Out of this World Literacy

Literacy Resources from Jen Bengel

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7 FREE At-Home Reading Activities

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Hello There!

I know many parents have been thrust into the homeschool world and I wanted to put something together that will help.

  My name is Jen Bengel and I am the owner and founder of Out of This World Literacy,™ an educational company providing literacy curricula for students in all grade levels.

  I have a post-graduate degree as a Literacy Collaborative Coordinator and have worked for years, training teachers around the world.

For that past 6 years, I’ve also had the honor of being a homeschool mom, so I know firsthand the situation you’re in!

  I put together this pack of reading fun in hopes that it will relieve some stress and pressure at home.  My hope is that you and your child(ren) have FUN and develop a lifelong love of reading, all while continuing to practice the reading skill your child(ren) has worked so hard to learn this year.

  The goal is not to teach a ton of new skills, rather the goal is to maintain reading stamina and skills already learned, all while continuing to enjoy reading.

What is Included:

  • Step-by-step simple directions to easily use this resource.
  • 5 ways to read any text at home.
  • 7 fun and simple reading activities to do at home.

The Big Goal of This Resource:

To encourage a love of reading at home, all while having fun and practicing important reading skills.

Who Can Use This Resource:

Any students in grades 1-8 who are working at home.

3 Simple Steps to Use this Resource:

  1. Find a book, poem, short story, magazine article, or online book to read.
  2. Choose a way to read the text (5 reading options included in the packet.)
  3. Use one of the activities, games, conversation starters to talk and write about the text during and after reading.

IF YOU NEED MORE FREE SUPPORT…(click any of the images)

3 Free Weeks of Take-Home Literacy Work

Is your school closing for a few weeks? Do you need digital or printable support to send home to your parents and students?

I've put together 3 weeks of everything students need to maintain their literacy skills so they can return to school without missing a beat!

THE WORKBOOKS ARE BROKEN INTO 3 LEVELS:


1️⃣ Basic: students working at a grade 1-2 level

2️⃣ Intermediate: students working at a grade 3-4 level

3️⃣ Advanced: students working at a 5-8 grade level

CLICK ANY OF THE IMAGE TO DOWNLOAD FOR FREE NOW:

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As both a Literacy Collaborative Coordinator and a homeschool mom of 6 years myself, I know the struggles that can come with not having the correct support at home.  My hope is that these packets will relieve some stress for you, the parents, and your students.

If you already use OOTWL resources, your students will be familiar with the work in the literacy workbooks.  They'll be able to be successful at home while practicing their literacy skills.

*** The goal of these packets is not to have students or parents stress at home, but to maintain all the reading, writing, language, and vocabulary skills you've built throughout the year.  

Feel free to send home just a few parts of these packets or the entire resource.  There is also a digital version you can send home if your families are able to use Google Classroom

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN EACH LITERACY WORKBOOK:


1️⃣ 3 weeks of reading comprehension and writing work.

2️⃣ Writing activities to maintain writing stamina at home

3️⃣ 3 weeks of grammar or phonics practice

4️⃣ 3 weeks of direct vocabulary practice

5️⃣ A daily scheduling guide for at-home learning

6️⃣ Answer Keys

7️⃣ Google Classroom Digital Version

SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER:
✔️ The average classroom has students that are reading at 5 different grade levels.
✔️ Consider sending home the literacy workbook that meets each individual student at his/her level, regardless of the grade they are in.
✔️ For example, if you are teaching 5th grade and have a group of students reading at a 2nd-grade level, send them home with the basic workbook.
✔️ We do NOT want our students to go home with work that is frustrational for them.  We want them to maintain their reading progress without feeling overwhelmed.  We want them successful at home.
✔️ With that said, you may find yourself needing to download all three workbooks to meet the levels of your diverse readers, and that it TOTALLY okay!

I hope this helps alleviate some of the stress that may have come during this time.  

I also hope you can find some time to relax and recharge before going back to school in a few weeks.

