Inside: How many times have you opened your Teacher’s Manual only to find another boring reading passage? Too many to count, right? I can help you put an end to that now before it’s too late! Exciting reading comprehension ideas can be as easy as this!
You have the power to end the boring cycle.
Let’s be real. How many times have you abandoned a book because the author wasn’t keeping your attention? If you’re anything like me, it’s been a few times. Imagine the students in your class wanting to abandon another reading passage, but are forced to continue reading because they have to. Ugh! It doesn’t have to be that way! You have the power to change that! Let’s go from boring to exciting reading comprehension ideas in a split-second!
I knew I was onto something when I taught Kindergarten. My students loved stories and class read alouds. I wondered how I could capture that every day, even when our reading block was over. Then a lightbulb went off in my mind, and I got it!
I’ll do storytelling!
The students scooted closer to my reading chair and kept their hands in their lap, eager to hear more. I would tell them stories about my cat, Zoe, and my travels to different countries, which usually centered around animals. They could complete a simple letter-tracing or coloring activity while listening to a story. Remember, they are 5-years-old, and it was working! It was truly working!
I had found their sweet spot!
I continued telling them stories between transitions, before or after specials and lunch, and at the end of the day. This was becoming increasingly popular and served as an unplanned behavior management tool!
We did unit studies on animals and even started doing research! I wasn’t sure what they loved more, reading, storytelling, or research. They started turning into writers naturally and didn’t even realize they were doing “hard stuff”.
This idea was almost too good to be true! Their love for reading was so pure and voracious. I had to keep this going.
Day after day, I would make sure I had a story, even if it was a 30-second snippet. Stories calmed them down and let their imaginations soar! Books began piling up on my shelf, and new displays were out frequently. Then one day I heard a boy say…
“Can we have a class library?”
I had to learn more, and we engaged in a well-thought-out discussion about his vision. There would be class books that they wrote collaboratively, books from our shelves, books that they wrote at home…and even a tent!
He had it all figured out!
The next day, he said that we needed a poster and everyone should sign it.
So we did.
Then I found a tent with Velcro bugs. And a few buckets to hold books that could stay inside the tent.
As I was setting everything up, I heard a student say, “We need to take turns as we do in centers!”
You’re absolutely right!
So we created a system together, and it was beautiful.
They read independently, with partners, during rotations, and I didn’t have a single complaint! They made this, and they were proud!
Fast forward to the end of the year when I told them that I would be switching grades. Soon the aww’s were replaced with yay’s! They realized that they’d have me again when they got to 4th grade.
Now I had to wait to have this amazing class again! Each year that went by, I would get more and more excited about what we’d create in 4th grade. How I’d accelerate their reading, how we’d have more fun, and of course…storytelling.
The day finally came, and they were my students again! Not only them but the other Kindergarten class that I didn’t have. I got to learn all about them and catch up with my former students! This was going to be one of the best years! I was going to have two classes of awesome students!
We picked up right where we left off and talked about our Kindergarten memories and even the tent! They shared the things they wanted to do in 4th grade, and someone brought up the state tests.
They knew they had assessments in reading and writing this year. But you know what? They weren’t one bit worried about it.
Why?
Because the foundation has been there since Kindergarten. The seed had been planted and continued to grow until it blossomed in 4th grade.
I made sure to give it plenty of sunlight and love. And what emerged was the best year of my teaching career.
We did a lot of reading, writing, and research in class. Plus, we had numerous inside jokes, nicknames, and humor throughout the day. It was a classroom bursting with love!
Selecting the right book or reading passage became my number one priority. It was my responsibility to turn them into lifelong readers.
Another lightbulb went off.
I’ll combine my travels into reading and grammar passages! The animal stories took on a new life. The countries I visited meant more to them now as 4th graders. Their fascination with the world was at an all-time high.
The exciting reading comprehension ideas were coming to life!
When it was time to talk about a reading or writing strategy, we had something exciting to read. We had something that we hadn’t read before. We had exciting nonfiction passages to read!
The state test rolled around, and my students weren’t nervous! They knew what to do because we had fun the entire year while learning.
Their incredible scores weren’t what made me proud. It was the people they had become. They were compassionate towards each other, accepted their friends’ unique traits, and became enthusiastic readers.
The tears flowed freely on the last day of school.
I called them the “Fabulous 44”, they will always remain in my heart as the “Fabulous 44”.
Helpful Resources:
✹ If you’re stuck and trying to find something to excite your readers, use these passages BELOW to help! You’ll find that students perk up and begin enjoying reading time! Plus, you can easily extend these passages into writing and research activities! I’ve even provided you with a “How to Use” guide to get you started! It’s a no-brainer!
✩ Special note to 3rd-grade teachers:
Depending on the level of your students, you might want to check out the Nonfiction Reading Practice Units that are geared for 3rd-5th.
I wish you all the storytelling happiness!
Explore. Travel. Read. Repeat.
