When I started dating my husband, I was texting him one night and used the line “Put Me in Coach.” First, he is a coach and second, I love a good pun. I love my husband with all of my heart, but flirty one liners are not always his jam. Even better, I texted my friend that he did not get my line and I was annoyed…. Wait for it…. I actually texted him that. Guess what, we are married and now we laugh about this. Making inferences can sometimes be like pick-up lines that fall flat. 

Inference is a skill that I teach over and over again during my English Language Arts block in my classroom. It is not a one and done skill. We review this skill all year. Making inferences is tough when your brain is used to thinking concretely! But it’s not impossible to get students on the right track.

Teach your students the formula My Life + The Book = An Inference  

You already know what I’m going to say.  The best way to teach inferencing skills is with picture books! 😉

These 3 picture books are my favorite for inference lessons. 

🚲 Drawn Together–  tells the story of a boy and his grandfather who struggle to communicate because they speak different languages. Through drawing and art, they discover a special way to connect and build a strong relationship.

🐠 Paul Meets Bernadette – follows Paul, a fish who only notices ordinary things around him, until he meets Bernadette, who helps him see beauty and wonder in the world. By the end of the story, Paul learns to look at life in a whole new way.

🪀A Bad Case of Stripes–  is about a girl named Camilla who worries so much about fitting in that she develops colorful stripes all over her body. In the end, she learns the importance of being herself and not caring so much about what others think.

Making Inferences with Paul Meets Bernadette

🐠 Model – When you make an inference, you are a detective looking for clues. On the first page of Paul Meets Bernadette, model what making an inference looks like. Ask your students, “How do we know he’s sad? What clues do the text and picture give us?” Then, show them how to make an inference.

🐠 Practice Together – As you continue to read the book, stop at key moments to make inferences together. You might ask, “How can you tell Bernadette helps Pual notice new things around him? What words or pictures help us understand the outside world?” Then work together, out loud, to make an inference.

🐠 Practice Solo – Give students a chance to practice on their own! I have a free Inference resource you can pair with the story to help students apply their inference skills.

Make your inference-unit planning easy by grabbing my Comprehension Vault. There’s no fluff or busy work. Instead, you’ll find engaging ways to practice inference with activities, guiding questions, and games. 

The post Teaching Inference with Picture Books That Actually Work appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

Believe it or not, I wasn’t always the teacher telling everyone that picture books are my jam. At age nine, I was the student sitting in the back of the room, carrying the weight of a dyslexia diagnosis and wondering if stories would ever truly belong to me. That journey is exactly why I’m so passionate about helping struggling readers in upper elementary find their own Confetti Moments.

If you teach upper elementary, you’ve seen it:

• students avoiding reading
• shutting down during independent work
• lacking confidence with grade-level texts

And the truth is… traditional literacy instruction doesn’t always meet them where they are. Our big kids deserve to feel successful — and with a few intentional shifts, we can make that happen.

1. Use Graphic Organizers to Bridge the Gap

Graphic organizers are one of the most powerful tools for struggling readers.

They:

• reduce overwhelm
• provide structure
• allow students to focus on thinking (not formatting)

Using consistent visual frameworks helps students feel safe and confident when approaching new texts.

👉 I break down exactly how I use them here, plus my go-to bundle I use all year. 

2. Build Vocabulary Through Text Sets

Vocabulary is the gatekeeper to comprehension.

One of my favorite ways to build it? Text sets.

By grouping:

• picture books
• short articles
• themed texts

Students get repeated exposure to Tier 2 vocabulary in different contexts.

✨ That’s when the magic of recognition happens.

Example:
Students read about cereal (something familiar!) → then apply context clues in an informational text.

👉 Want ready-made resources? Check out my Comprehension Vault.

3. Lean Into Small Group Intervention

This is where the transformation happens.

Small groups allow you to:

• target specific skills
• adjust in real time
• build relationships

Whether you’re working on:

• decoding
• inference
• comprehension

You’re meeting students exactly where they are.

👉 I even have a FREE inference resource to help you scaffold:

• visual evidence
• descriptive clues
• character motivation
• text-based support

HOW TO USE IT (CLASSROOM APPLICATION)

Here’s how this might look in your classroom:

• Whole group → introduce strategy
• Small group → targeted skill practice
• Centers → reinforce with graphic organizers + text sets
• Independent → fluency + response work

To stay organized:

• use color-coded groups
• project rotations
• keep routines predictable

👉 Want my exact system? I break it down in this blog + resource.

