! This complete informational writing unit includes daily lesson plans, notebook charts, mentor texts and more. This unit takes your students through the whole writing process. Students will begin with getting ideas and end with a published piece of informational writing. The informational writing lessons included can be used in two ways:

Students get their own ideas for their essay.
Students write based on a prompt.

✋🛑 The materials in this resource are the same ones included in The Literacy Loft Membership. If you are a monthly or annual member, please do not purchase! If you'd like to learn more about the membership, click here!

✋ This unit is also part of the Writing Units Bundle which includes Narrative, Opinion, & Informational Writing Units.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

What is included in the informational writing unit?

✏️Writing Minilessons:

There are a total of 24 minilessons. The lessons can be skipped, moved around, modified as needed based on your students' needs.

Study a Mentor Text
Writers are teachers.
Getting Ideas
Prepare for research
Writers research
Look for Big Ideas (Main Ideas for Text)
Sort Information
Plan with Boxes & Bullets
Draft Paragraphs
Paragraphs with Purpose
Use Text Evidence
Balance Facts with Voice
Using a Teaching Tone
Elaboration: Using Mini Stories
Using Figurative Language
Craft Moves & Elaboration Strategies
Expert Words (Domain-Specific Vocabulary)
Transitional Words & Phrases
Introductions
Conclusions
Revise: Add Text Features
Revise: Eliminate Unnecessary Words
Edit
Polish & Publish!

✏️PowerPoint:

For each lesson above, PowerPoint slides are included that can be used to model and teach the lesson.

✏️Notebook Charts/Binder Charts for Students (see full list below):

For each lesson, a notebook chart is included to support student learning.

✏️More Writing Resources Included:

Rubrics & Checklists
Graphic Organizers
Mini Word Wall
Sort
Teacher Example Essay + Planning
Mentor Text Recommendations
Publishing Paper

✏️ Writing Notebook Anchor Charts + Graphic Organizers

Characteristics of an Informational Text
Writing an Informational Text
Wise Readers Ask Questions
Cause and Effect
Sort Out the Details
What does the TEXT say?
Using Text Evidence
Transition Words for Informational Writing
Organizing an Informational Text
See, Think, Wonder
See, Think, Wonder Notes on How to Use the Strategy
Text Features
Informational Writing Editing Checklist
Informational Writing Checklist and Rubric
Solving Our Spelling Problems
Paragraphs with Purpose
Instead of Says
Introductions
Conclusions
Building the Main Idea of a Paragraph
Craft Moves and Elaboration Strategies 1
Craft Moves and Elaboration Strategies 2
Craft Moves and Elaboration Strategies 3
File it Away! (Graphic Organizer/Boxes and Bullets)
Show Me the Evidence (Graphic Organizer for gathering evidence from 3 sources with lines)
Show Me the Evidence (Graphic Organizer for gathering evidence from 3 sources without lines)
Show Me the Evidence (Graphic Organizer for gathering evidence from 4 sources with lines)
Show Me the Evidence (Graphic Organizer for gathering evidence from 4 sources without lines
Sorting My Evidence (Graphic Organizer to sort information)
4 Square Boxes and Bullets Writing Planner
Boxes and Bullets Planning Page
Informational Writing Checklist

✅You can try a sample of this unit for FREE here!

✅You can also read THIS BLOG POST about the unit.

What other teachers are saying about the unit:

"My school adopted a curriculum which was just had guidelines as to what should be taught but was lacking resources. I purchased this writing unit and was so pleased with how comprehensive the lessons and graphic organizers are! I will definitely purchase the other units! Thank you!" - Jessica M.

"Your units are amazing and my students have benefited greatly. Before this, I used to hate teaching writing. But this is honestly now one of my favorite subjects to teach." - Brittney B.

"Excellent resource. This is jam packed with information and is everything you promise and more. Thank you for a thorough product." - Ms. Duffy's Dream

📹 Click play on the video to see the complete unit.

Fiction Reading Tic Tac Toe (Monthly Reading Response) | Distance Learning | Google Slides

$3.00

This thematic monthly Reading Tic-Tac-Toe Response helps students engage with their book and do something FUN, while also practicing standards-based reading skills. Plus, they have a choice. The directions require students to do 3 of the activities per month, but they can earn extra credit by completing additional activities. Seeing what your students create each month is most of the fun! This is a great way to give your students a creative outlet.

June and July are already added later for teachers and students that continue through the summer months OR you just want some fun summer reading practice for your students!

*A DIGITAL OPTION/GOOGLE SLIDES HAS BEEN INCLUDED* Be sure to re-download! There are directions and links inside the pdf.

Examples of Skills Practiced:

Character Sketch
Point of View (Write from a different POV)
Sketch a Scene
#Booksmakefriends (recommend the book to a friend)
Elements of a Story
Context Clues
Figurative Language
AND MORE!

Please feel free to contact me with any questions, contacts, or concerns.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Reader’s Notebook Anchor Charts

Fiction Reading Tic Tac Toe (Monthly Reading Response) | Distance Learning | Google Slides

Meet the Teacher Tool Box {Editable} | Distance Learning | Google Forms

$5.00

Meet the Teacher should be an exciting time for you to meet your new students and their parents. Don't stress about which forms you need, sign-in sheets, or having something special to share with your students. I've got you covered! ❤️

✋ This resource is included in the discounted Back to School Bundle!

What is included?
The following forms are included – all in an editable format for you to make any changes as needed.

Binder Divider/Cover: I like to keep all of my Back to School Items in one place (a binder). You can use this to divide between all of the BTS events so your materials are all organized and ready to go.

Special treat label: This is universal so that you can use it with any candy, healthy snack, or small gift for your new students. (Need Ideas?: Starburst, new pencils, cute erasers, something cute you find at the Target Dollar Spot, Goldfish crackers small snack bags)

Signs for Parents: I suggest printing these on card stock. You can fold them in half to make stands to direct parents where to sign-in, sign-up, volunteer, fill out forms, etc. A blank editable one is available too. (See font list if needed.)

Sign-In Sheet: This is a basic form for parents to sign-in for attendance purposes and to note how their child gets home on the first day of school.

Volunteer Sign Up: We all need a little help! This form will encourage parents to volunteer in the classroom and let you know who is available to volunteer their time.

Volunteer Form: This form lets parents give a little more information about the types of activities they would be interested in.

Classroom Scavenger Hunt: This fun little checklist will provide a nice activity to help your students become acquainted with their new classroom and know where the basics are located.

Student Information: This basic information sheet is very handy for you to have on hand. It gives a snapshot about their health information, family, siblings, interests, and also a spot to note any special holidays they celebrate.

