3 Tips to Promote Powerful Reading Conversations and Discourse

3 Tips to Promote Powerful Reading Conversations and Discourse


Are you looking to strengthen student reading comprehension, increase class participation, and help your students develop a love for reading a wide range of books? By engaging students in powerful reading discourse, you will help your students do all three!


When students engage in reading discourse with their peers about the books that they read, their motivation and interest in reading increase, and their comprehension skills become stronger. This is because students must listen to what others say and then join the conversation by responding using both their own opinion and text evidence. When students are engaged in conversations about books they use the reading strategies that you have taught them to dive deeper into the books that they read.


Increasing the amount of conversations about books that kids have with their peers each day is a great way to strengthen student comprehension skills. Here are three ways that I promote powerful reading conversations and discourse in my classroom.



1. Give Them the Reading Stems


Reading Talking Stems for Upper Elementary Bulletin Board and Classroom



If we want students to talk about the books that they are reading in meaningful ways then we have to teach them how! Get started teaching students how to engage in reading discourse by engaging them with picture book read-alouds and these reading talking stems.  Create a bulletin board with these stems to encourage students to use them all year long! I also give my students these reading stems in list form to keep in their reading notebooks to always have on hand for small group and partner reading tasks. Using reading stems helps students to start conversations and keep the conversation going! Students can respond with questions, responses, clarifications, and piggyback off of what their peer said. Many stems require students to use text evidence to support their thinking and comments.


In action in my classroom: 

My students know that one of my favorite classroom phrases is, "Keep the conversation going!" I have these stems on a bulletin board in my reading corner. Next to it, is an anchor chart with step-by-step directions on how to keep the conversation going. Here are the directions on the anchor chart:

  • Turn to face your partner.
  • Sit eye to eye and knee to knee.
  • Listen with attentive ears as your partner speaks.
  • Respond using a reading stem to keep the conversation going.
  • Repeat!


Students learn these stems quickly. I practice these right from the start of the school year using my favorite back-to-school read-alouds. You will notice after a few weeks of practice, students really do learn how to keep the conversation going!


These reading stems are especially useful for students who struggle to add their own thoughts to a conversation. Often times the conversation between readers can die off after one person makes a comment. By telling students to keep the conversation going, they know they need to bring that conversation back alive with one of the given reading stems!



2. Revisit Previously Read Books


Classroom Library


Using previously read picture books as a part of your reading routine is a great way to increase student participation and confidence.  In my classroom, this large bucket can be found in my reading corner. Any picture book that I have read aloud and that we have discussed and digested together goes into this previously read bucket. Since the students are already familiar with the books in this basket, it makes it easier for them to engage in discourse around the story. That is why many times I use books from this basket during mini-lessons, small group instruction, and during reading conferences.


In action in my classroom:

In addition to using these previously read books as a teaching tool, students are welcome to revisit any book in this bucket. When students reread books from this bucket they are increasing their fluency and comprehension. When struggling readers revisit books from this bucket they are increasing their confidence. There are so many benefits of having a bucket like this!




3. Focused Mid-Reading Break


Reading Talking Stems for Elementary


I have found that the best way to get students to engage in meaningful conversations with their peers about the books that they read is to give them a specific question to think about as they read. By telling them the question before they read, you are giving them a focus and a purpose. As students read, they take quick notes and ideas to be able to answer the proposed question through rich dialogue filled with examples from the text. When it is time to discuss the book and question with their reading partner they are armed with specific examples and notes and the reading stems to help them keep the conversation going!


In action in my classroom:  

During our reading block, we have a mid-reading break. Before students begin independently reading, I write a question on the board/chart paper. If we are in the middle of a character unit, the question might simply be: What character trait does the main character have? As the students read, they collect evidence to answer that question during the mid-reading break partner discussion. About halfway through reading, I stop the students, they get with their mid-reading break partner, and have a discussion about the character traits of the main character. They use both their notes and the reading stems to keep the conversation going! The kids love this time of the day and always look forward to it. After about five minutes, I stop the conversation and the kids head back out to finish their independent reading.



BONUS IDEA: Weekly Book Talks


If you want students to talk about the books that they are reading, then you need to carve time out of your day to make it happen! There are two ways that I include book talks in my classroom.


The first type of book talk we do takes place during morning meeting time. These morning book chats are optional, but so many students love signing up for them. Students sign up in advance to share a book that they are reading. I have specific guidelines so that students know what they need to say during their share. It is not a written response, but rather just a casual share of the book. After a few shares, the kids are always looking for an opening to share their book. We do these only once a week so the time slots go fast!



Book Talks and Chats for Upper Elementary Classrooms




The second type of book talk we do takes place once a week on Friday afternoons. Students who are presenting that week have all week to work on their book talk that they will be sharing. These are not optional. At the beginning of the year, students have the choice to create a print or digital book talk using the provided template. As the year moves on, all students complete the digital version, making this truly a no-prep activity! I love that this book talk strengthens students reading, listening, and presentation skills! The kids always look forward to Friday afternoons when they listen to each other's book talks!


Want to try out book talks in your classroom? Read this post to get started!



Book Talks for Upper Elementary



When it comes to engaging students in meaningful reading discourse, try some of these ideas! 

You will see a big increase in student confidence, participation rate, and overall reading comprehension! The more practice opportunities that you give students to engage in meaningful reading discourse, the more they will begin to put this into practice on their own.



Want to get started engaging students in meaningful conversations about the books they read? Grab this FREE book recommendation form and start today!





