3 alternative ways to have fun with reading comprehension questions

 

Make test prep fun rather than stale and boring using one of the these three simple strategies. 

Scoot

1. Prepare the game by cutting out passages ahead of time. 
2. Provide Scoot answer document and assign students to start at different points around the room. Students should bring their passage around with them so they can look for supporting evidence to answer the questions. 
3. Give students 2-3 minutes at each station. When time is up, have students scoot to the next question. Be sure all students move at the same time. 
4. When students have been to all stations, review answers.

Pick the worst answer

1. Tell students you're going to be working on your passage a little differently. Provide students with the passage and questions. 
2. Explain that you aren't worried about the right answer. You want students to find the worst answer. Tell them that this is the answer that is the most ridiculous or clearly not true. 
3. Give students time to read the passage and begin selecting the worst answers. This can be done independently, in pairs, or in small groups. 
4. When students finish, bring the group together. Read through the passage, and have students take turns reading the questions aloud. 
5. Let students vote on which answer would be the worst to select. Have them defend their answer or try to persuade their peers to switch their choice.

Color coding

1. To prepare, select a color for each question in the passage. Try to make adjacent questions have a distinctively different color to make it easier to grade. 
2. Provide students with the passage. As a group, mark the passage questions with the color code you decided on. 
3. Have students work independently or in pairs to read the passage and answer each question using the appropriate color. Text evidence should be color coded to match the questions. 
4. When finished, have students partner up (or switch partners) and look over their passage to see how the color coding aligns. 

***BOUNS***

Use technology to get kids excited about practicing with Boom Cards. Boom cards are an interactive tool that self corrects while students work through each questions and passage! Click on the image to find out more.

Teaching Fractions in Third Grade

To teach fractions in third grade, I use a multi sensory approach. Kids need manipulative, games, and repetitions. Let me show you what I mean!

1.) My number 1 favorite manipulative in teaching fractions is the fraction tiles! I have them to place in templates and I have magnets for my board. When I teach fractions on a number line I use two things. A paint stick with number lines marked and clothes pins with fractions. Students get to move the paper clip where they think it should go when I call out fractions. 

2.) I LOVE using power point and google slides! It makes instruction quick and easy. Especially with a concept such as fractions that requires a lot of drawings. 

3.) Games in person or using technology are another great way to teach fractions! Partnering kids up to learn how to problem solve is a life skill as well as an accountability tool!