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The educators you see on ReadWriteThink are working to improve literacy learning for every student. Check out their stories for inspiration.
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Lisa Storm Fink
| Name | Lisa Storm Fink |
| Location | Urbana, Illinois |
| Role | ReadWriteThink.org Project Manager |
| Membership |  |
"The ReadWriteThink site is a great resource for teachers at any grade or level of experience. I now enjoy using the site with my preservice students. ReadWriteThink gives them a great model to follow."
Lisa is the Project Manager for ReadWriteThink at NCTE. After teaching grades K-4 for almost 9 years, she brought her varied experiences fulltime to the ReadWriteThink site: multi-age classrooms, looping, cooperating teacher for preservice teachers, plus a specialization in Remedial Reading. Lisa feels lucky to have worked on all parts of the ReadWriteThink site as a writer and reviewer, curriculum developer, and now as Project Manager. She enjoys sharing the site with others during professional development opportunities as well as with her preservice students at the University of Illinois.
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Contributions on ReadWriteThink.org |
Grades 3 – 10 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
A Case for Reading - Examining Challenged and Banned Books
Students examine books, selected from the American Library Association Challenged/Banned Books list, and write persuasive pieces expressing their views about what should be done with the books at their school.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
A Genre Study of Letters With The Jolly Postman
Students read The Jolly Postman, in which a postman delivers letters to storybook characters. They explore different types of mail and categorize letters from the book and their own mail.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Alphabiography Project: Totally You
The traditional autobiography writing project is given a twist as students write alphabiographies—recording an event, person, object, or feeling associated with each letter of the alphabet.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Alter Egos and More with Avi's "Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?"
After reading Avi's novel "Who Was That Masked Man, Anyway?", students create an alter ego for themselves and use it to write their own radio show, modeled after the book.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Book Report Alternative: Creating a New Book Cover
Students explore book covers of a variety of books then create a new cover for a book they have read.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Book Report Alternative: Examining Story Elements Using Story Map Comic Strips
Comic frames are traditionally used to illustrate a story in a short, concise format. In this lesson, students use a six-paneled comic strip frame to create a story map, summarizing a book or story that they've read. Each panel retells a particular detail or explains a literary element (such as setting or character) from the story.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Book Report Alternative: Writing Resumes for Characters in Historical Fiction
Students write resumes for historical fiction characters. They first explore help wanted ads to see what employers want, and then draft resumes for the characters they've chosen.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Characters in Because of Winn-Dixie: Making Lists of Ten
The list of ten things about Opal's absent mother that her father shares in Because of Winn-Dixie serves as inspiration for students to create their own lists describing literary characters.
Grades 1 – 2 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Choosing One Word: Summarizing Shel Silverstein's "Sick"
Students select what they believe to be the most important word in a text that they have read and justify their choice using examples from the text.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Genre Study
Multidimensional, challenging, and popular with students, comics provide an excellent way to introduce the concept of genres.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Comics in the Classroom as an Introduction to Narrative Structure
This lesson uses comic strip frames to define plot and reinforce the structure that underlies a narrative. Students finish by writing their own original narratives.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Unit
Creating Classroom Community by Crafting Themed Poetry Collections
Students create poetry collections with the theme of "getting to know each other." They study and then write a variety of forms of poetry to include in their collections.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Dear Librarian: Writing a Persuasive Letter
Students write persuasive letters to their librarian requesting that specific texts be added to the school library. As they work, students plan their arguments and outline their reasons and examples.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Engaging Students in a Collaborative Exploration of the Gettysburg Address
In small groups, students closely examine one sentence from the Gettysburg Address and create a multigenre project communicating what they have discovered about the meaning and significance of the text.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Figurative Language Awards Ceremony
Students will be as happy as clams when they have the chance to nominate their favorite examples of similes, metaphors, and personification for a figurative language award.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Finding the Science Behind Science Fiction through Paired Readings
Students read science fiction texts and then use nonfiction texts to extrapolate the scientific principles presented as they discuss the "what ifs" within the context of scientific principles.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Recurring Lesson
Genre Study: A Collaborative Approach
Students explore multiple genres through genre studies. They record evidence of genre characteristics on bookmarks as they read, and finish by giving a book review for their classmates.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Graphing Plot and Character in a Novel
In this graphical mapping project, students assign a value to the events, characters, and themes in a novel and think about how the elements of the story are all interconnected.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Investigating Junk Mail: Negotiating Critical Literacy at the Mailbox
Students increase their media literacy skills by critically examining and revising junk mail.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Unit
Literature as a Jumping Off Point for Nonfiction Inquiry
Students use text sets to research a topic inspired by a fiction book they have read. A text set is a collection of multiple text genres with a single focus.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Literature Circle Roles Reframed: Reading as a Film Crew
Capture students' enthusiasm for film and transfer it to reading and literature by substituting film production roles for the traditional literature circle roles.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Recurring Lesson
Literature Circles: Getting Started
Students practice different ways of collaborating to read a work of literature. They work in different roles as they compose and answer questions, discover new vocabulary, and examine literary elements.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Looking at Landmarks: Using a Picture Book to Guide Research
This lesson uses Ben's Dream by Chris Van Allsburg to highlight ten major landmarks of the world. Students research the landmarks and present their findings to the class.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Looking for the History in Historical Fiction: An Epidemic for Reading
This lesson pairs the reading of historical fiction with nonfiction to introduce students to the large themes of history.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Mapping Characters Across Book Series
Students work on a guided characterization project, using a graphic map to illustrate the ways a character from a book series grows and evolves over the course of the story.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
On a Musical Note: Exploring Reading Strategies by Creating a Soundtrack
Students create a soundtrack for a novel that they have read, as they engage in such traditional reading strategies as predicting, visualizing, and questioning.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Once Upon a Time Rethought: Writing Fractured Fairy Tales
Students read and analyze fairy tales, identifying their common elements. They then write their own "fractured" fairy tales by changing one of the literary elements found in the original.