Stay safe and stay healthy friends!!

All my best,
Jen

Meet Jennifer!

MEET JENNIFER!

  • Jennifer is a second-grade teacher with twelve years of teaching experience.
  •  Her first six years of teaching were spent in the third-grade classroom; the following six years have been spent in the second-grade classroom. 
  • She currently has fifteen girls and seven boys in her classroom.
  • Jennifer's favorite part about her class is their love for reading! She loves reading to them, and they love being read to!

REASON FOR JOINING:

"One of my biggest goals was to improve on working with my students in small groups. That's one area I really wanted to hit on hard this year. When I came across Jen’s Out of This World Membership I was really excited about it. I thought this would be great for so many teachers who needed extra curriculum in their classrooms. The decision for me to join though was actually kind of a hard one. I really wanted to make sure that it would help me reach all of my learners. "

since JOINING:

"Since I’ve joined I can really see those little light bulbs coming on among my students. What I’ll do is take my district's curriculum and I’ll do a lesson or two. Then I will come through with some of Jen’s lessons and use them to fill in the gaps. So wherever I feel like my students didn’t really understand or where I feel like the standard wasn’t clear is where I will bring in Jen’s curriculum. You can honestly really see a difference. The students are actually using BETTER LANGUAGE now than when I was using the intended curriculum. I think it has been so beneficial for my class. I love seeing those little light bulb moments among my kids, it's so rewarding! My kids actually want to talk more about their reading and writing. It just makes my heart so happy to see my kids get excited about learning."

personal benefits:

  • Relief knowing that I always have materials and resources that cover the standards I am required to be teaching. 
  • No more stressing over what I'm going to be working on with my kids the next day; or what lessons I'm going to have to add or change around to make it the best for my kids.
  • More time on the weekends to spend with my kids.  
  • Family no longer worries how long I'll be working on a lesson plan.
  • Students are more successful in class than ever.
  • More patience at school with my students and when I come home to my family. 

final thoughts:

"It honestly has been a lifesaver. If you're not already a member of Jen’s Out of This World Membership or you're on the fence about joining, you really need to. All of your lessons are so explicit and they really fill in all the gaps. You get everything and you don't feel like your running around trying to fit lessons together. Everything is so cohesive. I never question whether a lesson meets the standard or not. Your resources are so straightforward and focused on the standard. The lessons then spiral back around and retaught as you go along. All of the lessons flow together really well. The reading and writing resources go hand in hand so much I love it! Seriously, if you are not already a member you need to, it will be a blessing for you."

If you would like to read more about what the membership has done for teachers,  CLICK HERE!

If you would like to read more information about the Membership or your'e ready to join now, CLICK HERE!

Meet Erica!

MEET ERICA!

  • Erica lives in Chillicothe, MO but commutes to Braymer, MO to teach. 
  • She has spent six years teaching and currently is teaching Title 1 Reading. 
  • She stays plenty busy between her and her four kid's shedules. 

REASON FOR JOINING:

"By the time my kids realized they needed help with reading, they really didn't want to have anything else to do with it. I was really looking for ways to get my students more interested and engaged in reading.  I used to find resources in all kinds of ways. I used Google, Pinterest, TPT, other teacher's ideas, and other ways to gather all sorts of random resources. It became a little overwhelming. So, when I came across the membership through an email I received, I really began thinking about it. I realized I would get a lot more bang for my buck right away if I became a member. The best part is that no matter if I get switched to a different grade level, I'm always covered."

since JOINING:

"When I began using your curriculum, my student's focus shifted. They no longer focused on their reading level but they actually began thinking about the meaning in the text. I love that they focus on the content now and not what level they are reading on. Before the membership, I really didn't know what I was going to work on when the kids came in. Now that I'm a member though, I have all the resources I need to equip my students. Now, when I lesson plan I already know what's going to come up next week. All I have to do is spend maybe one afternoon printing the lessons off, then I'm done! I also get a lot more out of the time I'm allowed with my kids because of your resources."

personal benefits:

  • My students don't worry anymore about what level they are on and don't compare themselves to other readers, which is a huge relief to me.
  • I now have way more time to spend with my family because planning lessons when you're a member is a breeze. 
  • I don't have to worry about what to do next with my kids.

final thoughts:

"I would totally recommend becoming a member as quick as you can. I love the instructional videos you have because it walks you through how to use the resources. As a member, I feel like I'm taken care of. I always have a place to go find resources and tutorials on how to use them. Its worked really great for me!"

