Citing evidence is not only difficult for students to understand but can be an uphill battle for teachers. This important aspect of writing, researching, and much more is vital to a student’s future. Looking back through the text and being able to use critical thinking skills to cite relevant text evidence in order to make a claim or just simply answer a question isn’t as simple as it sounds.
Not only are students looking back into the text, but they are also being provided with the skills to think deeply about the text they’re reading. Citing textual evidence from stories or excerpts read in class will help them to develop a sense of their own ideas and opinions.
1. Great Gatsby Instagram
This engaging reading activity will encourage student success. Finding supportive evidence to craft an Instagram post for Gatsby, will not only be exciting for students but can also even be added to their textual evidence portfolio!
Learn More: Write it Out
2. Textual Evidence Anchor Chart
Providing students with a visual on citing textual evidence can not only limit student questions but also give reassurance and provoke student independence. With this scaffold, students will be able to understand how to include textual evidence in their writing.
Learn More: Kasey Kiehl
3. Sentence Starters
Another great addition to add to your charts for students’ binder is this sentence starter anchor chart! Whether you hang one up in the classroom or give one for students-textual evidence charts notebooks they’ll constantly be checking this during their writing. Again, providing them with the confidence to be independent.
Learn More: Middle School Miranda
4. Literacy Center Activity
Building skills in reading is never easy and takes a long time. Working in literacy centers has been a widely adopted teaching method throughout the US. By giving students scaffolded notes that they can use in their reading you are providing them with a deeper understanding. Check out this bookmark version!
Learn More: Harris Innovation Consulting
5. Integrating Technology
At this point, teachers have been working to integrate technology into their classrooms for years and students have become accustomed to understanding through technology. Using different Youtube videos to teach students about evidence-based writing will hit on essential reading strategies and much more.
Learn More: Teaching Intentionally
6. Videos for Different Learners
Whether you use Youtube at literacy stations or as a whole class providing different reading instruction is very important to reach each student’s learning strategy. Providing a variety of different scaffolds students will be able to understand much better than with something like traditional notes.
Learn More: Jennifer Mullen
7. Text Evidence Song
ELA should be an exciting time for students. Getting students to fall in love with reading and writing is definitely a goal of most ELA teachers. Therefore, finding fun pneumonic devices for students to use is super important. Sometimes fun songs like are all students need!
Learn More: Anna Bissell
8. Understanding Citations Game
In order to make sure that you’re focusing on student success, it’s important to provide students with knowledge of all different aspects. Understanding what Citations are can be something that is a bit lost, but vital for students to have a firm understanding of citing evidence, from say a reading passage.
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9. Reasons and Evidence
This is an evidence resource that is used throughout classrooms and even at grade levels. This organizer can be made together as a class. Providing students with an overview of different types of evidence and reasons to super that. Follow along with the video and have students create it!
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10. Scavenger Hunt
Finding different books on evidence can prove to be a little bit difficult and time-consuming. Include this fun and exciting scavenger hunt in your evidence unit this year. Make it a class competition or for use during literacy centers. Your students will enjoy the collaboration either way!
Learn More: 28 Ingenious School Scavenger Hunts For Students
11. Prove It!
Another super fun scavenger hunt that your students will love and will most definitely provide them with sufficient text evidence is this Minilesson. Providing teachers with an overview of exactly how to run their lesson and students the chance to develop different evidence strategies, is great for a sub or relaxing day!
Learn More: Read Write Think
12. RACES
A pneumonic that’s perfect for student success is – RACES.
- Restate
- Answer
- Cite
- Explain
- Summarize
This pneumonic device is easy for students to remember and adding this to student writing notebooks is a great way to give students a way to check back in.
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13. Digital Escape Room
Escape rooms have become a classroom phenomenon that students are constantly looking forward to. This text evidence activity is perfect for not only assessing student success thus far in the lesson but also working with students on reading comprehension and answering questions.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
14. Citing Textual Evidence Lesson Plan
This fun-filled reading assignment is guaranteed to be extremely engaging for your young minds. With this simple lesson plan, they’ll learn how to cite textual evidence as you encourage them to read through this captivating article and mark the key points in the text as they go. Next, challenge them to complete the graphic organizer by using the textual evidence that they curated all on their own.
Learn More: Lesson Planet
15. Evidence Sticks
Deck your classroom with these evidence sticks! This can also be used as a digital version for distance learning if need be. A perfect way to ensure that students are thinking with evidence independently in their writing.
Learn More: Sweet Tooth Teaching
16. Citing Evidence in Fourth
It can be very difficult to engage 4th grade students in citing and researching evidence. Teaching students in an engaging way is a great idea for this. These students are researching Disney Villians and citing different evidence they find!
Learn More: Northpoint Christian School
17. A Pair of Silk Stockings – Video Review
A review that will accompany the class reading of A Pair of Silk Stockings. Giving students a deep understanding while working as a whole class to be sure. Using class discussions and peer discussion, students will have a total understanding of this book.
Learn More: Learn Zillion
18. Never Too Young to Cite Text Evidence
Starting at a young age using picture books and other stories about topics that students are familiar with is extremely important to student development and understanding as they get older. Stories like this are perfect for exactly that. Use this video to have students follow along or to give you guidance when leading a whole class lesson.
Learn More: Lauryn Richardson
19. Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is an important skill that students will need to develop and understand for their writing. In order to understand these skills, providing students with the right scaffolds is essential. A paraphrasing evidence resource like this anchor chart is perfect!
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20. Mystery Pictures
Skip the worksheets this year when teaching textual evidence. Instead, give your students a coloring activity that any grade level will love! Use it on the holiday or during your unit.
Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers
25 Fun & Engaging Workbook Activity Ideas 