Having Fun with Common Core: No Changes Necessary
Today we are going to look at two books by April Pulley Sayre. Both can be performed as Readers Theater-style group reading activities with few or no changes. And in the process, students can learn science concepts as well as address CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #4. Add a discussion of […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Circle Stories
This post is a continuation of my discussion about using picture books to create science-themed Readers Theater scripts that can help your students meet CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #4. Today I’ll be discussing two books that are structured so that the reader begins and ends in the same place. These circle […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Look for Rich Backmatter
In my last post, I discussed how layered text can facilitate adapting a book into a Readers Theater script, focusing on two titles that have two text blocks on each page. Many of the books created by Steve Jenkins, often with his wife Robin Page, also include layered text—but in a different kind of format. […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Look for Layered Text
This post is a continuation of my discussion about using picture books to create science-themed Readers Theater scripts that can help your students meet CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #4. See my earlier posts for general information about Readers Theater, suggestions for adapting book text into a great script, and key text […]
Having Fun with Common Core: More Readers Theater
Today’s post will be the first of several that describes how to locate and select books that work well for ReadersTheater. To get started, head for your library’s J591 titles. These books focus on animal behaviors—what various animals do at night, how various animals migrate, what various animals do when it rains, etc. The “various” […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Crafting a Readers Theater Script
Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right RT for your class. What’s the solution? Create one of your own. It’s easier than you might think, especially if you get started with a great children’s book. Here are some suggestions. Many RT scripts have just five to ten parts, but scripts based on nonfiction picture […]
Having Fun with Common Core: A Role for Readers Theater
Another great activity for building vocabulary as well as fluency and comprehension is Readers Theater. So it can address CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #4, #1, and 2. Additional benefits of RT include: —Promotes student cooperation. —Improves listening and speaking skills. —Helps even the shyest students develop self-confidence when reading aloud. Why […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Connections and Relationships
For the last few weeks, I’ve talked about a lot of ideas for meeting CCSS for ELA in the Reading Informational Text #1 and #2. This week, the focus will be standard #3, which is all about identifying connections and relationships. Key Ideas and Details #3 Kindergarten Grade 1 Grade 2 With prompting and support, […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Nonfiction Narratives and Reading Buddies
If you’ve been reading this blog strand since September, you should now be getting a sense of how pairing Reading Buddies with nonfiction books that feature layered text can strengthen reading skills, introduce and reinforce age-appropriate science concepts, and promote cooperation and camaraderie. And by discussing the text as they go, students get plenty of […]
Having Fun with Common Core: Fun Formats for Reading Buddies
Today, we’ll look at some of the many wonderful books created by Steve Jenkins, often with his wife Robin Page. Many of Jenkins’s books feature a spare main text that is masterfully illustrated with paper collage art and enhanced by an extensive backmatter full of fascinating facts. Because Jenkins writes the text, creates the art, […]