It's amazing how fast the year goes. We are already past the halfway mark!
Here's what we have been working on:
• Things to notice and think about when reading fiction
Students know that good readers think a lot when they read. But they can also feel unsure of what and how to think. That's why they are learning specific signposts to look for in fiction texts. These are things that provide good stopping and thinking points, things that help readers make good inferences, recognize the inner conflicts, and think about an author's larger message.
One signpost is called Contrasts and Contradictions. These are places in a fiction text when we see a character saying or doing something that seems surprising or out of character. It's a great place to stop and think: Why is the character doing that? What is the author showing me?
Another signpost is called Tough Questions. This is when we see a character as him/herself a tough question. This is a good place to stop and think: What does this make me wonder?
• Vacation Reading Plans
As you know, students were asked to formulate a plan for how reading would (or would not) fit into their winter vacation plans. I have found over the years that this helps kids see reading as one part of their everyday lives. It also helps them take charge of their reading and learning. After vacation, students thought and wrote about how their plans worked out.
• Book Count Updates
Periodically, we do a count of how many books each class has read. This helps them recognize their progress in relation to their past selves as well as to other kids. It usually results in students' making mental notes about how they want to change or challenge their reading habits moving forward.
• Time For Kids - Main Idea
Time For Kids publishes an annual issue called "The Year in Pictures." We read this for fun, but also used it to practice recognizing an author's main idea and holding it in our heads throughout the article.
• Oral Fluency Project - The Joys of Winter
Hopefully, you saw and heard your reader practicing some oral reading before the winter vacation. We had fun browsing through a huge box of picture books and poems related to the joys of winter. The kids were really thoughtful in their choice of text, often choosing things that connected with their families or cultures. We then enjoyed hearing everyone read their passages out loud and everyone got feedback on things like pace, pauses, expression, and tone.