Google Forms
Google Forms are available in case you want to skip the paperwork

Need a cute and easy way to introduce yourself to your new students and their parents? Looking for the right words to introduce yourself? I've got you covered.

This editable document is an example Meet Your Teacher template that you can type directly into and customize to fit your needs. I have linked to the fonts used inside the document, but you can change to use any fonts that you would like.

This document is a PowerPoint. You will need PowerPoint to edit the file.

Fonts Used (free for personal use)

Century Gothic

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Please reach out if you have any questions or I can support you in any way.
help@theliteracyloft.com

Let’s connect!
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The Literacy Loft on Instagram
The Literacy Loft on Pinterest
The Literacy Loft on Facebook

Meet the Teacher Tool Box {Editable} | Distance Learning | Google Forms

Biography Project {Grades 2-5} | Distance Learning | Google Slides

$4.50

*Google Slides and Print Option*

*Rubric Added!*

About this Product

This product came as a result of my students’ love of the biography series “Who Was…?” If you have not looked into this series, I recommend that you do! They are a fun, easy read that offers an engaging way for students to learn about historical figures and important people. Although this product is based on this series, this product could be used for any biography book or project. This is a nice way to integrate Reading, Writing, and Social Studies.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

How I Used this Product

In my 3rd Grade classroom, I used multiple copies of the same book or books and paired students in partnerships. In my school, we have a 30 minute Reading Intervention Block. I began this project with students who were not pulled out or working with me in small groups during this time. This was a nice way for students to work independently or in partnerships. It also created an extension for what they could already do as readers. Plus, they had so much fun! I let them work on this project in their partnerships. This held several benefits. Many students who were not pulled out or working in small groups tend to be higher level students OR students who have untapped potential. Allowing them to work on a project like this can extend their learning, as well as find new ways to enjoy reading. While other students had special groups or went to see other teachers, it was nice for these students to have their own project too.

The Poster Page is a template that you could use for students to turn in with the essay or you could use this as a planning page and then have students create a larger poster on their own. I assigned it as homework and was pleasantly surprised at what my students turned in. I saw a wonderful increase in engagement by students who had shown little motivation or enthusiasm for reading. You can see the photos in the preview or in the product itself. Please know I updated the pages after the photos were taken with more detail and provided the poster template. Good luck to you with this project! If you have any questions, please contact me!

You might also LOVE...

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Newspaper Article Writing Unit {Here's the Scoop!}

Opinion Writing for a Literary Response

Current Events Writing {What's the Scoop?}

Biography Project {Grades 2-5} | Distance Learning | Google Slides

Prefixes and Suffixes Task Cards | Distance Learning | Google Slides and Forms

$4.00

*A DIGITAL OPTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR GOOGLE SLIDES AND GOOGLE FORMS/GOOGLE CLASSROOM* Be sure to re-download! There are directions and links inside the pdf.

This resource is a part of ELA Task Cards Grades 3-5 Bottomless Bundle

These task cards are a great practice for students to practice using prefixes and suffixes within context to determine word meanings. Many of these words are drawn from Science or Social Studies topics to help integrate content areas into your ELA Block. I created these task cards for my 4th Graders, but they could be used in Grades 3-5. Check out the preview to see more information and a picture of how I used them in my classroom.

What's included?

*36 Task Cards to Practice Prefixes and Suffixes- These task cards are perfect for a literacy center, small group activities, or review. Each task card contains 2-3 sentences that uses the words in context. Though there are context clues for each word, the question requires students to understand the meaning of the prefix or suffix. I chose many of the words based on words that 3rd-5th graders may see in not only common literature, but also words from Science and some Social Studies topics.

Answer Sheet & Answer Key: The Answer Key provides the word that was used on the card as well as the answer. This will help you see not just an answer on the answer key, but which word was used. This can help you identify words that students might have struggled with or organizational purposes.

Prefixes and Suffixes Notebook Anchor Charts - Additionally, I have included 2 charts for students' notebooks for Prefixes and Suffixes. These charts come from my Grammar & Vocabulary Notebook Charts resource. Students can use the charts to help them identify the meaning of the prefix or suffix. You can find this resource by clicking HERE!

I hope you enjoy this resource as much as we did! As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please email me at help@theliteracyloft.com.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts {Informational}

Prefixes and Suffixes Task Cards | Distance Learning | Google Slides and Forms

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts (Literature)

$10.00

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts for skills and strategies at your students' fingertips.

**Updated on 9/28/2017 to add two additional notebook charts for writing a summary.***

This product includes anchor charts for each Reading Literature Standard for Grades 3-5. You might also like anchor charts for each Reading Informational Standard for Grades 3-5 here:

**This product has been updated as of 8/20/2017 to include full page anchor charts.**

**Buy BUNDLED and SAVE!**

This resource is now part of a Reading & Writing Bundle!

Click below to see what else is included!

Reading & Writing Bundle #1

Why Reading Notebook Anchor Charts?

The charts in this product are meant to be used inside students’ reading or writing notebooks. This is why they are shown two on a page. I don’t know about you, but we have copy budgeting issues at my school and I am always trying to find ways to save paper and copies! Plus, my students use composition notebooks for every subject and we have a special section for Notes and Teaching Charts where we glue these in.

More importantly, I use a lot of anchor charts in my classroom. With the amount of charts I make- it would be impossible to keep all of them up throughout the year and sometimes students forget they are there. Having them right in their notebooks allows easy accessibility to help during independent Reading or Writing. You might also find these useful for parents to use at home.

Since I began using anchor charts inside our Reading and Writing Notebooks, I have noticed my students are able to work better independently. They have the tools they need to support their learning. The charts have also been helpful in planning and presenting my lessons. For example, when we are talking about “theme,” I have examples and ways to find it by using the chart. This helps to bring a large and broad topic down to a concrete idea.

This set also includes a variety of graphic organizers for both fiction and nonfiction. I would love to hear your feedback on this product and requests for any other anchor charts you might feel would be useful to you and your students!

What is included?

The following charts are included aligned to the 3 clusters of the Reading Literature Standards for Grades 3-5.

Key Ideas & Details

*Wise Readers ask Questions Who… What…When…Where…Why…How

*Using Text Evidence

*Inference

*Character Feelings

*Character Traits

*Recount Stories (Somebody Wanted But So Then)

*Recount Stories (Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?)

