Genre Study

Last week, I wanted to spend a little time reviewing reading genres.  I know it seems to be an easy enough concept for 5th graders, but I wanted to remind them of the differences between the genres we read.

First, I started off talking about the characteristics of fiction and informational texts.  I chose to use the wording informational because it is the same language that is used in our CC standards.  I am trying to get the students to understand that non-fiction is in fact informational.  First we jotted the differences between the two on a t-chart.  Then, I took that information and created these two anchor charts to place on our strategies board.  On the left we have our fiction strategies to use while we close read {we've only introduced one so far} and on the right we have our informational strategies to use while we close read.

 *Sorry about the glare!*

Then, we reviewed this anchor chart with some of our most commonly read genres.  

During small group, I read the back of some chapter books from our classroom library.  The students created a chart by folding their paper into six sections and labeling with six different genres {historical fiction, realistic fiction, fantasy, mystery, mythology, adventure}.  Once I read the book synopsis, the students discussed together what genre they believe the book belongs to.  We then talked about how some books have many different genres.  

On the last day, I had students label a large piece of construction paper with eight different genres.  Students had to use Scholastic book fliers to cut and paste a variety of book pictures in the appropriate spaces.

I have found that the students love just about any activity that involves cutting and pasting!

Favorite Pins Friday

I've been pinning some anchor charts like crazy!  I have actually made anchor chart making as my afternoon wind down.

I love incorporating movie clips into my instruction.  It's a great, quick way to get your students' attention and get an instructional point across!

I just love this idea.  It's such a useful and clever way to use awkward space underneath the stairs.  Maybe one day....... BTW- I love that office chair!

Okay, I had to include this!  This is probably one of the cutest anchor charts I have EVER created!

This is an adorable idea to assess your students' knowledge.  I would change these tabs to align with the way I teach literary elements or either with my text structures unit.

I loved this idea.  This is such a clever way to 'do something' with all the unwanted extra papers/assignments that you never have time to get to.

Anchor Chart Storage

Hey y'all!  I'm here today to talk about an organizational tool that I wish I would have started doing years ago.  Do you make anchor charts only to conclude that you don't like them?  Do you end up making them year after year?  Once you get a nice anchor chart, do you ever wonder where to store it?  Well, in my classroom space is {VERY} limited.  I rarely have room for the essential areas in my classroom let alone anchor charts.

Last year, I decided to {steal...hehe} my son's laundry basket.  I thought the depth of it would work great for storing my anchor charts!  Plus, it fits right inside my easel.

Not only does it store my anchor charts, but it is large enough to store my smaller chart paper packs and my large post-it notes.  I absolutely love it!  Another organizational idea that makes this storage system even better is placing labels on the bottom backside of each anchor chart and rolling it up so the label is visible.  I then place these on top so I can easily find the anchor chart I need.  I got the idea about the labels from Mary over at Teaching with a Mountain View.

How do you store your anchor charts?

Literary Elements

I always like to review literary elements pretty early on in the year because we use it so much in our reading.  A BIGGIE for 5th graders is comparing characters, setting, and events in a single text and across multiple texts.  But, before we compare, I like to review first!  Although theme is part of literary elements, I like to save it until last because students seem to really struggle with it.  For this lesson, we reviewed character, setting, events, and plot.

First, I started off with making this adorable anchor chart!  We went over this during our whole group lesson on Monday.

As we went over it, I had the students record their notes on a simple cover page I attached to their packet I gave them for the week.

 Our packet includes pages from Jen Jones' Comprehension Strategy Sheets for Grades 3-6.  I LOVE this packet!  It is well worth every dime spent.  I use it any time I teach a standard.  It has the sheets organized by standard which is very time saving.  She also has an informational packet that I own, too!  Here's a two-page preview of the pages I use.  You should totally go check it out.  Our packet just for these four skills is about 10 pages.  And, since it includes standards 3-6, you can remediate or enrich as needed!  Score!

We work through this packet for the remainder of the week in whole and small groups.  We use our read aloud to complete the activities so we can all work together or with partners.

