Dialetical Journal:  Recording thoughts to determine major ideas, themes, supporting facts, of what is read.  Great for long term readings.

Quickwrite:Help kids tap into their previous knowledge or review from the day before. (Also good for writers block)

Timed Writings:  Writing a 1st draft is hard all that blank staring at you, timed writings help fill in the page and get a good start on organizing your thoughts

brainstorm and pass discussion :  Group brainstorming activity that forces all members of the group to add an idea.

DLIQ A way for students to review information from the previous class and generate questions to clarify understanding.

Carousel brainstorming    Students will work in small groups to brainstorm thoughts / ideas about sub-topics and write those ideas on cart paper.  Will cycle brainstorm about each sub topic allowing students to move around the room.

learning log worksheet   End of class / homework activity that forces daily study and clarification of information.

S3QR Breaking down a reading and using Costa's levels of questioning to increase rigor.

Costa's Levels of Questioning Cue words to help students ask higher level questions.

Pair Share  Organized way to get students talking and getting clarification.

reading main idea graphic organizer  Graphic organizer to identify main idea and supporting evidence

reading main idea graphic organizer 2   Graphic organizer to identify main idea and supporting evidence

Triple Venn diagram  Graphic organizer that allows you to compare and contrast 3 sources or concepts.

Venn diagram Graphic organizer that allows you to compare and contrast 2 sources.

T chart Graphic organizer that compares two concepts.