4. Prioritize Fluency in Upper Elementary

Fluency = confidence + comprehension.

Two of my go-to strategies:

• Reader’s Theater (high engagement, low pressure)
• Rereading familiar texts (YES — even picture books!)

Repetition builds:

• speed
• expression
• confidence

5. Make Students Respond to Reading

Reading isn’t complete without writing.

When students respond, they:

• synthesize ideas
• think deeper
• build comprehension

I use RACE to scaffold responses:

• Restate
• Answer
• Cite
• Explain

👉 I also share my full process + resource here.

Want to try this in your classroom right away?

👉 Grab my FREE inference resource and start building confidence step-by-step in small groups.

Advocate for Them

Finally, please advocate for your students. YOU can be the one that shows them they are capable. YOU are the one that may know who to ask for more help. YOU are the one who can help make a difference in their little lives and set their path towards a happier reading life. 

How are you supporting your readers this week?

Remember — every small step leads to a big breakthrough.

✨ And sometimes, that breakthrough becomes a Confetti Moment.

The post Helping Struggling Readers in Upper Elementary appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

Whenever I create ELA activities for my classroom, I always have the struggling reader in mind.

 

Let me be clear—it’s not about creating easier work.
It’s about creating work that is meaningful and has a purpose.

 

There is nothing better than seeing students learning and having fun. Those are the moments I call “Confetti Moments.”

The Problem with Traditional ELA Centers

If you’ve ever tried to run ELA centers, you know the reality:

• they can take hours to prep
• they don’t always connect to your instruction
• and students can easily disengage

And for struggling readers, that disconnect matters even more.

The Secret to Stress-Free Learning: Low Prep ELA Centers

I truly believe the best way to meet the needs of all readers is through centers.

To help you “Open the Magic” without weekend-long prep sessions, I’ve created low-prep ELA centers that combine:

• seasonal themes students LOVE
• rigorous skill practice
• simple implementation

Want a ready-to-use example?
Check out these April ELA Activities focused on inference, annotating poetry, and main idea — perfect for keeping students engaged while practicing key skills

 

Kids love holidays.
Kids love learning about new holidays.
Kids love thematic units—even if they don’t know that’s what they’re called!

 

Print & Implement: Keeping It Simple

The beauty of these centers is their print-and-go design.

Use them for:

• small group rotations
• independent work
• partner activities
• sub plans

Each month includes high-interest topics like:

• Science Behind Rainbows (March)
• Winter Warriors animal adaptations (January)

These types of themed, low-prep activities are exactly what I use to keep my centers running smoothly all year long.
You can explore a full month example here.

Predictable Structure, Fresh Content

While the themes change each month, the structure stays consistent.

That means:

• fewer “how-to” questions
• more independence
• smoother transitions

Vocabulary & Inferencing

• logic puzzles
• context clue challenges
• themed activities like Cupid’s Language Lab

Fiction & Non-Fiction Summarizing

• graphic organizers
• Somebody Wanted But So Then strategy

Rigorous Writing Practice

RACE strategy:

• Restate
• Answer
• Cite
• Explain

How to Get Started

If you’re not sure how to begin, start here:

1. Look at your pacing guide or data
2. Identify:
   • skills to teach
   • reteach
   • or enrich
3. Open your monthly centers and choose what fits

If April doesn’t include a skill you need—but another month does—use it anyway.

Tell your students:
“Today is a wacky day… we’re learning with pumpkins!”

You can:

• print one page
• create a full packet
• use in small groups or whole class

If you want to skip the planning step, you can grab a ready-made set that already aligns with key skills here!

Flexibility is the Magic

Whatever your class needs will be the best way to serve your students using these ELA centers.

Reading skills have to be taught—but there are ways to make them meaningful and engaging.

Conclusion

By integrating low-prep ELA centers into your routine, you aren’t just checking off standards…

You’re building readers who can think deeply.

 

Ready to make your literacy block easier and more effective?

Grab these ready-to-use ELA centers and start tomorrow.

The post Low Prep ELA Centers for Upper Elementary That Actually Work appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

I was drinking my hot chai the other morning, brainstorming why I think picture books in upper grades are often considered taboo. The phrase “Ivy League pressure” kept swirling in my head. The world puts so many limits on the types of books our students “should” be reading.

Too many parents share that they are uncomfortable when their child reads graphic novels, let alone a picture book in 5th grade. But here is the truth: Reading is reading.

If we want our kids to grow up to be lifelong learners, we need to stop putting limits on what is acceptable.

