The Reading Strategies Book: Goal 2 ENGAGEMENT!

Happy Wednesday all!  Today's topic is ENGAGEMENT...and it's an important one at that!  Join Tina over at Crofts' Classroom for today's post.  This is one of those posts that's just full of ideas...not only from Tina herself.  Check out that Comment Section!  Great ideas abound!

My favorite from Goal 2 is Buzz Books.  How do you create a "buzz" in your classroom surrounding books with your kids?  In my class, we have a "Buzz Books" bin that students can add to.  We check it out from time to time!

Another strategy I'm using in my classroom helps to keep some of my wanderers in one place so that they can stay focused and build reading stamina.  I call it "Reading Spots."  When my students find a place to read, the put a "Reading Spot" on the floor and sit down/lay down to read.  My "Reading Spots" are actually brightly colored round placemats from IKEA.  (The best $6.00 I've spent in a long time!)

Tina's post not only shares her faves from Goal 2, but she also asks great questions to stimulate the conversation.

So what are you waiting for?  Stop on by to join i the conversation!

Yeah for Monday! Here's What I'm Reading...

I'm always on pins and needles on Monday...waiting to see what some of my favorite bloggers are reading, because, as we all know, we get our best recommendations from the really great teachers out in "Blogland!"

One of my absolute faves is the incomparable Carrie Gelson over at There's a Book for That.  Carrie's posts tell me that she's a kindred spirit...one of those teachers who are passionate about literacy and who totally enjoy matching the children they care about with amazing literature!

It was through her blog that I was turned on to these two gems that I plan on sharing with my students today:

Gus Gordon's little gem of a book captures city life and has such a great musical vibe...couple that with a sweet story of friendship and you've got a winner!  (Added bonus:  The cover looks like a jacket for a classic vinyl album!)

Oh man!  Where has this book been for the last nine years...and how come I've never heard of it? Pete and Pickles has the most whimsical illustrations PLUS the story.  Have I told you about this story?  It's been a long time since I cried while reading a children's book...yet here I am, admitting that this book had me sobbing.

Berkeley Breathed has created a magnificent story of friendship that is so clearly captivating...so beautiful...sigh.

This is one of those books that should be in every teacher's collection.

While were on the subject of great books about friendship, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Caron Levis's book, Ida, Always.  Such a heartwarming book about a friendship and the love between friends that never dies.  Yet another book that can leave me in tears during a read aloud...but so so so very wonderful!

Even better...right now, this sweet book is selling in hardcover on Amazon.com for $6.74.  This is a book that is perfect for picking up RIGHT NOW!  Do it.  You won't be sorry.  (Disclaimer:  I'm an Amazon.com junkie...if there's a 12-Step program for buying books, please keep this to yourself.  I don't want or need a cure.  Amazon.com...I love you!)

I'm always on the lookout for great nonfiction texts...and The Marvelous Thing That Came From a Spring:  The Accidental Invention of the Toy That Swept the Nation, by Gilbert Ford is just such a great book...super-interesting with some of the coolest illustrations I've ever seen.  Why oh why didn't we have such fun nonfiction text when I was a kid? 

Life's too short to not share amazing books with your students.  So...what are you reading to your students this week?

The Reading Strategies Book Study: Goal 1

Goal 1 is all about working with those Emergent and Early Readers, and there are 20 really great strategies to investigate and explore with our youngest readers.  Join Kit over at My Crazy Teaching Ideas to see some of Kit's favorite strategies that can even be modified to work with our more advanced readers.

Kit definitely doesn't disappoint!  

Stay tuned for Goal 2 links on Tuesday.

The Reading Strategies Book Book Study Getting Started

Yeah!  The Reading Strategies Book Study has begun!  Join Tina over at Croft's Classroom to jump right into the study.  Don't forget to share these posts with others who are also diving into this important work...after all, sharing is caring!

Book Study Announcement: The Reading Strategies Book!

Wow!  Has it really been over two years since I last posted here?  Time flies when you change positions and buildings.

I've been lovin' on Jennifer Serravallo's AMAZING teacher resource since it was released:  The Reading Strategies Book.  If you haven't joined up with the fabulous group of educators from around the world on Facebook, what the heck are you waiting for?  Click here to mosey on over and join in the fun!

