This week, we have begun doing literature circles. Students are keeping a double-entry journal and annotating text with post-its to help to gather and organize their thoughts. This allows all students to be a participant in their group discussions.
While we're reading, we are utilizing many of the skills on which we have been working. Students are always keeping an eye out for idioms, metaphors, and similes*. Another skill that is being developed is synthesizing. This is when readers bring together information from other sources, combine it with what they are reading, and come to a deeper understanding of the text. Finally, we are continuing to practice summarizing using the "Somebody Wanted But So Then" framework. Ask your student to use this method to summarize a TV show or movie you've recently watched!
All of our books this unit have a connection to survival and exploring the unknown -- these are high interest topics, and the kids are loving them! Ask your child about their book.
*If you are a student reading this, I hope you recognized the idiom I just used!
While we're reading, we are utilizing many of the skills on which we have been working. Students are always keeping an eye out for idioms, metaphors, and similes*. Another skill that is being developed is synthesizing. This is when readers bring together information from other sources, combine it with what they are reading, and come to a deeper understanding of the text. Finally, we are continuing to practice summarizing using the "Somebody Wanted But So Then" framework. Ask your student to use this method to summarize a TV show or movie you've recently watched!
All of our books this unit have a connection to survival and exploring the unknown -- these are high interest topics, and the kids are loving them! Ask your child about their book.
*If you are a student reading this, I hope you recognized the idiom I just used!