My Favorite Season (Freebie)

We completed a persuasive/opinion piece of writing on "Our Favorite Season."  We read several anchor texts modeling the the elements of this genre.  They included:

The children had to pick their favorite season and come up with reasons to support their topics.  We used a graphic organizer before we began writing.   They wrote five paragraphs; intro, 3 paragraphs with reasons and a closing.

Here is the sheet I used for publishing:

The Best Season

Our Reading Hits!

I created a binder for "Our Reading Hits" or book recommendations.  I printed genre posters on white card-stock from a few blogs to cover all the different ones in our standards: bethnewingham, mrsrhodesscholars, dots-n-spots .  Due to limited wall space, I love the idea of putting them in a binder as a reference.

I printed out recommendation sheets from the blog: create*teach*share

I typed up a sheet of labels with names of all the genres to stick on the top of each recommendation sheet.  The book will be placed in my classroom library.

I was inspired by post on teachingwithatouchoftwang.  I bought the paper towel holder and I didn't like how my sheets hung on it...they were all flopping over.  I tried all sorts of things to fix it and came up with Plan B.  My other concern with this design was the space it would take up on my counter.

Non-Fiction Reading Marathon

I posted about My Reading Marathon and I tweaked it for non-fiction.  

My kids don't make a peep while we do this...it is magical!

My next marathon will be poetry.

Set a timer for 10 minute intervals:

Box 1- Design a book cover with title and author

Read for 10 minutes

Box 2- Write a list of questions you have about your topic

Read for 10 minutes

Box 3- Draw a Photo or Illustration with a caption

Read for 10 minutes 

Box 4- Write any interesting or new vocabulary with definitions

Read for 10 minutes

Box 5- Draw a diagram, Chart, Map, Graph or Timeline and Label

Read for 10 minutes

Box 6- List important facts about what you learned

Here are the kids working..so focused.

Here are some final projects:

http://mrshallfabulousinfourth.blogspot.com/2012/03/reading-marathon.html

Reading Marathon

We had a Reading Marathon last Wednesday!  I found this idea in the fall on a website and have no idea from who...if it was you, please let me know so I can give you credit!

What is a Reading Marathon?  It was 110 minutes of reading and writing and the kids loved it!!!

The day started with the children getting a piece of large paper and folding into 6 squares.  They took out the book that they were reading independently.  I set my timer to keep everyone on task.  Every ten minutes the children would alternate between working on a square or reading.  I even participated in the reading!  The kids asked to do this everyday...I told them once a month!  I think I might try a different genre.  This could be tweaked to do a project.  ex. Animals

Round 1- Make a new cover for your book, including title and author. (10 minutes)

Round 2- Read for 10 minutes

Round 3- Choose your favorite character draw and label.  Write three important details about the character.

Round 4- Read for 10 minutes

Round 5- Write a quick summary of your book.  (We used the somebody, wanted, but, so, then organizer)

Round 6- Read for 10 minutes

Round 7- Draw a visualization from the book.

Round 8- Read for 10 minutes

Round 9- Write 3 questions about your book.  (we used "I wonder" statements too)

Round 10- Read for 10 minutes

Round 11- Write a connection or the theme or both.