*Summarize Stories (Somebody Wanted But So)

*Think FAST about the Characters

*FAST Chart (3 Versions)

*5 Elements of a Story

*Story Mountain

*Crafting a Theme Statement

*Theme

*Themessage

*Common Themes

Craft & Structure

*Literal vs. Nonliteral Language

*Figurative Language

*Idioms 1 (blank)

*Idioms 2 (blank)

*Idioms 1

*Idioms 2

*Allusion

*Poetry, Drama, & Prose

*Point of View

*Point of View (blank)

Integration of Knowledge & Ideas

*The Quest

*Movie vs. Text (Blank)

*Movie vs. Text (Filled in)

*Comparing Themes, Topics, & Patterns of Events

*Good vs. Evil

*Thinking about Theme

*Revealing the Theme

Extra Reading Charts & Tools

*The Story in a Nutshell Graphic Organizer (1 per page)

*The Story in a Nutshell Graphic Organizer (2 per page)

*Main Idea & Details Boxes & Bullets (2 per page)

*What's the Big Idea?! Boxes & Bullets Graphic Organizer for Text

*Writing a Summary (1 per page)

*Let's Talk Genre! (Genre Notebook Chart)

*Traditional Literature Notebook Chart

*My Reading Log (2 per page)

*Words We Should All Spell Correctly

*Transitions

*Responding to Fiction 1

*Responding to Fiction 2

*Responding to Nonfiction

*Readers Choose Just Right Books

*My New Year's Reading Resolutions

*Ways I Can Help Myself Grow as a Reader

*Parts of Speech

*Reading is Thinking (boy)

*Reading is Thinking (girl)

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

If you ever find that you are looking for a specific chart that is not included, please let me know at help@theliteracyloft.com. I am ALWAYS looking for ways to improve the quality of my resources.

Let’s connect!

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts (Literature)

Math Task Cards for the Year Bundle (4th Grade) Google Slides & Forms

$60.00 $27.00 Save $33.00

This resource includes Math Task Cards for the entire year! Each set of task cards is aligned to the Common Core Standards so that you can integrate this with your current curriculum. By purchasing the bundle, you save 30% than if you were to purchase the task card sets individually.

Each set of task cards include:

36 Task Cards
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Google Slides + Forms

This bundle includes:

These task cards are part of a year long series that covers the 5th Grade Math Standards.
✔︎ 4.NBT.1.1, 4.NBT.1.2, 4.NBT.1.3, 4.NBT.2.4 - Place Value, Addition, & Subtraction
✔︎ 4.NBT.2.5, 4.OA.1.2, 4.0A.1.3 - Multi-Digit Multiplication
✔︎ 4.NBT.2.6 - Dividing by 1-Digit Numbers
✔︎ 4.OA.1.a, 4.OA.1.1 - Equations & Expressions
✔︎ 4.OA.1.2 - Mixed Problem-Solving
✔︎ 4.0A.1.3 - Multi-Step Problem Solving
✔︎ 4.OA.2.4, 4.OA.3.5 - Factors, Multiples, and Patterns
✔︎ 4.NF.1.1, 4.NF.1.2 - Fraction Equivalence and Comparison
✔︎ 4.NF.2.3 - Add and Subtract Fractions
✔︎ 4.NF.2.4 - Multiply Fractions by Whole Numbers
✔︎ 4.NF.3.5, 4.NF.3.6, 4.NF.3.7 - Relate Fractions and Decimals
✔︎ 4.MD.1.1 - Convert Measurement
✔︎ 4.MD.2.4 - Line Plots
✔︎ 4.MD.1.2 - Distance, Time, & Money
✔︎ MD.3.5, MD.3.6, MD.3.7 - Angles
✔︎ 4.MD.1.3 - Perimeter and Area
✔︎ 4.G.1.1, 4.G.1.2, 4.G.1.3 - Two-Dimensional Figures

Math Task Cards for the Year Freebies

5th Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/5thMathTCFreebie

4th Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/4thMathTCFreebie

3rd Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/3rdMathTCFreebie

8 Ways to use Math Task Cards in Your Classroom:

I recommend printing these on card stock and/or laminating them so that you can continuously use them year after year.

1. Math Center
2. Journal Problems
3. Small Group Instruction
4. End of Unit Review
5. Test Prep
6. Early Finisher Task
7. Write and Wipe Answers (if laminated)
8. Walk and Solve: Many teachers like to place these around the classroom to get their kids moving by "walking and solving." You can put them on desks, paste them on your whiteboard, and in various places around the room.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts {Literature}

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Math Task Cards for the Year Bundle (4th Grade) Google Slides & Forms

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts (Nonfiction)

$10.00

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts for skills and strategies at your students' fingertips.

This product includes anchor charts for each Reading Informational Standard for Grades 3-5. You might also like anchor charts for each Reading Literature Standard for Grades 3-5 here:

**This product has been updated on 8/20/2017 to include FULL PAGE anchor charts.**

Why Reading Notebook Anchor Charts?

The charts in this product are meant to be used inside students’ reading or writing notebooks. This is why they are shown two on a page. I don’t know about you, but we have copy budgeting issues at my school and I am always trying to find ways to save paper and copies! Plus, my students use composition notebooks for every subject and we have a special section for Notes and Teaching Charts where we glue these in.

More importantly, I use a lot of anchor charts in my classroom. With the amount of charts I make- it would be impossible to keep all of them up throughout the year and sometimes students forget they are there. Having them right in their notebooks allows easy accessibility to help during independent Reading. You might also find these useful for parents to use at home.

Since I began using anchor charts inside our Reading and Writing Notebooks, I have noticed my students are able to work better independently. They have the tools they need to support their learning. The charts have also been helpful in planning and presenting my lessons. For example, when we are talking about “theme,” I have examples and ways to find it by using the chart. This helps to bring a large and broad topic down to a concrete idea.

If you have purchased my Reading Notebook Anchor Charts {Reading Literature}, then you are familiar with how these charts work. Throughout the past couple of years, I have worked to better align my resources to the standards. The charts contained in this set are organized by the 3 big Anchor Standards in the Reading Informational Text Strand. The charts are intended to be versatile enough for grades 3-5. If you are looking for something specific to be included in this resource, please email me at butterfliesanddaydreams1@gmail.com. I am always looking for ways to enhance the quality of my products. The sister product Reading Notebook Anchor Charts {Reading Literature} is also undergoing some changes to be organized by the anchor standards for Reading Literature with more charts to be added soon.

I hope you and your students find this resource as useful as we do! Happy Teaching!