Grades 3 – 6 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Opening the Door for Reading: Sharing Favorite Texts to Build Community
In this lesson, students build classroom community by exploring environmental print and a teacher-created display that focuses on a favorite book. They then create and share their own presentations.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Our Classroom: Writing an Owner's Manual
Students write an owner's manual that helps them get to know their classroom, provides them with a sense of ownership, and lets others know about their classroom.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Research Building Blocks: "Cite Those Sources!"
Students learn the importance of crediting others for their words and ideas, and then learn the paraphrasing and citation skills necessary to avoid plagiarism.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Minilesson
Research Building Blocks: "Organize This!"
In this minilesson, students organize information they compile while doing research for a written report on a selected topic.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Minilesson
Research Building Blocks: Examining Electronic Sources
In this lesson, students evaluate and rate the relevance of electronic resources as they research information about their state.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Minilesson
Research Building Blocks: Hints about Print
In this lesson from a research skills unit, students examine abstracts on selected books to determine their relevance and helpfulness.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Minilesson
Research Building Blocks: Notes, Quotes, and Fact Fragments
Students are guided through the process of taking notes while reading factual information, then turning those notes into new sentences and paragraphs written in their own words.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Research Building Blocks: Skim, Scan, and Scroll
In this lesson from a research skills unit, students read informational text, looking for supporting details. They practice skimming and scanning print resources, and scrolling through electronic resources.
Grades 9 – 12 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Rummaging for Fiction: Using Found Photographs and Notes to Spark Story Ideas
In this lesson, students use found notes and found photographs as inspiration to help them identify subjects, settings, characters, and conflicts for pieces of creative writing.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Unit
Teaching Language Skills Using the Phone Book
Through a series of activities using the phone book, students learn to use text aids, collect information relevant to a topic, organize information, synthesize information and use key words.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Unit
The History Behind Song Lyrics
Students research the items listed in the song "We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel, noting their historical relevance, and then document their findings using an online chart.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Travel Brochures: Highlighting the Setting of a Story
Readers are often transported to the places mentioned in texts through words and descriptions. This lesson invites students to create travel brochures about the setting of texts they have read.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Unwinding A Circular Plot: Prediction Strategies in Reading and Writing
Students use graphic organizers to explore plot in circular stories while focusing on prediction and sequencing. After exploring the features of circular plot stories, students write their own stories.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Using Snowflake Bentley as a Framing Text for Multigenre Writing
Using Snowflake Bentley as a model, students create a working definition of multigenre text and then use that definition to create their own multigenre piece about winter or another theme.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Using Picture Books to Teach Plot Development and Conflict Resolution
Students read picture books to explore the concepts of plot development and conflict resolution. They first learn about the connections between reading and writing, and then revise their own writing.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Weather Detectives: Questioning the Fact and Folklore of Weather Sayings
Students adopt a skeptical stance and become weather detectives who ask "Why?" and "Why not?" as they investigate the history and validity of some common weather sayings.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
Writing ABC Books to Enhance Reading Comprehension
Using the alphabet as an organizing structure, students analyze literary elements in a book they have read and organize their observations in an alphabet book.
Grades 3 – 5 | Lesson Plan | Unit
Writing and Assessing an Autobiographical Incident
Students build upon their knowledge of biographies to write their own autobiographical incident. After going through a process of revision, they use a rubric to assess their work.
Grades 6 – 8 | Lesson Plan | Standard Lesson
You Know the Movie is Coming—Now What?
In this lesson, students read a literary text with the eye of a director, selecting scenes from the text and putting a cinematic spin on them.
Grades K – 2 | Activity & Project
Act out a story after reading it. Work together to create a script and make costumes and props. Then invite others to watch and hear your story!
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Using published comics and cartoons as examples, children can create their own while playing with images and language.
Grades 6 – 8 | Activity & Project
Invite children and teens to create a travel brochure to share information about a special place with others.
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Plan a visit to a library to discover more about this magical place.
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Children will draw on their knowledge of story structure and fairy tales to write their own.
Grades K – 2 | Activity & Project
Friendship: Exploring Similarities and Differences
After reading a book about friendship, children will reflect on one of their own friendships and look at how they are like their friends and maybe how they are different.
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Can't make it to a zoo? After reading a book about apes, observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many Webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world.
Grades K – 2 | Activity & Project
Learning Your Address and Phone Number
Children will learn their address and phone number to help keep them safe.
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Playing board games or card games can be a fun activity, so why not make your own?
Grades K – 2 | Activity & Project
Work together, create a bingo board that can be played while walking around town, going to the zoo or a museum, or traveling on a vacation.
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Sort through your junk mail and talk about what you find for a fun literacy activity before recycling it!
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Read All About It: Neighborhood News
Children enjoy sharing their thoughts, ideas and opinions in talking with others. Encourage them to write these down and more to share in a neighborhood newspaper!
Grades 3 – 5 | Activity & Project
Can't make it to a zoo? Observe animal habits and habitats using one of the many Webcams broadcasting from zoos and aquariums around the United States and the world.
Grades 6 – 8 | Activity & Project
Write Letters to Friends and Family
Invite young adults to write letters to classmates, postcards from travels, and e-mails to family and friends.
Grades K – 2 | Activity & Project
Writing and Math with Shopping Lists
Children will use a variety of mathematics and literacy skills as they create shopping lists to use at the store to buy their favorite treats.
Grades 6 – 12 | Tip & How-To
Helping a Teen Plan and Conduct an Interview 
Interviewing family members or friends can be a valuable way for teens to learn about themselves and their families.