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Book Talks in Upper elementary classroom




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Book talks in upper elementary reading room



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4 Kindness Bulletin Board Ideas Upper Elementary Classrooms

Kindness Display and Decor for the Classroom


When it comes to kindness in the classroom there can never be enough lessons, read alouds, activities, or bulletin board displays!


If you have followed me for any amount of time, than you know that teaching and bringing kindness into the classroom is an important part of my teaching life. I love to dive deep into what kindness looks like during morning meeting times, read as many picture books with kindness themes as possible, and catch kindness taking place in my classroom community in authentic, meaningful ways.


Displaying kindness quotes and creating kindness bulletin boards are two ways that you can easily bring kindness in your classroom and set the tone for your community of learners that kindness is important to you and the classroom environment. 


Here are some of my favorite kindness bulletin boards that I love to leave up all year long!


1. Kindness Rules

kindness class rules and expectation poster set


When it comes to classroom expectations, kindness is always my number one focus. By displaying these simple kindness rules and expectations right from day one, it is clear to students that being kind is a big part of our classroom community. To make sure it is clear how important it is to our classroom home, we all sign the kindness rules as a kindness classroom pledge. I love displaying the pledge as an important reminder for students and all who enter our room.



2. Seasonal: Kindness Through the Year


kindness posters and decor to use all year long

Since kindness is a big part of the classroom community, I make it a point to create an inspirational kindness bulletin board that changes with the seasons. I love decorating for the seasons and these posters are perfect to tie together kindness expectations and the changing seasons. The kids look forward to the new batch of kindness phrases each season!



3. Words of Wisdom: Kindness Can Move Mountains


be kind bulletin board display mountain theme


Motivational kindness quotes are a great way to bring kindness into your classroom and spark meaningful discussions about being kind. I love using this mountain theme to really bring home the concept that kindness can move mountains. That phrase becomes our class mantra and plays an important part of our positive classroom environment.



4. Student-Created Kindness Posters


Once students realize how important kindness is and how proudly it is displayed in your classroom, they begin to come up with their own kindness catch phrases. Once students create their own kindness quotes you can use those to display around your room and to kick off morning meeting discussions, too!

Want to get started with kindness in your classroom right now? Grab these free kindness posters and let your students create kindness quotes that you can display!





BONUS IDEA: Kindness Alphabet

kindness cursive alphabet


When I was moved from teaching third graders to fifth graders I knew I had to up my alphabet game! That is why I created these cursive kindness alphabet posters! The kids LOVE them! They are a great way to increase kindness, empathy, and community all year long.


Displaying kindness rules, expectations, and inspirational quotes is a small thing that makes a big impact. Doing this helps students to understand how important kindness is to you and the classroom community. Students truly do take in the message and begin to show kindness in all that they do!



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4 Math Bulletin Board Decor Ideas for Upper Elementary Classrooms

4 Math Bulletin Board Decor Ideas for Upper Elementary Classrooms

Whether you are departmentalized or teach all subjects, making math a focus during back-to-school season is so important! Presenting math in a fun and engaging way, with hands-on and creative activities sets the tone for the school year and shows your new students that math is an important part of the day.


I love kicking off back-to-school season with engaging math activities and tasks that truly help me to get to know my new students as mathematicians. I work hard to make sure that math gets just as much attention as ELA. I love to share math picture books, do math art projects to display, and create meaningful math bulletin boards, many of which I leave up all year long! 


Here are 4 math bulletin board ideas that you will love using during this back-to-school season...and all year long, too!


1. Math Accountability Talk Stems



math talking stems bulletin board


My favorite way to kick off math is to dive deep into discussions with my new students about what good mathematicians do to solve problems, how they feel about math, and share a bit about their past math experiences. Once that is discussed, we talk about the expectations for the new school year when it comes to being engaged in math discourse. To help us practice and set the tone for the year, we use this bulletin board with math talking stems to help us and hold students accountable for participating. I also encourage students to use math vocabulary in our math discourse each day.




2. Anchor Charts


math anchor chart bulletin board


I love dedicating one bulletin board strictly for math anchor charts! I hang new anchor charts that I create with the students above the old ones, but the students know that they can go to this bulletin board and find information that they need from older anchor charts. This truly helps students become responsible and independent learners who are held accountable for their own learning! The best part about this bulletin board is that it is class created, interactive, and can be left up all year long!




3. Content Bulletin Boards: Place Value and Geometry

math place value chart for the classroom above the board

Even though our first math unit of the year is focused on place value, it is a topic that we practice all year long! That is why having a place value bulletin board or chart like this above the board is a must! I consistently see students checking this poster out to correct their work or confirm their mathematical thinking...yay #teacherwin! 


I also love to keep a geometry terms display up all year! By having geometric terms with visual representations hanging all year long, students include this vocabulary into their daily life. This makes teaching geometry towards the end of the year a snap because students are already familiar with so many of the terms! 





4. Math Practices

math standards and math practices display and posters for the classroom


Does your school or district require you to post the math practices? These are so easy to hang and make it simple to refer to throughout lessons so that by the end of the year you know you addressed them all! The best part of referring to these during lessons is that it makes the learning and connections authentic and natural instead of isolated or forced.




Bonus Bulletin Board Display: Math Content Alphabet


cursive math alphabet for upper elementary classrooms


When I was moved from teaching third graders to fifth graders I knew I had to up my alphabet game! That is why I created these cursive math alphabet posters! The kids LOVE them! They are a great way to increase math vocabulary use and encourage rich math discourse all year long.


Get students excited about math right from the first day of school with these easy to hang and meaningful math bulletin board displays! By sharing your excitement and love of math you will quickly see that your students will get excited, too! Happy back-to-school season!


Want to kick-start math in your classroom with engaging activities? Try these free activities!




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