-Jessica

Reader's Notebook Anchor Charts Included

Key Ideas & Details

*Super Star Partnerships

*Wise Readers Ask Questions

*Using Text Evidence

*Types of Informational Texts

*Main Ideas and Supporting Details

*Inference

*Talking about the Text

*Main Idea and Key Details (Graphic Organizer)

*Summarizing Nonfiction (Somebody Wanted But So)

*Summarizing Nonfiction (Notes with Example)

*Summarizing Nonfiction (Notes with Example) cursive font

*Determining Importance

*Determining Importance (Interesting or Important)

*Sentence Starters for Main Idea

*See, Think, Wonder (Blank)

Craft & Structure

*Alpha Boxes

*Context Clues

*Firsthand vs. Secondhand Account

*Primary vs. Secondary Sources

*Description

*Sequence

*Compare & Contrast

*Cause & Effect

*Problem & Solution

*Cause & Effect Graphic Organizer

*Nonfiction Signal Words 1

*Nonfiction Signal Words 2

Integration of Knowledge & Ideas

*Reasons & Evidence

*Text Features 1

*Text Features 2

*Text Features 3

*Combining Texts

*Combining Texts (Graphic Organizer)

*Bonus* Readers Gonna Read (My To-Read List)

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Reading Notebook Anchor Charts (Nonfiction)

Personal Narrative Writing Unit {My Life is a Story}

$11.00

This Personal Narrative Unit is perfect for kicking off Writer’s Workshop at the beginning of the year, while also providing enough content to support the Narrative Writing Common Core Standard at any other point in the school year. The lessons in this unit will build excitement for writing and set foundations for the rest of your academic year. This unit also contains lifelong tools which could supplement other writing units and the overall writing process.

✋🛑 The materials in this resource are the same ones included in The Literacy Loft Membership. If you are a monthly or annual member, please do not purchase! If you'd like to learn more about the membership, click here!

The content in the unit support 4 basic goals:

Get students excited about writing!
Build a community of writers.
Build confidence in the writers.
Find ways to craft our own life stories

What this Unit Includes

*Writing Unit Calendar with Teaching Points
*Blank Planning Calendar
*Mentor Text Suggestions and Links
*20 Lesson Ideas for the Unit

(The lessons in this unit are NOT always in a specific lesson template or written to precisely tell you what to do. However, there are detailed descriptions and ideas for each teaching point, including how the teacher can model, how students will practice, and what students will do independently. This unit will look different in every classroom as your own personal teaching style, experience, and perspective filters through. I have included a brief explanation for each teaching point and how it would/could look in the classroom. I have also noted when to use the anchor charts for each day as well as included pictures of notebook work that may help also. This unit of resources will hopefully “fill your fist” as Katie Wood Ray would say, with writing strategies to help your writers build a love for writing! You can check out my blog for anchor chart ideas and information on teaching writing.

*20+ Writing Notebook Anchor Charts for the Writer’s Notebook to help support applying the writing strategies into their work by providing anchor charts at your students’ fingertips.

*20 Anchor Charts to be used for: teaching the lesson, laminated as posters, put in sheet protectors and on a binder ring as part of your writing center or any other creative way you find use for them!

*Narrative Writing Checklist and Grading Rubric

*Standards for 3rd-5th grades (to glue in notebook)

*Publishing Paper

Whether you are using this in your classroom to start off the year or as a way to improve your students’ writing process, I hope you and your students enjoy this unit as much as we did! If you have any further questions or needs I would love to hear from you!

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

-Jessica

Personal Narrative Writing Unit {My Life is a Story}

Math Task Cards for the Year Bundle (3rd Grade) | Google Slides & Forms

$60.00 $27.00 Save $33.00

This resource includes Math Task Cards for the entire year. Each set of task cards is aligned to the Common Core Standards so that you can integrate this with your current curriculum. By purchasing the bundle, you are saving 30% than if you were to buy each set individually.

Each set of Task Cards includes:

36 Task Cards
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Google Slides + Forms

This Bundle includes:

These task cards are part of a year long series that covers the 3rd Grade Math Standards.
✔︎ 3.NBT.1.1 Round to the Nearest Ten or Hundred
✔︎ 3.NBT.1.2 Addition within 1,000
✔︎ 3.NBT.1.2 Subtraction within 1,000
✔︎ 3.OA.A.1 Equal Groups, Repeated Addition
✔︎ 3.OA.A.3 Model with Equal Groups, Number Line, Arrays
✔︎ 3.OA.B.5 Properties of Operations
✔︎ 3.OA.1 Equal Groups, Repeated Addition
✔︎ 3.OA.A.3 Model with Equal Groups, Number Line, Arrays
✔︎ 3.OA.B.5 Commutative, Distributive, Associative Property of Multiplication
✔︎ 3.OA.D.8 Problem - Solving
✔︎ 3.MD.4 Picture Graphs and Bar Graphs
✔︎ 3.MD.4 Use Measurements to make a Line Plot
✔︎ 3.OA.2 Number of Equal Groups, Size of Equal Groups, Bar Models
✔︎ 3.OA.3 Model Division, Relate Subtraction & Division, Model with Arrays
✔︎ 3.OA.6 Relate Multiplication & Division
✔︎ 3.OA.7 Multiply and Divide within 100
✔︎ 3.OA.2 Number of Equal Groups, Size of Equal Groups, Bar Models
✔︎ 3.OA.3 Model Division, Relate Subtraction & Division, Model with Arrays
✔︎ 3.OA.6 Relate Multiplication & Division
✔︎ NF.A.1 Part of a Whole
✔︎ NF.A.2 Fractions on a number line
✔︎ NF.A.3 Equivalent Fractions
✔︎ NF.A.3 Comparing Fractions
✔︎ 3.MD.A.1 Telling Time to Nearest Minute
✔︎ 3.NBT.1.2 Measure and Estimate Volume & Mass
✔︎ 3.MD.C.7 Area
✔︎ 3.MD.D.8 Perimeter
✔︎ 3.G.A.1 Quadrilaterals, Classifying Shapes, Attributes
✔︎ 3.G.A.2 Partition Shapes
✔︎ 3.OA.D.8 Solve 2-step problems using the four operations
✔︎ 3.OA.8 Problem - Solving
✔︎ 3.OA.B.5 Apply properties of operations as strategies to multiply and divide

Math Task Cards for the Year Freebies

5th Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/5thMathTCFreebie

4th Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/4thMathTCFreebie

3rd Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/3rdMathTCFreebie

8 Ways to use Math Task Cards in Your Classroom:

I recommend printing these on card stock and/or laminating them so that you can continuously use them year after year.