If you would like to read more about what the membership has done for teachers,  CLICK HERE!

If you would like to read more information about the Membership or your'e ready to join now, CLICK HERE!

Meet Shauna!

MEET Shauna!

  • Shauna resides in Austin, Texas where she teaches third grade.
  • She is going on her 16th year of teaching.
  • She teaches language arts in the Round Rock School District just north of Austin, TX. 
  • Her school has about a 2/3's Indian population and is highly ESL. 

REASON FOR JOINING:

"I was brand new to third grade this year, I had never taught at that grade level before. The bulk of my teaching experience was in the kindergarten classroom, that's where I felt the most comfortable. My principal asked me to switch to third grade just a little over a week before school started. My goal for the year was really just to learn how to teach third grade. The difference between kindergarten and third grade is that the students are reading to learn instead of learning to read and so I had to make that adjustment this year. I kept looking for resources is all sorts of places and one name that always popped up was Jen Bengel. Teachers from all over the places were saying you can't go wrong with Jen Bengel. I found some of your resources and purchased them immediately. I had so many of your resources in my wishlist. It was a dream of mine to have them all at the touch of a finger. I knew right away when I heard about the membership, this was what I had to do. "

since JOINING:

"Instead of having to go to different books or looking on our district plan, I can go straight to the membership site. Say if I need something on summarizing, well I can look it up and find a perfect lesson that will teach it all the way through. I also love that all of your resources are sequential. That has really helped me to fill in the gaps for my classroom. When I find students are struggling in a particular area or if I need a small group lesson, all of these resources are at the touch of the finger. My students are noticing more about themes and concepts within their text. I love that they are actually starting to apply these teachings to their reading and pointing it out to me."

personal benefits:

  • I really struggled with a sequence of flow. I knew what concepts and how to teach them, just not really which order. The membership has really helped me conquer this challenge.
  • A major win for me is the essence of time-saving. I no longer spend hours searching the internet trying to find what I need because everything I need is at my fingertips.
  • It brings me joy seeing my students learn and apply their knowledge to their reading.

final thoughts:

"What I would suggest is to not try too many things at once. Maybe use one resource and see how it works for you. Dont try and overwhelm yourself by trying too many things at a time. I try different things, I see how they work and if they work well, I keep going with it. If it doesnt work so well, I switch and do something different. Trying things out once at a time has been a huge benefit for me!"

If you would like to read more about what the membership has done for teachers,  CLICK HERE!

If you would like to read more information about the Membership or your'e ready to join now, CLICK HERE!

Meet Kris!

MEET Kris!

  • Kris teaches in Wisconsin. 
  • This is her 19th year of teaching.
  • Her school district believes in small sizes so she currently has 12 students.
  • She was in special ed for 8 years and has been in 2nd grade for 2 years. 

REASON FOR JOINING:

"When I swapped over to 2nd grade a couple of years ago I really had to get back into the groove of things. I had to pick up the pace when I got here to really get my kids to improve. I really didn't know where to concentrate. Once I became a member I had everything I needed and knew exactly where to begin!"

since JOINING:

"All of the graphing and charts you have included are awesome! I'm always going back and relooking at them. I'm actually looking forward to charting my students progress. With your resources, I began to notice different strengths and weaknesses within my students. The benchmark assessments have made it really easy to decipher those strengths and weaknesses. Because a lot of your worksheets are data-driven my kids are starting to notice a difference as well! I have students who will bring their worksheets to their parents to show that their fluency rates are going up! One of the biggest wins for me I'd say is getting to the know the students better as individuals readers. When you work with kids in a group you can get a sense of where they are at but not as much as you can when you work with them individually."