In elementary school, our goal should be building the foundation for lifelong readers. Picture books provide what I call “time to think.” They allow kids to think critically without the pressure to finish a dense, 300-page novel.

I want to share a strategy I use in my classroom to help my readers AT ALL LEARNING LEVELS.

The Strategy: One Story + One Skill

I love the concept of One Story + One Skill. It is perfect for teachers (like you and me) who want impact without extra prep or overwhelming lessons. I get it—our time is precious, and I have to do those Benchmark lessons, too!

Here is how it works:

1. Read one carefully chosen picture book.
2. Use a simple, intentional skill to teach or reteach a standard.

You get one story, one skill, and a lot of meaningful learning packed into 10–15 minutes.

In Practice: The Big Cheese

The Big Cheese is part of Jory John’s Food Group series, and it’s both funny and full of heart. In the story, Big Cheese is proud of being “the best” at everything until a new competitor quietly outshines him. Big Cheese learns an important lesson about humility, perspective, and finding joy in participation rather than just winning.

Step 1: Read the Story Read The Big Cheese aloud with your students. As we know, picture books are a powerhouse of creativity and engagement. Encourage them to pay attention to the Cause and Effect relationships in the story.

Step 2: One Skill (Cause/Effect) After reading, have students put the key events in order and explain why each one mattered. You can do this with:

• Pictures
• Sentence strips
• A graphic organizer

Helpful Implementation Tips:

• Keep it short: 10–15 minutes of focused discussion is enough.
• Focus on one skill only: In this case, Cause and Effect relationships.
• Flexible sharing: Some students write quietly, others share aloud. Both approaches deepen comprehension.
• Repeat weekly: Using One Story + One Skill consistently builds strong reading habits.

Why This Matters

Upper elementary students are learning to think critically about texts, not just read for fun. Focusing on a single picture book and pairing it with one reading comprehension strategy allows students to practice analysis, inference, and evidence gathering without feeling overwhelmed.

As I always say, picture books might just be my number one teaching tool.

Try It This Week

Pick up a copy of The Big Cheese and implement the Cause and Effect skill. You will help your students develop stronger comprehension skills—all while enjoying a fun and engaging story.

💌 Want more picture book reading strategies? Sign up for my newsletter to get weekly curated books and ready-to-use reading comprehension activities for upper elementary classrooms.

The post Why Picture Books Belong in Upper Elementary (Plus One Simple Reading Strategy That Works) appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

When you bring in picture books, vocabulary suddenly becomes vibrant, visual, and downright FUN!

Picture books naturally expose students to rich language, figurative phrases, context clues, and juicy tier-two words. One of my favorite seasonal titles for this is Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie by Jack Bishop. It’s filled with personality, word choice that pops, and tons of moments to pause and say: “Ooooh, that’s a great vocabulary word!”

So grab your read-aloud voice and a stack of picture books! Here are three engaging ways to boost vocabulary using picture books.

1. Use Pictures & Context Clues Like Detectives

Picture books make context clues click because students can pair illustrations with strong textual clues. Before reading, choose a few “mystery words” from the story and have students predict their meanings using only the pictures. Then, read aloud and let them revise or confirm their thinking using context clues from the sentences.

In Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie, students can use illustrations and text together to uncover fun words like delighted, flustered, or celebration, based on what Peyton is doing, feeling, and tasting on her pie quest.

This turns vocabulary into a detective mission and upper elementary students LOVE a role with a little mystery.

2. Build Mini Text Sets Around Vocabulary Themes

Rather than teaching a word once and moving on, try pairing books in text sets: groups of 3–5 books connected by a topic, theme, or repeated vocabulary idea. The repeated exposure is where the vocabulary magic happens!

Use Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie in a food, fall, or family celebration text set and look for recurring tier-two words such as: gather, celebrate, create, and attempt.

When students see these words appear across multiple texts, they begin to internalize meaning and actually apply the vocabulary in conversation and writing.

Other ideas for fall could come from one of these Halloween Book posts:

3. Grow a “Wow Words” Routine and Word Wall

During your read-aloud, pause for “Wow Words,” These words are interesting, descriptive, or powerful tier-two words that deserve a spotlight. After reading, choose 3–5 “Wow Words” to explore together.

With Peyton Picks the Perfect Pie, students might act out a word, sketch a visual, add it to a class word wall, or use it in their own pie-themed sentences.