1. Math Center
2. Journal Problems
3. Small Group Instruction
4. End of Unit Review
5. Test Prep
6. Early Finisher Task
7. Write and Wipe Answers (if laminated)
8. Walk and Solve: Many teachers like to place these around the classroom to get their kids moving by "walking and solving." You can put them on desks, paste them on your whiteboard, and in various places around the room.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Math Task Cards for the Year Bundle (3rd Grade) | Google Slides & Forms

Math Task Cards for the Year Bundle (5th Grade) Google Slides & Forms

$60.00 $27.00 Save $33.00

This resource includes Math Task Cards for the entire year. Each set of task cards is aligned to the Common Core Standards so that you can integrate this with your current curriculum. By purchasing the bundle, you are saving 30% of the cost than if you were to purchase the sets individually.

Each set of task Cards includes:

36 Task Cards
Answer Sheet
Answer Key
Google Slides + Forms

This Bundle includes:

These task cards are part of a year long series that covers the 5th Grade Math Standards.
✔︎ 5.NBT.1.1, 5.NBT.1.2 - Place Value & Powers of Ten
✔︎ 5.NBT.2.5 - Multi-Digit Multiplication
✔︎ 5.NBT.2.6 - Multi-Digit Division
✔︎ 5.NBT.1.3, 5.NBT.1.4 - Read, Write, Compare & Round Decimals
✔︎ 5.NBT.2.7 - Add & Subtract, Multiply & Divide Decimals
✔︎ 5.OA.1.1, 5.OA.1.2, 5.OA.2.3, - Expressions & Patterns
✔︎ 5.NF.1.1, 5.NF.1.2 - Add & Subtract Fractions & Mixed Numbers
✔︎ 5.NF.2.4, 5,NF.2.5, 5.NF.2.6 - Multiply Fractions
✔︎ 5.NF.2.4, 5.NF.2.7 - Divide Fractions
✔︎ 5.MD.1.1 - Converting Measurement Units
✔︎ 5.MD.2.2 - Line Plots
✔︎ 5.G.1.1, 5.G.1.2 - Coordinate Planes
✔︎ 5.G.2.3, 5.G.2.4 - Classifying Two-Dimensional Shapes
✔︎ 5.MD.3.3, 5.MD.3.4, 5.MD.3.5 - Volume of Three-Dimensional Shape

Math Task Cards for the Year Freebies

5th Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/5thMathTCFreebie

4th Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/4thMathTCFreebie

3rd Grade
http://theliteracyloft.co/3rdMathTCFreebie

8 Ways to use Math Task Cards in Your Classroom:

I recommend printing these on card stock and/or laminating them so that you can continuously use them year after year.

1. Math Center
2. Journal Problems
3. Small Group Instruction
4. End of Unit Review
5. Test Prep
6. Early Finisher Task
7. Write and Wipe Answers (if laminated)
8. Walk and Solve: Many teachers like to place these around the classroom to get their kids moving by "walking and solving." You can put them on desks, paste them
on your whiteboard, and in various places around the room.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Math Task Cards for the Year Bundle (5th Grade) Google Slides & Forms

Guided Reading Strategy Cards

$2.50

This set of Guided Reading Strategy Cards includes 12 pages of cards with 12 different reading strategies (4 on a page) that can be used in guided reading groups to reinforce the reading strategy you are teaching. You might also find these cards useful to support students during Independent Reading, Conferences, or to send home for parents. The strategy cards can be printed on paper or card stock and then laminated. You can keep the cards on a binder ring or in Ziploc bags. In my 4th grade classroom, we used these cards during small group to help students “SEE” the strategy we were working on. You can find more information about these particular strategies in the book The Next Step in Guided Reading by Jan Richardson I hope you and your students find these cards useful!

Strategies Included:

*BME -(Beginning, Middle, End) a summarizing/retelling strategy

*Somebody-Wanted-But-So- A strategy to follow the plot structure and what the character wants in the story in order to summarize the story.

*5 Finger Retell- A retelling strategy to retell the characters, setting, problems, and events.

*Stop! Think. Paraphrase.- Helps students monitor their thinking.

*Who? and What?- Who is this part mostly about? What was the most important thing that happened? A strategy to keep track of the big events of the story.

*VIP {Very Important Part}- a strategy to focus on important things that are happening and character change.

*VIP {Very Important Part} Internal and External-a strategy to focus on the important things the character does (external) and how the character feels (internal)

*Ask Questions- a strategy to mark interesting parts with questions using What? How? and Why?

*It’s all about the Character!- Pay attention to the character’s action and dialogue.

*Green Questions- These types of questions can be found directly in the text. The author states the question exactly. I can GO directly to the text and find the answer. Who, What, When, Where, Why?

*Yellow Questions- I need to slow down and look in more than one place in the text to answer this kind of question. Compare & Contrast, Cause & Effect, Main Idea/Details

*Red Questions- The question is NOT answered directly in the text. I must STOP and THINK about the passage and what I know to help me answer this question.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Christmas Around the World Newspaper Bingo {Informational Text}
History of Earth Day Reading
History of Halloween Newspaper Bingo {Informational Text}
Memorial Day & Fourth of July Informational Text {Newspaper Style Bingo}
MLK Day Reading Bingo
Thanksgiving Informational Text (Newspaper-Style Bingo)
Valentine's Day Informational Text

You try the free Veterans Day Bingo by clicking here!

Halloween Reading Comprehension

$4.00

About this Product:
This is an informational newspaper-style text fun to use around the week of Halloween and can be used over the course of a few days. Bingo sheets are included, which have questions from the entire newspaper. Students read the informational text about the History of Halloween, pumpkins, and traditional folklore surrounding the holiday. Then, they answer questions from the “newspaper” in the bingo grid. The bingo grid comes in 26 different versions. Having each student use a different version of the answer grid will allow you to reinforce the content of the informational text by playing a game of bingo…possibly on the day of Halloween or at the end of the week.

The questions range from vocabulary, finding the main idea, using text features, as well as finding key details.

How to Play:
The first page is an answer key, which can be used to play the game of bingo. Cut up each square, place in a Ziploc bag or container of your choice and call out questions. Students must answer the question correctly and have 5 in a row. Up, down, or diagonally. Students can use counters, candy corn, or other Halloween treats to keep track of the questions called.

We hope you enjoy this festive activity as much as we did!!! 

-Jessica & Erin

This resource is part of the Reading Comprehension Bingo (Holiday Bundle)

You might also enjoy these other Reading Comprehension Bingos:

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Click here for the monthly text sets - the perfect companion to the writing unit.

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Opinion Writing Unit (Grades 3-5)

$20.00

Get your students excited about opinion writing! This complete opinion writing unit includes daily lesson plans, notebook charts, mentor texts and more. This unit takes your students through the whole writing process. Students will begin with getting ideas and end with a published piece of opinion writing. The opinion writing lessons included can be used in two ways:

Students get their own ideas for their essay.
Students write based on a prompt.

