Character or Setting...You Be the Judge

Do your friends struggle with the difference between character and setting? Looking for a new way to teach characters and setting? You have come to the right place. I have create a new mini unit to help you teach just that.

This mini unit includes a whole group OR small group lesson {same picture cards just a different size} and a center activity {different picture cards}. This unit also includes 2 posters {character and setting}.

Unit Includes:

Cover page-page 1

Character Poster-page 2

Setting Poster-page 3

Whole Group Lesson Directions, cards, and recording sheet-pages 4-24

Small Group Lesson Directions, cards, and recording sheet-pages 25-37

Pocket Chart Center Directions, cards, and recording sheet-pages 38-44

Terms-page-45

Credits-page 46

Check it out here to get your own copy!  

Thanks so much for looking!

Coconut Cutie

A Frog Street Press SPLASH Meet Up, Reading Response Journals, a FREEBIE and a SALE!

Hey friends!  It's that time of year where we all try to cram in our professional development hours in because we actually have the time to do it now.  What better way to gain your hours than at the Frog Street Press SPLASH conference!?!  Are any of you going?  I AM!  In fact, I am presenting again this year and I am so excited...and a tab bit nervous.  You and I both know that trying to teach you fellow co-workers and peers is harder than teaching the littles, am I right?   EEEKKK!!!    I hope that if you are attending this conference that you will come check out my presentation "UNMASKED: -Revealing the Story Behind the Words".

Anyhow, this year's presentation is also based on Guided Reading BUT, I am going to focus on comprehension and the use of reading response journals.  I think you know this already but I *heart* phonics but I also love teaching with reading response journals.  There is SO much you can do with them.  I first blogged about this topic HERE.  BUT...I must tell you that since then, my reading response kit has had a *bit* of a make-over and now here is what it looks like...

See it on TPT here

Now here what is included:  

Directions on setting up the journals
6 pages of “Table of Contents and Directions for Each Page”
3 pages for the 1st meeting
-Reading Rules for Great Readers
-Reading Strategies
-Word Bank {Vocabulary words and definitions}
3 types of book logs
36 different reading response pages for fiction, non-fiction, or both:
-Book Review
-Rate and Recommend It
-Question It
-Retell It {Beginning/Middle/End}
-Retell It {First/Next/Then/Last}
-Setting Analysis
-Character Analysis
-Prediction {picture walk}
-Predict It {prediction}
-Let’s Chart It
-Journal It
-Web It
-Visualize It {visualize}
-Solve It {problem/solution}
-Summarize It {summary}
-Summarize It {Somebody wanted but so then}
-Support It {Main idea and supporting details}
-Decide It {Author’s purpose}
-Learn It
-Share It
-Write It to the Author
-Design It
-Infer It {inference/non-fiction}
-Infer It {inference/fiction}
-“Words to Know” pages {3 pages for 6 words, 8 words, or 10 words}
-Setting Change Up
-Essential Question
-Characters Say and Do
-What the Other Characters Do
-Facial Expressions
-Character's Actions-Can I connect?
-Characters Compare Adventures
-Character Problem Connection
-Drawing Conclusions
-Chapter Book Fun Brochure {2 pages}
Terms
Credits

I think I added 16 new pages :0) but here is something new.  I have also created direction POSTERS to go with each reading response journal so that you could eventually make this a center after introducing all of the response pages.  

See it on TPT here 

Use these Reading Response Journal POSTERS in conjunction with my Reading Response Journal Kit or separately during reading workshop, guided reading, literature circles, or an other small groups, including reading {read to self} or listening {listen to reading} centers. 

Simply print, laminate, and place these posters in a center and allow the students to work with them. This kit comes in black and white as well as full color. Print the parts you choose to use.

Includes:
Cover Page {page 1}
Journal Direction posters in COLOR {pages 2-38}
Journal Direction posters in BLACK & WHITE {pages 39-76}
Terms {page 77}Credits {page 78}

The posters kit is for sale for $3.50 but if you are looking for both, you could save some money by purchasing the bundled kit 

See it on TPT here 

So are you ready for your freebie yet?  Get a sampler from my bundled Reading Response Journal kit.

Reading Response Journal Pages and Poster sampler

***And now for the SALE***

All guided reading materials and reading response journals will be 20% off from now until Saturday.  Click HERE to go get em'!

Happy Guided Reading,

Coconut Cutie

A Little Reader's Response Fun...and a freebie

Do you use reader's response journals in your room?  I just love how wonderful these work in my room and the kids seem to LOVE THEM!  We use them at least once a day but usually more since they are using them during guided reading and centers.  Students also know that when they are completed with their work, they are to get out a book.  They are not required to do a reading response journal page at this time but they often CHOOSE to.  WOW!!!