The great thing about Jen is that she is a part of this community as well...and she really does listen to educators!  In fact, she loves us all so much that she wrote a second, and equally AMAZING teacher resource:  The Writing Strategies Book!  It is yet another resource that is chock full o' writing strategies...over 300 easy-to-integrate strategies for on-the-spot mini-lessons, student conferring supports and much, much more!

The wonderful Tina Crofts has given teacher bloggers an opportunity to join in the fun by sharing components of The Reading Strategies Book in a Book Study every two days.

I'm looking forward to joining in the great learning AND...I can't wait to share my thoughts on GOAL 6 on March 22nd right here!

Tina starts the ball rolling tomorrow (March 10) at her blog.  Click here to begin the journey with all of us!

Man...it's been way to long!  I can't wait to join all of you in this AWESOME learning opportunity!

Must Read (Super Fantastic Bubble Plastic) Mentor Text!

If you are using the Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop model like me, you know that mentor texts are the absolute heart-and-soul of the program.

My Sweet Thirdies and I have been writin' our little hearts out on everything from small moments narratives to informational/expert texts.

And then...cue the ominous music...we ran headfirst into...opinion essays!  

It's that bad.  'Nuff said.

The most frustrating part is that there just aren't that many really great mentor texts that are written in the "full-on, in your face" opinion essay style. 

And then the heavens opened up and a beam of light burst forth from the clouds...bearing...

A real opinion essay in an engaging book form!

Oh my stars!  A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea is such a remarkable book in that is written in ACTUAL OPINION WRITING FORMAT!  It's true!  My kiddos could pick out everything from the thesis to the supporting details PLUS the author uses a generous sprinkling of great transitional words (which we have been having a heckuva time with!).  A strong grabbing lead and a terrific wrap-up closure make this book just that much more appealing!

It's about time.  That's all I'm sayin'.

The author of this remarkable specimen is none other than this guy...Michael Ian Black.  (You might recognize him from shows like "Ed.")  He's a pretty funny guy and this book is just great!

Anywho...Those Collaboration Cuties, Amanda and Stacia, have put out this great linky partay and I've decided to join in on the fun.  Go ahead...you know you want to go over there and get a little crazy!  Get ready to start pulling more books into your Amazon.com wish list!  It could get expensive!  

Happy Reading!

Nikki

uncommontothecore.blogspot.com

Monday Made It...January 2014 Edition

Wow!  I wasn't sure that I would be able to join in the fun at Tara's Monday Made It, but a cold Arctic blast has basically closed every school in the state of Wisconsin and Minnesota, so, I felt like I could splurge a bit and take a few moments to expand on my "Word Snow Globe" idea that I put together before the holidays hit like a ton of bricks!

In my last post, I shared some super cute and really fun snow globes that I made for word work in my holiday spelling unit.  I thought about trying these little honeys out with colored rice instead of water, and so this is what I came up with:

Have I told you how much I.  LOVE.  THESE.  Honestly...why haven't I made these sooner?

I started with these great little 6-packs of storage containers from Dollar Tree.

Dollar Tree also carries an 8-pack of these containers, but they are just a "skooosh" smaller than the 6-pack and I'm not convinced these would work quite as nice as their larger cousins.  The number on the back of these is 3927777607.  One thing that I'm not in love with about Dollar Tree is that not every locale carries the same product, so I thought I'd include the SKU number for you...just in case.

I substituted out the water for colored rice and added a couple little pony beads to help move things around a bit in the little containers.  (If you are ever wondering "why the pony beads?", put some of these together and see how much better stuff moves around with some heavier junk in the container!)

Each container includes one of this week's spelling words, spelled out in individual letter beads.  Your students search for all of the letters in the container, write them on my Snow Globe Sheet, and then unscramble their letters to arrive at one of this week's spelling words.  It's really pretty simple.

A simple number sticker or a reference number written in Sharpie marker makes for quick identification and corrections by the teacher or as a self-correct by your kiddos.  (I always love it when I can reach into my scrapbook stash and use up some of those number stickers that I NEVER use!)

My thirdies love this activity, but they did find it a bit challenging, so this is a really great Word Work station of intermediate grades (3-5).  I can't wait to try these out this week!

Remember, "sharing is caring," so why not make a second set for your partner-in-crime?  If you aren't feeling that lovey dovey, at least share my post with a colleague, a new teacher, or your grade level buddies...I'd love to have you stop by my blog sometime!

Stay warm!

Nikki

uncommontothecore.blogspot.com