✋🛑 The materials in this resource are the same ones included in The Literacy Loft Membership. If you are a monthly or annual member, please do not purchase! If you'd like to learn more about the membership, click here!

👉This unit is also included in the following money-saving bundles:

✏️What is included in the opinion writing unit?

Unit Lesson Plans
PowerPoint
Notebook Anchor Charts
Full Size Anchor Charts
Teacher Examples
Rubrics & Checklists
Sorts
Mini Word Wall

✏️ About this Product

This opinion essay unit provides basic opinion writing teaching points and resources based on the Common Core Writing Standards for Grades 3-5. The lesson plans are divided into three parts:

1. Basic Teaching Points: Lessons that can be carried from writing a self-selected opinion piece to writing in response to text. These begin with generating ideas and end with a published piece of opinion writing.

2. Bonus (mini) Mini Lessons: Lessons to be used in small group, conferring, or whole group depending on the needs of your students.

3. Writing in Response to Text: Lessons to be used when writing in response to text or a prompt

This unit provides topic ideas and resources for any opinion piece. You could use a text as a basis for the opinion piece or use this unit to simply kick off opinion writing in your classroom. The writing lessons do not need to be taught in the exact order. Also, some of the teaching points you could use as small group lessons if you find that only some of your students need the lesson.

✏️Writing Minilessons:

The minilessons can be skipped, moved around, modified as needed based on your students' needs.

Study a Mentor Text
Getting Ideas
Collect Entries
Writers rehearse
Reasons and Evidence
Structure of Opinion Writing
Make a Plan Using Boxes & Bullets
Using Transition Words
Hook the Reader (Opinion Statement)
Reason Paragraph (Planner to Paragraph)
Precise Word Choice
Expert Words (Domain-Specific Vocabulary)
Elaboration
Craft a Conclusion
Revise: Eliminate Unnecessary Words
Edit
Polish & Publish

Bonus Minilessons

18. Strong, Bold Thesis Statements

19. Addressing the Audience's Concerns

20. Address Counterclaims

21. When, Why, How to Use Transitional Words and Phrases

22. Choosing Convincing Reasons

23. Endings: Restate Opinion + Call to Action

24. Strong Evidence

25. Color Code the Text to Identify the parts of an essay

26. Using repetition

Writing in Response to Text

27. Unpack the Prompt

28. Close Read a Text to Collect Evidence

29. Use Charts and Text Features as Evidence

30. What Makes Strong Evidence?

31. Citing Text Evidence

✏️ PowerPoint:

For each lesson above, PowerPoint slides are included that can be used to model and teach the lesson.

✏️Notebook Charts/Binder Charts for Students (see full list below):

For each lesson, a notebook chart is included to support student learning.

✏️ More Writing Resources Included:

Rubrics & Checklists
Graphic Organizers
Mini Word Wall
Reasons + Evidence Sort
Teacher Example Essay + Planning
Mentor Text Recommendations
Publishing Paper

✏️ Writing Notebook Anchor Charts

The anchor charts included in this product are meant for students to have anchor charts at their fingertips in their Writer’s Notebooks. I don’t know about you, but wall space is always an issue in my classroom. Not only that but storing and keeping track of large chart paper can sometimes stretch our organizational skills to the limits! I have found one of the best ways to support my students is to treat their notebooks like a tool in which they can find the strategies and skills taught whenever they need it. In this way, what we teach our students is not just a one-day occurrence, but they have a “forever tool.”

Characteristics of Opinion Writing
Writing an Opinion Essay
Topic Ideas for an Opinion Essay
Getting Ideas for an Opinion Essay
Debatable Topics
Opinion Vocabulary
Reasons vs. Evidence Sort
Opinion Writing Structure (2 Reasons)
Opinion Writing Structure (3 Reasons)
Transition Words for Opinion Writing
Transition Words from Pig Parade Mentor Text
The Hook
Paragraphs with Purpose
Color Code Your Text
Word Choice
Opinion Sentence Stems
Writers Use Expert Words
Transitional Phrases for Evidence & Elaboration
Crafting a Conclusion
Instead of Says
Using Text Evidence
Quoting or Paraphrasing the Text
Using Quotations from a Text
Opinion Writers Checklist
Peer Editing
Thesis Statement for an Opinion Essay
Planning a Thesis Statement
Rebuttal, Response, & Counterclaims
Repeat Your Opinion
Close Reading Strategies
Writers Choose Strong Evidence
Consider Your Audience
Language & Tone to Validate Your Argument
Opinion Writing Editing Checklist
Solving Your Spelling Problems
Opinion Writer's Checklist
Sorting My Evidence
4 Square Graphic Organizer
Writers Celebrate 3-2-1 Style

Do you need opinion writing prompts and text sets to go with this unit?

Let’s connect!

-Jessica

The Literacy Loft

help@theliteracyloft.com

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Get access to our Free Resource Library:

http://bit.ly/FREEsourceLibrar...

Christmas Around the World Newspaper Bingo {Informational Text}

$4.00

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

About the Product:

This is an informational newspaper-style text fun to use around the week before Winter Break and can be used over the course of a few days. Bingo sheets are included, which have questions from the entire newspaper. Students read the informational text and then answer questions from the “newspaper” in the bingo grid. The bingo grid comes in 26 different versions. Having each student use a different version of the answer grid will allow you to reinforce the content of the informational text by playing a game of bingo. The questions range from vocabulary, finding key details, and digging for text evidence.

Content of the Newspaper
The content of the "newspaper" has a variety of holiday-themed information and includes the following. Please know that various celebrations around the world are briefly touched on as little snippets of each region or culture's celebration. This is not a comprehensive, detailed account of each culture/region's holiday. The goal of the content is to build some general historical knowledge of celebrations around the world. The following topics are included:

North Pole: Land of the Midnight Sun
The Legend of Santa Claus
Celebrations Around the World (Italy, Germany, Russia, Australia, England, Canada, Ireland, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Sweden)
History of Hanukkah
What is Kwanzaa?

How to Play: The first page is an answer key, which can be used to play the game of bingo. Cut up each square, place in a Ziploc bag or container of your choice and call out questions. Students must answer the question correctly and have 5 in a row. Up, down, or diagonally. Students can use counters, peppermints, or other holiday treats to keep track of the questions called.

