We have begun to learn about different genres of books. This will help to support our work with the 40 Book Challenge. We have begun by establishing the difference between FICTION and NONFICTION. After a review, students were given a stack of books and asked to sort them into a FICTION pile, or a NONFICTION pile. We are reading :
This week we focused on how to "browse" for books that were a good fit. We brainstormed and shared the strategies that we use. Here is a list of what we came up with.
Ways We Choose Books * Look at the front cover. Study the picture, look at the author, look for any medals on the cover. * Look at the back of the book. Read the summary. Don't forget to read the reviews too. *Flip to one page in the book, read it and do the "5 finger test". If there are 5 or more words that you don't understand, it is not a good fit book. * Look for a familiar author. * Look for a familiar series. * A friend or teacher gives you a suggestion. * Find a book about a topic that you love. * Find a book that is based on a movie or t.v. show that you like. Students are still working hard on applying these strategies. Students should be bringing home a book each night to read. Please encourage them to read every night. If you are questioning the level of the book. Please have them read one page to you, and apply the 5 finger rule. Then coach them by asking if they really feel if it is a "Just Right" book for them. Please communicate with me if you are not seeing books come home, or if the selected book is too hard or too easy. I work with each student to develop this skill and at the beginning of the year I need your expertise to assist me. Thank you so much for your support. |
Mrs. SchallI teach 4th grade at Weatherbee School in Hampden, Maine. I am always up for a good adventure, whether in a good book or in real life. Archives
February 2017
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