If you teach elementary language arts then you probably come across standards that require you to teach skills related to a variety of reference materials; dictionaries, encyclopedias, the internet, almanacs, maps, etc.
As a third and fourth grade classroom teacher, this subject was one of my favorites to teach. There are so many different activities you can do with your students that help reinforce the skills needed to use reference materials. My students always loved using task cards.
Task cards: you can develop your own task cards that correspond with different reference materials that you have in your own classroom. If you’re like many teachers out there and don’t have enough time in your day to develop your own task cards for your students then you can always check out Teachers Pay Teachers to see what other teachers have already created. Task cards are a great way to get your students engaged in their own learning.
Another thing I always loved using in my classroom was anchor charts and instructional posters. I created a set of reference material posters that can be used in the classroom on subject focus walls or as individual student reference posters that you can put in your students language arts binders or folders. One of the best things about my reference material posters is that they are FREEEEEEEEEE! Yep, that’s right. You can download them for FREE by subscribing to my email list down below (don’t worry… I won’t be spamming you with hundreds of emails per day). What will you get by subscribing to my email list? You will receive my free reference material posters and you will also be the first to know about new blog posts that can be found right here on my website, new products and crafts that I have developed, and classroom and homeschooling teacher tips and suggestions that can help make your life as an educator easier.
Happy Teaching, Friends!
Jamie @ Oak Roots and Arrows