We hope you enjoy this festive activity as much as we did!!! :)

Christmas Around the World Newspaper Bingo {Informational Text}

Monthly Text Sets (Bundle) Print + Google Slides/Forms

$72.00 $27.00 Save $45.00

What are monthly text sets?

The monthly text sets are two or more texts based on the same topic. Each monthly text set can be used for both reading and writing. The topic of each text set is high-engaging nonfiction topics. Each text set supports opinion or informational based writing in response to reading.

These pair perfectly with the following Writing Units:

Opinion Writing Unit
Informational Writing Unit
or save with the Writing Unit Bundle

What is included in each text set?

2 (or more) related informational articles
Reading Comprehension Questions
Writing Prompt to be used with the texts in an essay format
Writing Plan Example
Teacher Example Essay (editable)
Teacher Example Essay in Google Doc
Differentiated for Grades 3-5
Standard Alignment in Google Sheets

What topics are included for each month?
The topics included are thematically related to that month. However, the text sets can be used at any time of the year based on your needs.

January - MLK (Opinion Text Set)

February - Equality in Education: Thurgood Marshall & Mary Mcleoud Bethune (Informational Text Set)

March - Ants: Perk or Pest (Opinion Text Set)

April - The Benefits of Bees (Informational Text Set)

May - Sea Turtles (Informational Text Set)

June - Sharks Text Set (Try for FREE here!)

July- Hurricanes Text Set (Informational Text Set)

August - Video Games: Harmful or Helpful? (Opinion Text Set)

September - Homework: Harmful or Helpful? (Opinion Text Set)

October- Bats (Informational Text Set)

November - Paid to Play: Should College Athletes be Paid?

December - Polar Bear Problems (Informational Text Set)

Try the free text set here:

https://theliteracyloft.co/FREETextSet

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Monthly Text Sets (Bundle) Print + Google Slides/Forms

Rubrics, Charts, & Checklists, OH MY!

$6.00

This mini-bundle of resources includes:
Informational Writing Student/Peer Checklist
Informational Writing Teacher Rubric for grading purposes (2 versions)
Narrative Writing Student/Peer Checklist
Narrative Writing Rubric for grading purposes (2 versions)
Opinion Writing Student/Peer Checklist
Opinion Writing Rubric for grading purposes (2 versions)
Language Arts Short Response Rubric
Character Feelings and Traits Notebook Charts
Transitional Words and Phrases Notebook Chart
Words We All Should Spell Correctly Chart
Writing an Opinion Essay Chart
Writer’s Celebrate! 3-2-1 Style

This product is one that I see myself continuously updating and adding new material. hope you enjoy and I would love to hear your feedback about this product! I am always open to ways I can improve my products:)

How to use the Checklists:
The checklists are used to help students understand what is expected of them as they move through the writing process. In addition, the checklist requires them to reflect on themselves as a writer. In my classroom, I introduce the checklist shortly after we have started the unit so they can monitor themselves as we go along. As we move towards publishing our final draft, the “I’m done” declarations dwindle. I have found the checklist reiterates specific things students can work on as a writer. Furthermore, they are required to consult one another through peer editing and revising.

The Rubrics
Reading and Writing grades are not so quick and easy anymore. Although I have the abstract mind of a Language Arts Teacher, when it comes time for grades and assessments- the “measurement” of my student’s progress can be a bit gray and I have struggled with giving my students’ a fair grade. The Writing rubrics included in this product are aligned to the checklists and allow you as the teacher to attach a grade to their final writing piece in an objective manner.

The Language Arts Short Response Rubric is a new one I am trying out this year and am very excited about!!! No longer are our assessments simply multiple choice-you got it or you don’t, a quick and easy grade. Questions and tasks are open-ended, which requires students’ to think more critically. In many standardized district or state assessments, students are required to respond to a task in an essay form AND ALSO a short response. As a teacher, assigning grades isn’t so easy anymore. I have often wondered how my classroom assessments are aligning to the district and state assessments as well as the standards overall. Alas, this product was born.

I don’t know about your students, but when my kiddos get a short response it is…definitely short!! They either answer in 2-3 words or a sentence or two that may or may not answer the question.  No more! This rubric will help you get students in the habit of answering short responses in complete sentences and require them to efficiently and quickly reflect on their work. Because after all, it is a SHORT response I use these at least once a week with a question about the current text or Read Aloud we are using in the classroom. They respond in their Reading Response Journal (or Reading Notebook). An added bonus is that throughout the year you can watch your students grow and become not only better readers, but also better writers

The Charts
Charts, charts, charts-I Love Charts. The problem is that we run out of wall space in our classrooms. I have found that students are sometimes more likely to use charts when they are at their fingertips- in their notebooks. I try to create the charts that they can continually refer to in their Reading and Writing work into half sheet versions they can simply glue into their notebooks. This product includes charts students can use in both Reading and Writing as well as a sample of charts found in the product My Opinion Matters!

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Text Structure Task Cards {Scientific Concepts} | Distance Learning | Google Slides and Forms

$4.00

*A DIGITAL OPTION HAS BEEN INCLUDED FOR GOOGLE SLIDES AND GOOGLE FORMS/GOOGLE CLASSROOM* Be sure to re-download! There are directions and links inside the pdf.

This resource is a part of ELA Task Cards Grades 3-5 Bottomless Bundle

Why you and your students will LOVE this product...

Are you struggling to fit it all in? As an intermediate teacher, this is my constant struggle. At a time when standardized testing can seem to dominate the curriculum, I am always trying to find a way to integrate Science and Social Studies into my ELA Block. My 4th graders love learning about Science and we can't seem to get enough of it throughout the year with such a heavy push for the Reading, Writing, and Math. My students also LOVE task cards because they are not simply another worksheet or passage with comprehension questions. They are short and quick to help them practice a skill. This resource marries these two loves and creates a cross-curricular activity. As a busy teacher, you get more bang for your buck! Science and Reading? Win-win.

These task cards are perfect for a literacy center, small group activities, or review. Each task card contains 2-3 sentences that uses the words in context.

What does this resource include?

*36 Text Structure Task Cards with a short paragraph that explains a scientific concept. Students determine the text structure used in the paragraph

*Answer Sheet & Answer Key: The Answer Key provides the word that was used on the card as well as the answer.

*Text Structure Notebook Anchor Charts- Additionally, I have included 5 charts for students' notebooks for Text Structure. These charts come from my Reading Notebook Anchor Charts (Nonfiction) resource. Students can use the charts to help them identify the Text Structure.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments please email us or leave your comments below :)

Let’s connect!

