Literacy in the Classroom

Templates, Activities, and Best Practices

Free Writes:

  • Template - Free Write: Remember, the only rule of a free write is - JUST KEEP WRITING! - until the timer runs out.

3-Minute Research:

  • 3-Minute Research is an enjoyable and versatile activity in which students can use their electronic devices to build on their prior knowledge of a topic before diving in. This informal assessment can provide a solid foundation and robust support for students with learning differences and ELLs/ESL students. For example, let’s do a quick activity. Pretend you are learning a new language. You are at the beginner/intermediate level and are progressing well. You notice a group of native speakers conversing and would like to practice your skills. Which scenario would be easier for comprehension: having some content about what the friends are talking about (ex, what’s for dinner)? Or having no context? Having context before applying your skills would be a powerful support. The same concept applies in the classroom. When students have a strong foundation from which to work, understanding and applying new concepts becomes easier. Additionally, this activity can engage students by using technology and provide an outlet for those struggling to not look at their phones. A Good Tip: Be sure to check electronic policies with your school district/administration. Additionally, you may review TGT’s AI Expectations and Student Agreement before this activity. AI is a rapidly growing technology, one with positive and negative impacts in the classroom. As always, it is best to be proactive.

Move-To-Learn:

  • Move-to-Learn (M2L): Scientific Studies show there is a correlation between movement/exercise and learning. Let’s put it to the test! After gathering parent/guardian permission and reviewing your students and school policies regarding movement in the classroom, have your student choose an exercise to complete and then reflect on what is being explored in class. These serve as terrific brain and movement breaks.

My Playlist:

  • My Playlist: Provide your students with a creative outlet! “My Playlists” tasks students as “composers” to curate a playlist of songs correlating to the topic. Students will start with a task overview, create a title, and create a playlist of 10 songs related to their topic. For example, if the topic was photosynthesis, you may expect to see “Here Comes the Sun” by the Beatles. Well, maybe not nowadays. Be sure to mention that all song titles must be appropriate. After creating their playlist, students will need academy approval (teachers initials). Then, students will complete three follow-up tasks: designing their Grammy Award outfit using a “MadLibs” technique, drawing their outfit, and then eavesdropping on a conversation in which they justify their playlist. This is an engaging, versatile, and creative assignment. Just print, distribute, and watch them go!

Match It:

  • Match It is a fun, versatile, cooperative learning activity. Students can pair up with a partner or work in a small group. After exploring a topic, students independently brainstorm words that relate to the topic. For example, if the topic was photosynthesis, students may write “plants,” “oxygen,” and “sunlight.” Then, students share their words with their partner/group, jot down the other words mentioned, and count how many words matched. As an enrichment activity, students can choose five words to add to an AI Image Generator, such as Canva’s, to see what image pops up! Canva’s AI Image Generator is linked and provided with a QR code. Please note that a sign-in for Canva is required to see the image.

ABC’s:

  • ABC’s is a simple yet powerful activity in which students alphabetically break down the concepts explored in a topic, unit, semester, or school year. The teacher can provide the topic/prompt, and the students can work independently or in small groups to try, and find all of the letters of the alphabet. The extension activity then asks students to go back and reflect on their comfortability with those words/phrases.

Letter and Memo Writing Templates:

  • Letter and Memo Writing templates have different versions depending on students’ learning capabilities. Want to get creative? Have students pretend they are the CEO of a major company, writing an important memo to the President regarding an issue you are exploring in calls. The students can create their own business name, logo, website address, and email as they write their important memo.

AI Expectations and Student Agreement:

  • AI Expectations and Student Agreement: AI is a rapidly growing technology with positive and negative impacts in the classroom. As always, it is best to be proactive. Be sure to check electronic policies with your school district/administration.

RAFT: Role (R), Audience (A), Format (F), Topic (T): Information with citations on RAFT. A powerful writing strategy, known as R.A.F.T (Role, Audience, Format, Topic), effectively combines literacy and content. To ensure the successful completion of the assignment, we provide students with scaffolded support, which includes access to prior knowledge, engagement, and preparation. Our product includes two pages of detailed instruction, a criteria checklist and organizer, writing prompts, a vocabulary list, an active writing page, and a rubric to assess the final product.

BUCK!: The BUCK! strategy, also known as "BUCKS," is an excellent approach to promote active reading and help students analyze word problems in longer texts. How does it work? As students move through the text, they Box, Underline, Circle, Knock out, or ! according to the rules.

  • Box the question or main idea

  • Underline the facts or key information

  • Circle important vocabulary and keywords

  • Knock out unnecessary information

  • ! any interesting facts.

By utilizing our BUCK! template, teachers can easily transfer text or word problems to the provided space, providing a valuable resource for students to refer to as they work through the assignment. For more information on BUCK! check out this video clip from SmartAtMath Sam.

A Good Tip: Change the rules of the BUCK! to match your teaching style and subject matter. A BUCK! in English may look different to one in Math. However, try to keep the BUCK! system consistent throughout the class, to avoid confusion.

Generative Sentences: "Generative Sentences" is a great literacy strategy in which students deepen their understanding of the vocabulary through specific and strategic sentence-making. This template allows teachers to quickly implement generative sentences in the classroom through review, pre-teaching vocabulary, anticipatory sets, and informal assessments (do now, exit slip, check for understanding), both pre-planned and on-the-fly. When creating the sentences, students must strategically satisfy the requirements of that sentence by using the specified vocabulary word(s), adhering to the number of words allowed in the sentence, and ending with the correct punctuation. For more information on generative sentences as other literacy supports, check out: Frey, Nancy et al. This Is Balanced Literacy, Grades K-6. United States, SAGE Publications, 2019.

Virtual Index Cards: You can use our Virtual Index Cards on Genetics and Ecology to help your students improve their vocabulary, knowledge, and memory. You can use our interactive Google Slides to ask your students to define each term and complete the associated tasks, such as drag-and-drop exercises, Venn Diagrams, fill-in-the-blanks drag and drop, and more. We aim to make this Google Sheet an engaging tool for your students to practice and review vocabulary while preparing for assessments. After explicit vocabulary practice, the Virtual Index Cards end with two slides of vocabulary matching and one of Generative Sentences, where students are expected to make sentences using the assigned vocabulary. Last but not least, the Virtual Index Cards end with a student reflection on the comfortability of each subconcept in genetics or Ecology. Are your students struggling to master the content vocabulary? Each slide contains an embedded link to text (usually with embedded interactives and videos) to provide a quick and easy resource. Use this as a consistent and powerful homework practice or study guide before an exam.

  • Virtual Index Cards - Genetics: These cards contain all the main vocabulary related to introduction to genetics, DNA structure and function, protein synthesis, meiosis, sexual vs asexual reproduction, mutations, RNA, Punnett Squares, and Non-Mendelian genetics, as well as links to CK-12 text/videos/interactives. Please note: genetic engineering/biotechnology and human genetic disorders are not included in this set.

  • Virtual Index Cards - Genetics (PDF Version): Be sure to adjust printer selection/preferences when printing these Google Slides.

  • Virtual Index Cards - Ecology: These cards contain all the main vocabulary related to ecology and links to CK-12 text/videos or Moo Moo Math and Science Videos for each term.

  • Virtual Index Cards - Ecology (PDF Version): Be sure to adjust printer selection/preferences when printing these Google Slides.