Why This Works

Picture books build vocabulary because they:

 ✨ Provide meaningful context
✨ Pair new words with visuals and emotion
✨ Allow students to hear and see words repeatedly
✨ Invite discussion, connection, and creativity

Upper elementary students are not too old for picture books. In fact, this age is where they become even more powerful as mentor texts.

Grab my Peyton’s Picture Perfect Pie resource. If you’re on the hunt for more titles that make vocabulary pop, check out this curated list of picture books that are perfect for vocabulary instruction!

Looking for more picture books that enhance literary skills? Read about teaching theme here!

The post How to Teach Vocabulary with Picture Books appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

Story Elements Come Alive

Every strong comprehension lesson starts with the basics—story elements. In A Bad Case of Stripes, students can clearly identify the characters, setting, problem, and solution while noticing how these pieces work together to create a meaningful story.

Start by reading the book aloud and discussing each element as you go. Ask questions like:

• Who is the main character, and what does she want?
• What problem does she face?
• How is that problem finally solved?

Try this: Use my free story elements printable to help students organize their thoughts as they listen. They can fill in boxes, draw illustrations, and color each section in Camilla’s vibrant hues. When finished, you’ll have a visual map of the story—and a hallway display that truly pops with color!

Character Change and Growth

Camilla Cream is more than just a girl who breaks out in stripes—she’s a character who changes from uncertain to unapologetically herself. This makes her story perfect for exploring character change and personal growth.

Ask guiding questions to get students thinking deeply:

• What caused Camilla’s stripes to appear?
• How did she feel about herself at the beginning of the story?
• What changes by the end?

Writing Connection: Have students create a short reflection called My Own Case of Stripes. Encourage them to describe a time they felt pressure to fit in—and what they learned about being themselves. This personal writing moment helps connect literature to life, making comprehension more meaningful.

Theme: Be True to You

Every memorable story has a heartbeat—and in this one, it’s all about self-acceptance. Teaching theme through A Bad Case of Stripes encourages students to think beyond the events and ask why the story matters.

Pose open-ended questions such as:

• What is the author trying to teach us about being ourselves?
• How does Camilla’s journey show that lesson?

Group Challenge: Divide your class into small groups and ask them to find three pieces of text evidence that reveal the story’s theme. You’ll love hearing how their interpretations differ—and how their confidence grows when they can justify their thinking with evidence from the text.

Making Connections and Inferring Feelings

David Shannon’s bold illustrations do more than decorate—they communicate. Each color, pattern, and facial expression reveals how Camilla feels inside. This makes the book a powerful tool for practicing making inferences.

Give students sentence stems such as:

• “Camilla felt ____ when ____.”
• “The author shows Camilla’s emotions through ____.”

Then, discuss how her appearance changes alongside her emotions. For example, what do her rainbow stripes say about her feelings? How does she look different when she finally eats the lima beans again? These visual clues guide students to connect emotion with action—a key skill in understanding character motivation.

Creative Classroom Extensions

Make your comprehension lesson even more colorful with activities that combine art, writing, and self-expression:

🎨 Art Connection: Invite students to design their own “stripes” using patterns or colors that represent their personalities and interests. Display them with a banner titled Be True to You!

🧠 SEL Tie-In: Create a class book called A Bad Case of Being Me, where each student adds a page about something that makes them unique. It’s a beautiful reminder that our quirks are what make us shine.

📖 Vocabulary Practice: Highlight words like unique, authentic, and identity from the story. Use them for context clue practice or add them to your class word wall.

Turning Stripes into Strengths

A Bad Case of Stripes is more than a read-aloud—it’s an invitation to celebrate individuality. By weaving comprehension skills with lessons about self-acceptance, you’ll create a classroom where students feel seen, valued, and empowered to show their true colors.

Before you go, don’t forget to download your free story elements printable! It’s the perfect tool to help students analyze the book while keeping the fun and color of Camilla Cream’s world alive.So go ahead—bring A Bad Case of Stripes into your classroom, and watch as your students turn their stripes into strengths.

The post Colorful Comprehension Magic: Teaching with A Bad Case of Stripes appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

And before we hit the books… If you love weaving meaningful conversations into your read-alouds, you’ll want to check out my Social Emotional Learning Picture Book Guide! This ready-to-use resource takes the guesswork out of teaching SEL—it’s not “one more thing,” it’s something that fits right into what you already do. With 60+ carefully chosen picture books, printable teacher guides, student cards, and five thoughtful discussion questions for each title, you’ll have everything you need to foster self-awareness, build relationships, and encourage responsible decision-making through story.

It’s perfect for morning meetings, class discussions, or anytime your class needs a refresh.