The Journal

The first day:

Day one of using the journals is an exciting day for the kids.  The teacher will talk with the students about being in a book club, just like adults have BOOK CLUBS.  Explain to the students that for the whole year you will be having meetings to discuss their reading.  It is important for them to keep notes on their reading so they will be setting up a reading journal.  

The first day, the teacher and students will discuss and glue in 3 pages to get the journals set up for the year.  The first page, “Good Reader Rules”, sets purpose for the reading, meetings, and journals.  The second page, “Reading Strategies”, lets the  kiddos know how they will learn to read words that they come to {decode} that they don’t know.  The third page, “Word Bank” is full of key vocabulary words that you as book club members will be using as you discuss and review books together.

A Sample of  Reading Response Journal Pages

I always like to read through their responses and leave little mark so they know that I have read it.  Sometimes I leave questions for them to follow up on if I did not understand their response or they did not answer it correctly.  I love to leave little comments about their response to agree with them or praise them for a good response.  This is also a great way for me to check on their use of spelling and their "Writer's Eye" {capitalization, punctuation, spacing, handwriting, etc.}

Reading Response Journal Kit

For use during reading workshop, guided reading, literature circles, or any other smalls groups, including  reading {read to self} or listening {listen to reading} centers.

Includes:

· Directions on setting up the journals

· 4 pages of “Table of Contents and Directions for Each Page”

· 3 pages for the 1st meeting

-Reading Rules for Great Readers

-Reading Strategies

-Word Bank {Vocabulary words and definitions}

· Labels for front cover

· “Words to Know” page

· 3 types of book logs

· 20 different reading response pages for fiction, non-fiction, or both:

-Book Review

-Rate and Recommend It

-Question It

-Retell It {Beginning/Middle/End}

-Retell It {First/Next/Then/Last}

-Setting Analysis

-Character Analysis

-Predict It {prediction}

-Let’s Chart It

-Journal It

-Web It

-Visualize It {visualize}

-Solve It {problem/solution}

-Summarize It {summary}

-Support It {Main idea and supporting details}

-Decide It {Author’s purpose}

-Learn It

-Share It

-Write It to the Author

-Design It

-Infer It {inference}

All this + MORE WILL BE ADDED TO THIS KIT THIS MONTH!!!

Check it out here on TPT

And for a little freebie so you can try it out for your self-Click here for Summarize It

Do you use reading response journals in you room?  How do you use them?  Is there any other reading response pages you would like to see added to this kit?  I would be happy to add to it.   Let me know!

Happy Journaling,

Coconut Cutie

Mystery Monday AGAIN...



Hi ya!

I hope y'all have been having a wonderful summer and have had much needed rest and relaxation.  Are you back to school yet?  I head back in a few weeks but I will be working at home and in my classroom for most of it as I gear up for...Back To SCHOOL!!!  Are you excited?  I'm not quite ready, but will be soon.

I spent the weekend in San Antonio at another Frog Street Conference {SPLASH} and Oh.My.Word, so much fun and so many new ideas.  As you may remember, I was presenting on Guided Reading.  I have been uploading several of the items I was presenting on to my Teachers Pay Teachers store and will continue to do so. 

One of the kits that I have uploaded is some comprehension activities.  It is great for guided reading, centers, literature circles, etc.  Here are a few photos of *some* of the activities included.  Click here to get to my Rainbow Readers Book Club Comprehension Activities product.   Click on the preview to see more pictures :0)

  It includes this and is only $4.00:

  20 easy to read with full color comprehension cards 

7 different comprehension activities with complete directions on how to make and do:

· Pick Six

· Top Choice Two

(includes recording sheet)

· Sit and Snack Sack

· Pickin’ Questions and Popcorn

· Juice Box Jamboree

· Quiz Show

· True/False

(includes 18 true/false statement cards and labels)

So, also on the agenda for tonight is the A-Z Mystery Monday series.  This Monday's journal response kit is for The Canary Caper.    This is a Reading Level book 2.3!

Click here for your FREEBIE!  The Canary Caper.  Tune in next week for another A-Z Mystery!

Hey All, It Has Been Awhile

Well, I know its been awhile since I last posted anything.  So...let's play catch up!

• It is Summer
• It is Summer
• It is Summer
• WHOOO HOO

This summer has already been jam packed with such fun.  I have already been on two great vacations, been to the beach, the pool, and have read many summertime books.

I have also been very busy working on many Teachers Pay Teachers products.  Here is what I have in the works:

• Guided Reading Galore
• More Cut-It Up Sentences (Simple Sentences)
• Phonics Fun Spiral-Vowel Pairs #2
• Phonics Fun Spiral-Bossy R
• Phonics Fun Spiral-Compound Words and Contractions
• Writing Center-Part 2
• AND MANY MORE!!!

This week I have been putting the last minute touches on my Frog Street Splash presentation.   As you may remember, my presentation is all about Guided Reading and I am so excited (and a tad bit nervous) to share all of my fun, fresh ideas to my colleagues.  I sure hope that I get to meet some fellow bloggers at this conference. If you are going, please, come find me. I would love to meet you! It's gonna be a BLAST!