Christmas Around the World Newspaper Bingo {Informational Text}
History of Earth Day Reading
History of Halloween Newspaper Bingo {Informational Text}
Memorial Day & Fourth of July Informational Text {Newspaper Style Bingo}
MLK Day Reading Bingo
Thanksgiving Informational Text (Newspaper-Style Bingo)
Valentine's Day Informational Text

You try the free Veterans Day Bingo by clicking here!

Happy Teaching!

-Jessica

Text Structure Task Cards {Scientific Concepts} | Distance Learning | Google Slides and Forms

Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Bingo

$4.00

This is an informational newspaper style text fun to use around Thanksgiving. Included in this product are Bingo sheets which have questions from the entire newspaper. This activity can be used over a few days. Students read facts and information about the history of Thanksgiving from the newspaper and then write their answers in the bingo grid. The bingo grid comes in 26 different versions. Having each student use a different version of the answer grid will allow you to reinforce the content of the informational text by playing a game of bingo…possibly on the day before Thanksgiving break. The questions range from vocabulary, finding the main idea, using text features, as well as finding key details.

🚨 This resource is part of the Reading Comprehension Bingo (Holiday Bundle)

How to Play:
The first page is an answer key, which can be used to play the game of bingo. Cut up each square, place in a Ziploc bag or container of your choice and call out questions. Students must answer the question correctly and have 5 in a row. Up, down, or diagonally.

We hope you enjoy this festive activity as much as we did!!!
Please know that the information from the text has been gathered from various online reliable sources. Please see the resource list. There are some wonderful websites which might be a way to integrate more than one source and possibly have students write an informational essay OR just nice to wander through other information.

You might also enjoy these other Reading Comprehension Bingos:

Or grab the bundle here: Reading Comprehension Bingo (Holiday Bundle)

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Thanksgiving Reading Comprehension Bingo

Pumpkin Science {Physical Science Investigation}

$3.50

This resource is an engaging and effective way to integrate a fun fall twist into your Science curriculum. I created this resource to use in my 4th Grade classroom during our Physical Science Unit. We used pumpkins to discover, study, and discuss physical properties of matter. We then continued our study into physical vs. chemical changes. This investigation can last between 1-10 days (or more), depending on how you structure the activities.

We used small pumpkins to investigate the physical properties of the pumpkin. Students worked in groups of 2-4 to investigate size, mass, color, shape, texture, hardness, and density of the pumpkin.

We used a large class pumpkin to investigate physical vs. chemical changes. We also used the large pumpkin to discuss the physical properties of the inside of the pumpkin, such as smell.

What is included?
*The Physical Properties of Matter {Notebook Chart}
*Physical Properties of a Pumpkin {Notebook Recording Chart}
*Physical vs. Chemical Changes {Notebook Chart}
*Physical vs. Chemical Changes {Notebook Recording Chart}
*See Think Wonder {Notebook Recording Page}
*Rotting Pumpkin Observation Pages

Please see the preview for photos of how this might look in the classroom.

You might also LOVE these other 3rd-4th Grade Resources:

→Math Word Wall {Grades 3-4}

→Good Morning, Sunshine! Math Morning Work for the Year! 3rd Grade {The Bundle}

→Good Morning, Sunshine! Math Morning Work for the Year! 4th Grade {The Bundle}

→ELA Morning Work 3rd Grade {Growing Bundle}

→Math + ELA Morning Work 3rd Grade {Growing Bundle}

→ELA Morning Work 4th Grade {Growing Bundle}

→Math + ELA Morning Work 4th Grade {Growing Bundle}

→Text Structure Task Cards {Scientific Concepts}

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

If you find that any words you need are NOT included, please email me at help@theliteracyloft.com. I would be happy to add these words for you! :)

-Jessica

Let’s connect!
The Literacy Loft Blog

The Literacy Loft on Facebook

Email: help@theliteracyloft.com

Key Words:
Science, Physical Science, Pumpkin Science, Physical Properties, Physical Changes, Chemical Changes, Rotting Pumpkin, Observations

Pumpkin Science {Physical Science Investigation}

Narrative, Opinion, & Informational Writing Bundle

$43.00

***This bundle has been updated as of 1/11/2016 with the new Opinion Writing Charts***

This bundle contains our Narrative, Opinion, & Informational Writing Units. Click the links below or inside the preview to check out the individual units.

Each unit includes:

Writing Mini Lessons
Notebook Anchor Charts + Full Page Anchor Charts
Google Slides/PowerPoint
Writing Activities

Are you looking for something else?

If these units do not include something particular you are looking for, please email us. We are always looking for ways to improve the quality of our products!

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!

Reader’s Notebook Anchor Charts

Narrative, Opinion, & Informational Writing Bundle

Reading Genres Posters

$6.00

This resource includes 50 Reading Genre Posters for your Reading area, bulletin board, or anywhere you want to help your students identify and choose books of varying genres. The genre posters included are listed below.

Posters Included:
Folktales
Fairy Tales
Mythology
Tall Tales
Fables
Legends
Nonfiction
Historical Fiction
Biography
Autobiography
Fantasy
Realistic Fiction
Science Fiction
Comedy
Humor
Horror
Scary
Drama
Poetry
Mystery
Sports
Classics
Adventure
Graphic Novel
Everybody
Romance
Dystopian
Fiction
Junior Fiction
Animals
Animal Story
History
Science
Suspense
Christian
Christmas
Holiday
Caldecott
Newbery
Memoir
Narrative Nonfiction
Fractured Fairy Tale
Nature
Travel
Expository Text
Nature
Travel
Buddy Reads
Inspirational
Comics
How-To
Relationships
Multicultural
Technical/Procedural Text
Genre (as a display header)

If you are looking for any posters that are not listed, please email us at help@theliteracyloft.com and we will be happy to add them for you.

You might also LOVE...
Reading & Writing Bundle #1

Buzzin' in Book Clubs {Book Club Reading Unit Resources}

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let's connect!

Happy Reading!
- Jessica

Math Key Words for Problem Solving {Notebook Anchor Chart}

$1.50

About this Product:

This notebook chart is a 4 Square Organizer filled with Key Words for each of the four basic operations.

This chart could be used in several ways:

Teach your students how to determine what operation the Math problem is asking them to do by looking for key words. I have my students BOX the Math words in every problem- this would include the key words as well as the numbers they will work with.

As a Poster in your Math Center to go with task cards or other Math activities.

Glue into Math Journals as a tool for students to use during Independent Practice.

Send home with parents as a helpful guide to assist their students with homework.

Use the blank charts to generate the list of words with your students at the beginning of the year.

I hope you find this resource helpful for you and your students! Please take the time to visit my store and leave feedback! If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.

Let’s connect!