personal benefits:

  • Using your resource I not only notice an improvement with my students, but an improvement in how I teach as well.
  • I have realized so many different things to implement in my class that will improve my student's skills.

final thoughts:

"I went in and I looked at all the resources and I thought, I can't go wrong for that price. The membership really streamlines things. You can get everything you need in a one-stop shop. I couldn't believe it when I saw you offered a membership. It's such a good deal! My biggest recommendation to teachers would be to become an Out Of This World Literacy member"

If you would like to read more about what the membership has done for teachers,  CLICK HERE!

If you would like to read more information about the Membership or your'e ready to join now, CLICK HERE!

Meet Melissa!

MEET Melissa!

  • Melissa is originally from Illinois but currently resides and teaches in Mesa, Arizona.
  • Melissa taught 6th grade for three years and currently teaches 3rd grade.

REASON FOR JOINING:

"When I originally found your resources I was a little overwhelmed about which ones to choose from. I definitely would recommend starting with the Reading Intervention Program. That is what got me hooked. It honestly has everything students need for fluency and it just helps them become better readers. Going into teaching 3rd grade I was aware that if my students didn't pass reading they wouldn't pass the 3rd grade. My whole goal for the year was to make sure all of my students passed so that they could move on. I remember doing a lot of research online searching for resources and materials to use for my class. I learned about the membership through an email and became super excited for it because I was already using some Out Of This World Literacy products and this gave me the opportunity to use them all at such a small price.

since JOINING:

"I started off using the Reading Intervention Program because it had everything incorporated into it. It covered word work, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. It was honestly everything I needed. I started using it with them in groups, then eventually assigned it individually as homework. Even the parents love using it! I think they're even learning along with their kids! Have the membership has been so great because I have every resource I need for whatever standard we're focusing on. I've been able to look whatever I need up and its there! The membership offers everything you need for all standards. Plus, the kids love using the resources! They find it easy, enjoyable, and have embraced every part of it. "

benefits:

  • Finding everything i need in one area is a major benefit.
  • I can easily understand every resource before I give it to my students which is a huge benefit.
  • The materials go with any kind of story or any kind of thing we are working on, so I'm not tied down to just one book or thing.

final thoughts:

"It has been a huge win for me. I have some students that struggle a lot and using your resources along with just simple prompting I've really seen them improve over time. I definitely recommend becoming a member of Out Of This World Literacy. "

If you would like to read more about what the membership has done for teachers,  CLICK HERE!

If you would like to read more information about the Membership or your'e ready to join now, CLICK HERE!

Meet Rachel!

MEET RACHEL!

  • Rachel resides right outside of Maryland in Red Lion, PA.
  • She teaches 4th grade, specifically ELA and Social Studies integrated.
  • This is her 16th year of teaching! All of those years have been spent in 4th grade and more than half have been spent specifically teaching ELA.
  • Jennifer's favorite part about her class is their love for reading! She loves reading to them, and they love being read to!

REASON FOR JOINING:

"My goals for this year were pretty simple, I just really wanted to teach the standards in a fun and engaging way, mesh in social studies components, as well as get better at guided reading. Guided reading is definitely what I feel like is my weakest area. If I have to cut something out of my lessons, the first thing to go is guided reading. It's just not something I'm passionate about, so I really wanted to fall in love with it this year. A couple of weeks before I even heard about the membership I stumbled across your Guided Reading Bundles. I thought to myself, these resources are worth my weight in gold! So before I became a member, I talked to my husband about it first. He said, "If it's going to make you function, do it!"

since JOINING:

"It really has made my day flow a lot smoother. I've been getting guided reading in on a consistent basis, and I really feel like my class has more purpose to it. We always had a good rhythm going but now I feel like there's a purpose in what we do. I absolutely love the vocabulary curriculum. We've added that in and it really makes the 90 minutes we have together more cohesive. I've also noticed specifically with vocabulary that they are seeking out and looking for those words specifically in their everyday reading. They're even trying to use the words in everyday conversation and take notice when one of their classmates does!"

personal benefits:

  • My own planning time has been cut down tremendously because the membership makes it very cohesive.
  • Planning has become more longterm than shorterm and I absolutely love that!
  • The membership has made me feel more confident as a teacher, even with all my years of experience.
  • The guesswork of "Am I teaching this right?" has really ceased and that makes overall anxiety decrease as well!
  • More patience at school with my students and when I come home to my family.

final thoughts:

"I would say if you are able to join this membership, I would certainly recommend investing in it. It honestly saves you so much time and you get so many resources to choose from! I feel like that has helped me balance my life more. From all my years of teaching, I know how quickly things can change from one year to the next without you being able to control it. Having access to all of these resources makes me no longer worry about when that day comes!"

If you would like to read more about what the membership has done for teachers,  CLICK HERE!

If you would like to read more information about the Membership or your'e ready to join now, CLICK HERE!

Try Readers Theaters for FREE!

Do you use readers theaters in your classroom? They are such a great way to:

  • Increase reading fluency
  • Integrate social studies and science topics
  • Build reading stamina
  • Gain reading confidence
  • Learn to work as a team
  • Gain confidence in front of an audience
  • Practice repeated reading
  • Have fun!

I'd love to give you a FREE set of 3 scripts! Simply click the links or images below to grab your free scripts now!

FREE Scripts for Grades 2-3

FREE Scripts for Grades 5-7

A Free Week of Morning Work!

If you're looking for a quick review of comprehension skills, then this is a great opportunity for you to try a free week of daily reading morning work!

TRY GRADE 1 FOR FREE

TRY GRADES 2-3 FOR FREE

TRY GRADES 4-5 FOR FREE

If you're looking for a quick review of comprehension skills, then this is a great opportunity for you to try a free week of daily reading morning work!

This is an exciting daily reading practice resource that supports:

• Learning about diversity

• Growth Mindset skills that build empathy

• Daily reading comprehension practice• Differentiated learning

Each Half Pages Includes:

• An ‘I Can’ statement with a helpful reading comprehension reminder.

• An original story for each week. Stories are broken into 5 sections, so that students read a different part of the story each day of the week.

• A custom illustration to match each day.

• A challenge activity.

• A ‘Pro Tip’ for students to think deeper about the comprehension focus

• Two multiple choice questions about the passage that are related to the mini lesson focus statement.

• One open-ended question about the comprehension skill.

Ideas for Using the Daily Comprehension Practice:

• Use them as bell work at the beginning of the school day.

• Use them as a warm-up to reading during your reading workshop.

• Use them as ‘exit slips’ at the end of the school day or reading workshop.• Place them in a literacy center for comprehension.

• Use them in guided reading as a quick warm-up to the lesson.• Send them home for extra practice and support!

• Have students work in partners or small groups to complete the daily work.

• Use them for tutoring.

• And any other way you see this working for your unique schedule and student needs!

Grab Your Free Week Now!

TRY GRADE 1 FOR FREE

TRY GRADES 2-3 FOR FREE

TRY GRADES 4-5 FOR FREE

CHECK OUT WHAT TEACHERS HAVE TO SAY!

Shauna is a third grade teacher in Texas. This is what she had to say about implementing Reader's Theaters into her very own classroom: 

"At our school, we are required to integrate social studies into language arts. One way I found to do this is with Reader's Theater. We are in the middle of an economics project based learning. I found the economics Reader's Theater to be just perfect. My class was so excited to try these and had a blast doing them. Over the course of the week, we learned about such things as goods and services, wants and needs, supply and demand, opportunity cost and being a responsible consumer, all through this Reader's Theater. I literally had cheers each day when I would tell them it was time for reader's theater.

