This year I have taken a different approach to teaching reading in my classroom. I have completely thrown out the basal reader and am taking on chapter books with my students. Two weeks ago, my students and I finished Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume.
Students were introduced to the skills sequencing, main idea and details, character traits, and effect and applied all skills to the book through reading response. Last week, students were given their first reading project to complete, which was a Book Talk or review about Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing. Click
here to see the project paper students were given. Today students presented their book talks and they did an excellent job. It was amazing to the see the creativity and talent of some of my students. Here are a few of my students presenting their book talks.
That's awesome! We still use the basal reader, but I almost completely threw out responding to questions after the story this year. Instead, kids explore a question with a partner daily (sometimes using journals) during my reader's workshop time. We have led MANY, many discussions this year (turning to partners almost daily). Students also read their own chapter books approximately 40 minutes a day (or longer), and we are on our second chapter book this year (Rules being first and The Ghost's Grave being second). I like the thought of reading Bunnicula, too...
ReplyDeleteI too have parted ways with the basal reader. It is way more work, but it is also way more rewarding and the kids love it.
ReplyDeleteCould you post your anchor chart for the lesson you did on commenting on each other's blog? I am also using Kidblogs and am at the point where it is time to do a mini lesson on that. I have been putting it off because I have not had the time to think it through. Thanks!!!!!!