As upper elementary teachers, reading comprehension is probably high on your list of teaching topics. While our primary counterparts are focused on teaching students how to read, our focus is teaching students how to read to learn. Reading comprehension is a big part of that! But if your classroom is like most, your students groan at the thought of Another.Reading.Passage. As teachers we can just push on knowing they need the practice and risk them deciding that reading is boring. Or, we can try some not so traditional approaches to reading comprehension. One of these approaches is using technology. Here’s how you can use Google Forms for teaching reading comprehension.
Using Google Forms For Reading Comprehension
Using Google forms is an excellent way to teach and assess reading comprehension. Because Google Forms are an easy-to-use resource for students to access at school or home, they are go-to resource for many teachers. Add to that the increased engagement with a digital activity and you’ve got the recipe for one great reading comprehension lesson.
Instead of printing out the information, students can easily access the information online through Google Forms to read and answer questions. Whether you use in class or with at-home learning, Google Forms are easy to assign, self-grading, and provide a twist on the traditional passage.
The Benefits of Using Google Forms for Reading Comprehension
There are so many benefits of using Google Forms for classroom activities. Here’s just a few of my favorites:
- Paperless – Yay for no more copies!
- Students work directly on their own copy of the file
- Ideas and work automatically saved
- Improve students writing and technology skills while teaching reading
- Utilization of up-to-date technology
- Perfect for in class, at home or 1:1 classrooms
- Students are highly engaged
- Great for standardized test prep
- Access anywhere; no excuses for forgotten notes or books
- Can be used by any device – computers, tablets, even smart phones
- Web-based file sharing operates in the online ‘cloud’ and allows you and your students to work on and print files from any computer or device.
Using Google Forms in your classroom is a wonderful way to take your teaching to a new level, and provide your students with opportunities to develop technological skills for the future. It is truly a great way to integrate those important technology standards while also meeting reading standards. Any time we can get a two-for-one in the classroom it is time well spent!
What’s included in Google Forms Reading Comprehension Activities?
For the Students
When I began creating these Google Forms reading comprehension activities, it was very important that they had the same standards-based rigor of a traditional reading passage.
These Google Forms nonfiction reading passages are the perfect way to engage your 3rd through 5th grade students while also focusing on reading comprehension. Each of these Google Forms reading comprehension activities provides students with a high interest reading passage and standards based reading comprehension questions.
Additionally, they working on technology skills as they type and submit answers using the form. As many states move to online standardized testing, this also provides students with a good opportunity to practice reading and responding online.
For the Teacher
Not only are these activities great for students, but I designed them to help you too! With the digital option, all you have to do is share the link with your students.
As students submit their answers you get real-time access to their responses. Not only can you see individual student answers but you can also get analyzed data right at your finger tips. With the click of a button you can get an overview of your class responses. A quick and easy way to see how the class is doing on a given skill or concept. That’s data you can use to drive future instruction!
By using google forms for reading comprehension you are able to:
- See an item analysis of the students’ work.
- View individual responses for each of my students.
- Access an excel spreadsheet with all your students’ answers.
Nonfiction Google Form Reading Comprehension Activities
Everything you need for each activity is included making these Google Form reading comprehension activities perfect for any teaching situation. All you have to do is share the resources through a link or your online learning management system. (A printable version is also included as a bonus!)
Each google form reading comprehension activity includes:
- Short, high-interest reading passage and questions
- Answer key
- A close-reading guide
- Teacher tips and Instructions for Sharing with Students
A Sneak Peek Inside these Engaging Activities
There are a variety of Google Forms based reading comprehension sets available. Each set has five different reading passages on the same theme or topic. Not only does this allow you to dig into a topic but it also makes a great connection to science or social studies standards too!
Reptiles
Kids love learning about animals and reptiles are no exception. This bundle of reading comprehension passages will engage your students with reptiles from around the world.
In this Reptile Reading Comprehension set, you receive 5 reading comprehension passages ready to use on Google Forms and the printable version too! This engaging digital bundle includes passage on:
- American Alligator
- American Crocodile
- Iguanas
- The Tortoise
- Sea Turtles
Dangerous Spiders
The creepy, crawly, and dangerous Black Widow Spider eats its mate, and therefore gets its name Black Widow! Amaze your students with facts like this and more about some of the world’s most dangerous spiders. Your students might not want to meet one of these arachnids face to face, but they will love learning about them from afar!
This Dangerous Spider bundle will have your students reading about:
- Black Widow
- Brown Recluse
- Wolf Spider
- Brazilian Wandering Spider
- Funnel Web Spider
The perfect reading connection for October or any time you are studying these amazing creatures in science.
Baseball Greats
Swing into the world of baseball with some of the biggest stars of the sport. Your students will love learning about Roberto Clemente, Jackie Robinson, Ty Cobb, Willie Mays and Babe Ruth. Each of these amazing athletes played a part in making the sport of baseball what it is today.
Studying famous Americans or just need a high interest topic your students will love, then these Baseball Greats Reading Passages are just what you need!
Snakes
Many students are fascinated by creatures that are dangerous or not common where they live. While they don’t necessarily want them as pets, they love learning about them. The snakes in this Snake Reading Comprehension Bundle are no exception.
Engage your students with the slithery world of snakes. The reading passages in this bundle cover many of the most well known dangerous snakes from around the world. Your students will be enthralled learning about:
- Black Mamba
- Boa Constrictor
- Saw-Scaled Viper
- Rattlesnake
- King Cobra
There’s More Too!
While that sneak peek gave you a glimpse into a few of the Google Forms Reading Comprehension activities, you can be confident in knowing that these other topics are designed the same way. Here’s some additional topics your students will love!
You can grab ALL of these amazing Google Forms Reading Comprehension Passages in the MEGA Bundle and know that you have no prep, easy to use resources that will last you all year long!
Save these Reading Comprehension Ideas!
Don’t spend time searching for these fun reading comprehension activities next week, next month or next year. It’s too easy for things to get lost on the internet! Instead, pin this to your favorite classroom Pinterest board so you can quickly come back when you need fun and engaging reading comprehension activities your students will love.