What I really liked was the collaborative work that took place among the groups. Each Reader's Theater is differentiated. I split my class into 3 groups and had them teach the class about their topic through the scripted play. As the students practiced their lines, there are also included discussion questions to guide their learning. They loved presenting to the rest of the class. This is a great way to get listening and speaking grades too. After they finished, they completed a true/false exam. I love this because they take the test before they read the script and after too, so you can see the learning that takes place. They can also do additional lists that are differentiated with each play. All of this is included in Reader's Theater. Go check them out NOW!!!"

Take a look at the Reader's Theaters in action!

If you love to integrate fun and collaborative lessons in your class,  this is a great resource for you! This resource is SUPER special because it includes EVERYTHING you need to have a successful Reader's Theater experience with your class and allows you to put into practice everything you've seen here today. You can check out all my Reader's Theaters HERE!!

Try All The Resources for Free!

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Have you wondered what's all available from me, Jen Bengel over at Out of This World Literacy™? 🤷‍♀️

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Ever wished you could actually try it all before you purchase? 🤔

Now you can!
🎉

  • Try out each curriculum line for free
  • watch 10 live 3 min. videos
  • save time searching for resources!

    • Click Here to Join the Crash Course For Free

    Once inside the crash course, you'll be able to quickly discover all the ELA resources available.

    You will see each curriculum broken into easy-to-digest sections, with...

    • Free resources to try right away in your classroom.

    • Incredibly helpful handouts to download.

    • A short video about each curriculum, with my best teaching tips.

    It's super easy to navigate through all 10 sections.  And, you can go at your own pace!! 🎉

    I hope you find this crash course helpful for all your ELA resource needs!

    Have an awesome day!

    Jen

    New Membership Site Open Until Feb. 1!

    Hello friends!

     

    Have you ever wished for a way to gain access to every resource created by me, Jen Bengel?

    Up until now you would have had to purchase each resource separately.

    But, today you can get it all in one spot with the brand new OOTWL™ Membership Site!

    CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND JOIN BEFORE FEB. 1 @11pm CST!!

     

    Why a Membership Site?

    • I wanted to create a space for teachers to access all of Out of This World LIteracy™ resources without having to spend thousands of dollars up front.
    • I wanted to relieve the stress so many teachers were facing daily with lesson planning, searching for hours for the right resources, and wondering if what they were using was the highest quality.
    • I wanted teachers to get back their personal time, feel more confident teaching, have more FUN teaching, and engage all their learners at their instructional literacy levels.

     

    Think of the site like Netflix™ (I mean, who doesn't love Netflix!?)…

    Once you become a member and make your first low monthly payment, you'll gain INSTANT ACCESS to EVERY resource Out of This World Literacy™ has created!

    You'll be AMAZED to see that you have access to it all…you can download from the full library of resources anything that you need.

    Like Netflix™, as long as you pay your monthly low fee, you can keep your access.

    Check out everything you'll receive as an Out of This World Literacy™ member!

     

    Now you will have a place to go to get EVERYTHING you need for your literacy instruction in one spot…all year long!

    Here are some big changes that will happen as soon as you become a member!

     

    The membership site will be closed to new enrollees on Feb. 1 at 11pm CST.  It will not open again to new members until late summer.

    I hope you can join the membership site!!

    Happy Teaching,
    Jen

     

    Get Ready for 12 Days of Christmas Fun!

    Post ID#6277 is not a valid giveaway.

    With the holidays right around the corner, I wanted to send some gifts to you…

    and say a big thank you to all the amazing work you are doing with students each and every day.  There is no end to the impact you have on each child's life.

    Just yesterday I was in the Target self-checkout line with mounds of Lego and Nerf toys for my boys when I heard an excited, “MRS. BENGEL!?” from behind.

    You know that sound!?  It can only come from a former student.  I spun around to see one of my beautiful little 3rd graders all grown up and eager to tell me about what's happening in her life.  She was ecstatic I remembered her name…of course I did! lol

    But, for real, those moments are a treasured reminder of all the hard work teachers put in day after day, conversation after conversation.

