The Sweetest Fig
Posted in fourth grade, picture book lesson, reading skills, and technology
Category: reading skills
Two Bad Ants
Posted in picture book lesson, reading skills, technology, and third grade
Third graders were given just the text portion of the story Two Bad Ants by Chris van Allsburg and had to analyze the text to figure out the location of the ants. Then I showed them the picture so they could see if their predictions were accurate. After the story, they played a Classtools game I customized with questions from the story and had the option to explore the Archibald’s Adventure simulation game.
Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks
Posted in picture book lesson, reading skills, third grade, and TTESS 1819
Third grade had fun drawing conclusions, using prefixes, choosing the correct definition from a dictionary excerpt, and using context clues during the story, Hensel and Gretel: Ninja Chicks today in the Jackson Library. Before the story, we discussed important vocabulary words like dojo, wok, and menace, and we watched a video of kids practicing Ninjutsu. After the story, they played a Kahoot game in pairs and then we danced to Kung Fu Fighting. Fun!
The Three Ninja Pigs
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs
Posted in fourth grade, origami, picture book lesson, reading skills, and TTESS 1819
Last week in the Jackson Library, fourth graders used context clues and dictionary excerpts to determine the meaning of unknown words in Mo Willems’ Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs book. During the story, we analyzed Goldi’s character traits based on her actions and dialogue. After reading the book, the kids folded an origami storyteller to continue having fun with the storyline.
The Wreck of the Zephyr
Posted in assessment, fifth grade, picture book lesson, reading skills, and TTESS 1819
Fifth grade solved a mystery last week in the Jackson Library! As we read Chris van Allsburg’s The Wreck of the Zephyr, they used inference skills to determine what parts of the boat the story referenced when the water rushed against the hull, the wind whistled in the rigging, and the boom hit the boy in the head during the storm. I gave them a boat diagram to label and then we compared it with a real sailboat diagram after the story. They used context clues to determine the meaning of words like dock and ominous and they connected the theme of the story to “pride goes before a fall and a haughty spirit before destruction.” After reading the story, we took a Quizziz quiz to assess their learning!
Brilliant Star Inference Chart
Baloney!
Posted in apps, picture book lesson, reading skills, third grade, and TTESS 1819
Today in the Jackson Library, third graders used context clues to determine the meaning of unknown ‘alien’ words in the story Baloney (Henry P.). After the story, they played Kahoot! quizzes to assess their learning. Fun!
Round 1
Round 2
Quizizz
Sample class Quizizz data:
Chocolatina
Posted in picture book lesson, reading skills, technology, third grade, and TTESS 1819
Before Spring Break, third graders used inference skills to answer questions in the Eric Kraft story, Chocolatina. They used active response cards to answer other types of questions throughout the book. At the computer station, they read Epic! books about chocolate. Finally, we took a Kahoot assessment in pairs before checking out books.
Chocolatina-active-participation-cards
How Chocolate is Made – video
Main Idea News
Posted in fourth grade, reading skills, and TTESS 1819
The week before Spring Break, fourth graders had fun finding the main idea of silly news articles. They worked in pairs with Vis-a-Vis markers to write a fresh headline for each article.
(11) Reading/Comprehension of Informational Text/Expository Text: Students analyze, make inferences and draw conclusions about expository text and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to: (A) summarize the main idea… [in a way that that maintains meaning]
What Was I Scared Of?
Posted in character education, holiday, reading skills, and third grade
Third grade read the unusual Dr. Seuss book, What Was I Scared Of? in the Jackson Library last week. We used context clues to determine the meanings of unknown words and analyzed the character’s actions. We also connected the story to February’s character trait, compassion. The kids loved this story and it gave them quite a bit to think about when it comes to how we should treat people who are unusual.
The Sequel to Interrupting Chicken
Posted in reading skills, and second grade
Second graders read the sequel to Interrupting Chicken, Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise in the Jackson Library. They put the picture of the elephant in each traditional story and thought it was so very funny! At the tables, they created door hangers – one side with ‘Interrupt Me!’ and one with ‘I’m Reading!’ I adapted these from the Candlewick Press activity kit by drawing little chicken on one side and Papa on the I’m Reading side.