Now, let’s explore five picture books that help students discover theme—each one rich with emotional depth and classroom connection.

5 Picture Books That Help Students Discover Theme

1. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

A relatable story about wanting what others have and learning that generosity matters more than possessions.
Teaching Tip: After reading, ask students: What lesson did Jeremy learn about kindness and friendship?

2. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig

A moving story about feeling unseen and the power of including others.
Theme Focus: Acceptance and compassion.
Classroom Idea: Have students find one piece of evidence from the text or illustrations that supports this theme.

3. The Bad Seed by Jory John

A humorous yet heartfelt look at growth, mistakes, and second chances.
Theme Focus: Change and redemption.
Activity Idea: Ask students to identify moments when the seed chooses to change—what lesson does this show?

4. The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

An emotional story about empathy and the importance of listening when someone is hurting.
Theme Focus: Emotional awareness and compassion.
Extension: Pair with a SEL mini lesson on how to be a supportive friend.

5. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson

A story that leaves a lasting impact about missed opportunities for kindness.
Theme Focus: Regret and the lasting power of our actions.
Discussion Idea: Use this text to explore how theme connects to students’ real-life choices.

Understanding theme helps students connect literature to life — and picture books are the perfect gateway. Each of these stories sparks a Confetti Moment where readers feel the heart of the message. Try reading one a week and creating a classroom “Theme Wall” where students write the life lessons they discover from each story.

The post 5 Picture Books That Make Teaching Theme Easy appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

Why Teaching Parts of Speech Matters

Nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, and pronouns may sound like simple terms, but they’re the foundation of all writing. Without them, students struggle to express ideas clearly. By practicing parts of speech, kids not only become better writers but also sharper readers who can decode meaning and recognize patterns. In short, when students master these essential language pieces, every other literacy skill gets stronger.

A Mad Lib–Style Resource for Grammar Fun

To make grammar stick (and to make it fun), I created a Mad Lib–style resource that combines posters, practice, and play:

• Colorful posters for each part of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun)
• 9 fill-in-the-blank passages across 3 themes for silly, creative practice
• Engagement built-in—kids laugh while learning, and teachers reinforce key concepts
  

The beauty of Mad Lib–style activities is how seamlessly they blend humor with grammar instruction. Students hardly realize they’re practicing grammar because they’re too busy creating wacky, memorable stories.

3 Ways to Use This Resource in Your Classroom

1. Morning Warm-Up or Centers
   Use the passages as quick grammar practice during morning work or in a literacy center. Students can rotate and complete different themes throughout the week.
2. Partner and Small Group Fun
   Encourage collaboration by having students fill in the blanks together. Then, let them read aloud their creations with dramatic expression—it’s a guaranteed laughter moment!
   Grammar to Writing Bridge
   After completing a passage, challenge students to write a short paragraph of their own using the same parts of speech. This helps them transfer playful practice into authentic writing.
   

Confetti Moments Through Grammar

Teaching parts of speech in the elementary classroom doesn’t have to feel like memorizing rules. When teachers combine creativity, humor, and a sense of play, grammar transforms from something intimidating into something exciting. With resources like this Mad Lib–style activity, you’ll not only see skills improve—you’ll also create Confetti Moments where students fall in love with language.

The post Teaching Parts of Speech in the Elementary Classroom appeared first on Ramona Recommends.

Why Written Response Strategies Matter

In today’s classrooms, students are asked to do more than answer multiple-choice questions. They must explain their thinking and back it up with text evidence. That’s where strategies like RACE (Restate, Answer, Cite, Explain) and RAPP (Restate, Answer, Prove, Proofread) shine. Both approaches give students a clear framework for crafting organized, complete answers.

Visual Supports That Make a Difference

Anchor charts and graphic organizers turn abstract steps into something concrete. When students can see each part broken down, they’re more likely to remember and apply it. For example, a color-coded RACE chart displayed in the classroom can remind students to cite their text evidence before moving on.

Graphic organizers allow them to jot down ideas and map out responses before writing the full answer.

Teaching Tips to Get Started:

• Gradual Release: I Do, We Do, You Do
• Leveled Passages for All Readers
• Rubrics and Examples to Guide Grading

Bringing It All Together

From anchor charts to rubrics, every piece of this resource supports the ultimate goal: helping students build independence in written responses. With RACE and RAPP strategies, teachers can confidently guide students from modeled practice to independent mastery.

The post Engaging RACE and RAPP Strategies for Stronger Student Responses appeared first on Ramona Recommends.