    So, to say thank YOU for all your hard work, please enjoy these 12 days of Christmas gifts!!

    How to Receive Your Gifts:

    1. Join the newsletter by clicking HERE (it's totally free and easy to do)
      • If you are already on the newsletter list, you don't need to do anything!
    2. Watch for an email every morning from December 25-January 5
      • If you use a school email, the emails may be blocked.  I recommend a home email.
      • If you have trouble finding the email, check your junk folder too!

    I wish you all a very Happy Holidays!!

    Jen

    Everything You Need to Know About Reader’s Theaters

    Hello! Today I wanted to take some time to discuss what exactly are reader’s theaters and some of the roles that go along with them.  Reader’s theaters have evolved and moved from theatre classes and into everyday literacy instruction for young students. 

    Reader’s theaters are a fun and creative way to get students involved in listening, speaking, and reading!  They create not only a fun environment in the classroom but a sense of collaboration and community.  Here’s everything you need to know about reader's theater!

    Two or more people read a brief piece of writing from a script, assuming the roles of particular characters. So in reader’s theaters, there will always be at least be two characters, but most of the time even more! These students will have their script and their assigned character from that script and will read each part when it's his/her time. 

    Reader’s theater may be performed in a variety of ways for an audience. You can be as creative as you want with this!  The great thing about them is you can go over the top with props and actions, or simply just read the script normally and both ways are still super effective and engaging with the students.  Essentially, you can spend one day on a script, or several days planning a more formal presentation.

    Reader’s theaters are NOT memorized and don't have to necessarily be acted out.  Students don't have to worry about memorizing lines or parts, they simply just read off of a script.  The voices are the main focus of the reader’s theater.  Actions can enhance a particular meaning but the student's voices reading the scripts carry the most weight. 

    You can always assign roles earlier and send home scripts.  This allows students to really practice their roles and will cause them to really want to bring their best.  The more invested the students are, the more exciting and effective the reader’s theater presentation will be. 

    And lastly, reader’s theaters are fast paced and fun!  Your students will love being thrown into these roles and acting out different characters.  Other students will enjoy hearing these stories being read to them by fellow classmates!  It's great for all students. 

    So we’ve discussed what reader’s theaters are, now what are some of the roles students will play in them?  

    The Narrator:

    The narrator's responsibility is to read the neutral and descriptive parts of the script.  The teacher can be the narrator or if you wish.  The role of the narrator often has more lines than other roles.  Sometimes there are 2 or 3 different narrators to break up the lines. 

    Characters in the Script:

    The next roles to be filled in reader’s theaters are the characters inside the script themselves. The teacher assigns individual students to read specific dialogue from the characters.  Students love to read out these characters dialogue and will have fun doing it with their classmates.  Most scripts include different levels of difficulty.  There can be basic, average, or advanced character roles.

    Group Roles:

    The great thing about readers theatre is that not only will certain students be involved, but the whole class will be apart of them!  With group roles, all students can be assigned to read aloud in unison or just the boys/girls can be assigned to one part.  This invites the entire classroom to be engaged and bought in, rather than just the main characters. 

    I hope this has really helped you understand what a reader’s theater is and some of the roles that come along with it. Reader’s theaters are a great and fun way to teach literacy.  In my next blog, I'll go over 15 benefits that come from readers theaters.  If you would like to see all of my reader's theatre scripts available, you can check those out at readertheater.com 

    *CLIPART FROM A SKETCHY GUY. VIEW HIS STORE AT HTTPS://WWW.TEACHERSPAYTEACHERS.COM/STORE/A-SKETCHY-GUY

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    Happy teaching!
    Jen

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    Are You Signed Up for The Free Newsletter?

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    I'd like to take a minute to quickly invite you to join my free newsletter! Check out this video to hear all the great reasons you should sign up now.

    Sign up for the Free Newsletter Today!

