Oct 29, 2016
Whew! Just In Time!
Oct 23, 2016
Anticipation...It's Making Me Wait...
- Anticipation guides stimulate students' interest in a topic and set a purpose for reading.
- They teach students to make predictions, anticipate the text, and verify their predictions.
- They connect new information to prior knowledge and build curiosity about a new topic.
- When preparing an anticipation guide, think simple for younger students. Write four to six statements about key ideas in the text. When I make mine, I have a place for them to choose if they agree or disagree with the statement before reading...and then the same for after reading.
- Begin by Modeling! Introduce the text or reading material and share the guide with the students. Model the process of responding to the statements and marking the columns.
- Read each of the statements and ask the students if they agree or disagree with it. Provide the opportunity for discussion. The emphasis is not on right answers but to share what they know and to make predictions.
- Read the text aloud or have students read the selection individually. If reading aloud, teachers should read slowly and stop at places in the text that correspond to each of the statements.
- Revisit each statement during Closure.
Here's a good video of a teacher with her whole group during an Anticipation Guide. You could also use a guide in a small group setting, as well.
Oct 20, 2016
ABC's Aren't Just for Littles!
I adore Graeme Base...and Animalia is an amazing ABC book! The illustrations alone will keep you busy for hours!
They are just STUNNING!
AND....the rich vocabulary in this book is a must for older students!
FOR ALLITERATION
Alliteration is so much fun...think tongue twisters! We loved trying those out as a kid...ok, so some of us still do...tee hee
Alphabet Soup is a book with gorgeous illustrations. When Otter moves, he throws a housewarming potluck party. 26 friends (animals...one for each letter of the alphabet) are asked to bring something for that letter to put into the soup. Sweet book with sweet pictures!
THEME STUDY
When doing a theme study, bring in alphabet books....there are a ton out there!
Work your way through the alphabet as you learn about your theme!
Michael Shoulders is another author and illustrator of alphabet books. I have had the pleasure of meeting him, when he visited our school!
FOR CREATING and IMAGINATION
OMG! I love this book! Liza loves her crayons so much....
but when she draws all over her wonderful blank canvas (unfortunately it was her wall) she gets her beloved crayons taken away for the day....so, she is left with using her imagination and creativity to fullfill that need for color.
LOVE this book!
FOR STUDENT AUTHORS
Create a class alphabet book! Choose a theme, assign (or have students pick) letters. and create! You can do the same thing with a class alliteration book!
ABC CENTER
Really? An ABC center in upper grades? YES! Of course! Get a three ring binder. Add a page for letters A-Z. Whenever students come across things that start with a certain letter, they add it to that page of the book.
Then when you have the ABC center out for use, they will choose a certain subject (i.e. on the "W" page they might choose George Washington) and research the subject. My kids love this!
So...if you teach older students, and you haven't thought about it before....
Take out those Alphabet Books...and put them to good use!!
And if you use them already, I'd LOVE to hear how YOU use them!
Chatterbox Blessings,
Rebecca
Oct 17, 2016
Who Is In Times Square?
Rebecca
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