English classes are where students learn the reading skills that they will use in other academic areas and, later, in their professional lives. It's also where students learn that reading can be enjoyable. To express this, English teachers can have students write a mini-review of their favorite book, with a summary of the story and an explanation of what makes it fun to read, on a half sheet of paper, with a student illustration included. Teachers can put the reviews on their doors individually or arrange them in class-by-class booklets that passers-by can browse through.
In science class, learning and remembering vocabulary words is a valuable literacy skill. Science teachers can have students work in groups of three to make mini-posters on vocabulary terms from their science text. These should include the word, a definition paraphrased from the text, at least two hand-drawn illustrations relating to the words with captions, and three sentences using the vocabulary term in a real-world setting. Teachers should emphasize that, for this project, creativity is just as important as accuracy.
Social studies often covers subject matter that requires critical thinking and interpretation Social studies teachers can start this activity by pairing students off and giving each pair an article covering a contentious issue, such as whether people should be required to buy health insurance. Students read their text together, then choose opposing sides. Using different-color highlighters, each marks sections of the article providing evidence for his side. Afterward, both write a paragraph defending their positions with facts from the article. The teacher attaches the articles to the paragraphs and displays the best on the literacy door.
Being able to extract details from reading material is a literacy skill that students need to learn math. Have students show their ability to extract details by providing each with a different story problem. They must extract the needed details to present the the problem as an equation that they then solve. Students also write two or three sentences explaining how they turned the information in the story problem into an equation, as well as an illustration of the story problem itself. All these elements should be cut out and glued to paper and taped to the literacy door.