And now...for a freebie.  In honor of my guided reading presentation, I thought I would share with you one of my cute reading retelling/comprehension activities and a recording sheet that goes with it.  

 Get your recording sheet here-Bloomin' Questions Recording Sheet

First, gather the materials need to make the project.  I found my items at the Dollar Tree and Hobby Lobby.  You will need jumbo craft sticks, some flowers, buttons, a hot glue gun, a sharpie, and little container to keep it all in.

Attach the flowers and buttons to a craft stick using the hot glue.  Write a number on each button and write a comprehension question on the stick.

Here is what I used:

1. Who are the characters?

2. What is the setting?

3. What happened in the beginning?

4. What happened in the middle?

5. What happened in the end?

6.What was the problem?

7.What was the solution?

8.What was your favorite part?  Why?

9. If you could change anything about the story, what would you change?  Why?

After students have read a book, they read the bloomin' questions and answer them on the recording sheet.

Enjoy!  I'm off to work on more stuff!

Happy Summer,

Coconut Cutie

More Guided Reading Fun With Sight Words

Hey friends!

Well, I just posted a new product to Teachers Pay Teachers that I would love to tell you about.  I have uploaded a kit to go with my guided reading club Rainbow Reader's Book Club.  This kit is all about sight words.  We all know how important sight words are to emergent reader, but it can be kind of tedious to practice them so....I came up something that my kiddos really love so, I improved it and made it for you! 

Basically how I do it is all laid out in the kit, where I give detailed directions.   This kit includes color-coded sight words (216 of them) that you print, cut, laminate, and hole punch to put on rings.  Also included are assessment sheets, a student recording book, as shown, award pages for passing each color group, award page for completion of all cards, 2 options on how to display your kiddos progress and directions for use.  WHEW!  All that for $5.00.  

This product will help your kiddos to be successful with their sight words and get them reading!!!  They will enjoy the challenge of working up the rainbow as they earn eight different levels of sight words. 

You can get to this product by clicking here, Rainbow Readers Book Club Sight Words

Happy Teaching,

Coconut Cutie

Guided Reading-Setting Up Your Books

Hey y'all!  Hope this post finds you well and your reading groups organized.  Today's FREEBIE is all about organizing your books.  If you are like me, you get most of your books from Scholastic and if you don't, you should really check it out.  They have great rates, the shipping is FAST, and its easy to rack up points for free, that's right, FREE books.  Who doesn't love free books?  Anywho, I love Scholastic for another reason and that is their Teacher Book Wizard http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/.  This is a wonderful tool for leveling your books. 

So...let's get started.  Here is how I set up my guided reading books.  First, I leveled all of my books by using the book wizard and then I label each book.  I gathered baskets (one for each level) and labeled each basket with a reading level letter.  I also got a lot of gallon size zip-lock bags.  I put all book copies and guided reading lesson plans (and what ever else goes with that books) into the zip-lock bag.  Then I place the whole kit into the correct leveled basket.

At the beginning of each week, I think about what story and skill would best meet the needs of each group.  Then I pull the books that best fit those needs.  I move each guided reading kit needed over to a basket that I keep by my guided reading table (a.k.a. rainbow table)  and is separated by color group tabs.  When I call each group, the books and everything I need to teach that book are right at my finger tips.

 

For the materials needed to set up your guided reading books, click on the link Setting Up Your Books FREEBIE

Happy reading and organizing,

Coconut Cutie

Guided Reading-Getting Started

It’s the middle of the year and it is time for that dreaded MOY (middle of year testing).  BUT...what I love about MOY testing in first grade is seeing my students SOAR!!!  Each year I am blown away at how far they come on their reading levels.  In my district, we use the DRA assessment to find out each student’s reading level (based on letter levels).  For instance, an emergent reader who is still reading repetitive text with MANY pictures would be on a level A and progress up the alphabet.  Hooray for me because I have WONDERFUL readers this year and so many of my children are reading on a level I or higher ALREADY!  Wowie, wow, wow, in the words of Junie B. Jones (one of my most favorite characters).

So...how do I do it?  Lots and lots of reading.  Whole group reading, guided reading, homework reading, shared reading, partner reading,  reading center, reading, reading, reading.  

For guided reading, I only put 3 kids in each group.  Yes, this means that I must see many groups but I love working with only 3 as I feel that the students get more of what they need.  After setting up guided reading groups based on abilities, I put a color to each group.  This way they never know who is higher or lower, they are just a group.  When I want a particular group, I call that color group over.  They know who is in which group by looking at the posters on my cabinet door. 

To differentiate my reading center I put leveled books in to baskets marked with the color groups.  When my kiddos go to the reading center they select their colored basket and read from those books.

Click on the link for the Guided Reading Management pages.

Happy reading!!!