    Have you signed up for my email newsletter list yet? If you're not signed up you definitely want to be!! Check out the video to see why being on the list is a MUST! Sign up for free here: http://bit.ly/2mMsBvA {video by: Jax Anderson Media}

    Posted by Out of This World Literacy on Saturday, March 11, 2017

    Who Wants to Go to Vegas!?

    VIVA LAS VEGAS!!
     Can you picture it now?  YOU in LAS VEGAS? 

    How about YOU in LAS VEGAS attending a
    one day session of the SDE conference?
    Primary Chalkboard is giving away YOUR
    CHOICE     of a 1 day session at SDE!
    So, will it be Singapore Math,
    Differentiated Instruction, I Teach K, I Teach 1st, or the newly added I Teach
    2nd? 
    How fun is that?
    BUT, that's not all, we're also including
    a $25 gift card to the SDE bookstore, CRYSTAL SPRINGS.
    So, NOW can you picture YOURSELF in VEGAS?
    Oh, you say you need money for airfare,
    hotel accommodations, or just some spending money while you are here?  Well, we've got that covered, too.  How about  
    THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS IN CASH
    to help you
    out with that?!?!?
    NOW, can you picture YOURSELF in VEGAS?
    Here's how to enter for a chance to win.
    Hop through our Facebook pages and
    collect a tip for your (possible) visit to Vegas.
    Be sure to “like” each page as
    you hop through so that you can collect the tip.
    Each tip will have a number on a playing
    card.
    Add the numbers together and enter the
    sum  on the Rafflecopter on the Primary Chalkboard blog for a chance to win.
    Be sure to add a comment and include #primarychalkboardsendmetovegas.
    For an extra chance to win this, take a
    selfie, post it on IG with #primarychalkboardsendmetovegas 
    Don't forget to tag us in your picture! @primarychalkboard

    The winner will be picked on April the evening of April 5th.

    A HUGE thank you to SDE (Staff Development for Educators) for their kind
    and generous donation!

    Shark Tank Upcycling Project

    Hello friends! 

    I am so excited to share a project that I am working on with my kids over the next few weeks. 

    I really wanted to teach them about how to become an entrepreneur. I believe everyone has the ability to create and contribute something great in this world! 

    And motivating my kids to believe that in themselves is huge!

     

    We all love the show, Shark Tank and I am passionate about upcycling. 

    So I thought, why not combine the two ideas into one great project!?!? 


    I am going to be posting a few blog posts to show you how our project is moving along. 


    I first began by collecting a bunch of recycled products. Instead of recycling them, I just washed them out and saved them!

    Next, I explained the concept to my kids.  I told them they were going to design a useful product, using these core recycled materials.  They could make a list a additional resources they need and I will pick them up (things like, spray paint, string, duct tape, etc)


    I suggested ideas, such as products for the classroom, recess games, and organizational products.


    The kids were so very excited to get their hands on the raw materials!!!

    Lastly, I told the kids that they will be presenting their product to the Sharks (my husband, my neighbors, and myself!)


    They are required to make one power point slide with their company name and logo (we will learn how to create logos and think carefully about business names).


    They are also required to create a poster, displaying their product name, business name, logo, details, and marketing strategies.  


    Of course there will need to be at least one prototype of the product for the Sharks to see.
    And they MUST dress up for their presentation.


    Currently, the kids are designing their products and thinking of business names.  They are so excited, and nervous, to present to the Sharks.  No deals are guaranteed!  


    I will post more pictures as the work continues.  Here are a few motivational images we are using to make sure we do our best!!!

    I have never seen my kids more motivated!!  I can't wait to share more of this project with y'all!!

    Happy Teaching!
    Jen

    Primary Chalkboard Advent Calendar

    Happy Holidays!

    My friends and I over at The Primary Chalkboard are celebrating this month with our own Advent Calendar. 

    Each day we will have a little treat for our readers from one of our authors/bloggers. 

    You can only get the treat on that day, so make sure you check back often.

    Click on the image below to get started and see what treat is available today!

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