Before we moved on to talk about character traits that a specific character had, I introduced character traits with a character trait checklist that I found online.  Then, I use Leslie Ann's Character Trait Reading Passages to practice.  I also incorporate some writing about the characters and have the students support their writing with evidence from the text by using our evidence board.

Once we have mastered all these things we move on to theme and author's message.  We spent about 2 weeks on this unit.  Well worth the time!

Favorite Pins Friday

It's a little late in the day, and I'm winding down from one crazy week.  Between work, kids, soccer practice, and revival, I'm exhausted.  But, I've been doing a lot of things in my classroom that I am eager to share with you.  This weekend, I am hoping to schedule a few blog posts for next week.  I feel like I am *finally* catching a break!  Next week, I am going to try and leave at 4 each day... we'll see how that works!

Now on to my Favorite Pins Friday that I haven't been able to do in quite some time!

I have been pinning a lot of anchor chart ideas lately.  Sometimes I get on a roll with one particular idea and go crazy with it!

 I just love this classic, casual look.  GAP had a cute top like this a month or so ago.  I'm really thinking I need to go back and pick it up!

This is a really cute anchor chart to use when teaching your students the difference between editing and revising.  I think every student could benefit from this knowledge!

I actually made this last year for my students to help them see the difference in questioning.  Not only did it help them understand the questions they were answering, but it also helped them to come up with their own critical thinking questions.

Who doesn't need help with volume control in their classroom?  I actually need to use this THIS YEAR!!!  I have a very talkative group this year!

This is too cute NOT to share!  I am having a new deck added onto the back of my house, and this would look SUPER cute by the door!

Weeks 1-3... Where has the time gone?

Oh my!  Time sure does fly when you are running around like a back to school teacher!  These past three weeks have been a whirlwind of craziness!  I've been trying to survive and get to know my students as readers.  I still don't feel like I am where I need to be, but I'm still trying to fill out my reading bio for each student.  I am almost finished with my running records and retelling for my advanced students.  I am completely finished with my other students.

Last year around April, I came across a great teaching lesson from one of my favorite blogs to read, Teaching with a Mountain View.  She mentioned on her blog, and I totally agree with her, that teaching students the differences between summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting are very important and should be taught early on in the year.  Last year, I decided that this would be one of the first skills I would teach my students.  All of these ideas came from her blog, and I totally encourage you to go check it out as she explains it so much better.

First, we went over paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting.  The students have heard the terms before, but I don't think they ever looked at each one with its own individual meaning.  I'm not going to lie, it's difficult to explain the difference between the three, but the more you talk about and explain it, the more clear it becomes for you and the students!

What helped the students {and myself} the most was looking closely at the two that were mostly alike and comparing the two.  We created this graphic organizer together on the board.  The students were able to use the anchor chart to help them.

In small group, we worked on these wonderful task cards by Mary from Teaching with a Mountain View.  

I copied the first one on a sheet of paper like she recommends here.  Then, I created a small flip chart foldable that the students glued to this page and used it to record their thoughts.  

Once we completed this activity in small group, the students completed a few more task cards independently.  Then, for an assessment, I had the students complete an activity where they took a Civil War article (what they are learning in social studies) and read it a few times.  I gave them a week to work on summarizing their article and then transferring that information into a comic strip.  Here are a few pictures of their work.

Here are links to the resources I used.  The project explanation page is specifically for my classroom, but you can use it as a guide to help you with yours.  I found the comic strip templates online.

Comic Template #1
Comic Template #2
Explanation Handout

This past week, we worked on supporting our answers with evidence from the text.  I created an evidence board similar to this one here.  If you follow me on Instagram, then you have already seen this picture of my board.

This past week, we talked about our evidence sentence starters.  I got these sentence starters from Jen Jones' Text Talker sheet that she has for FREE in her shop.  I typed them up two different ways.  I ended up going with the more simple cards that I printed on bright card stock.  I still have to take the examples the kids came up with while we were modeling how to correctly use them and make a cute anchor chart to go on the left side of the board.  It's amazing, but I have already witnessed this transfer over to their homework and even their weekly reading assessments.  It's amazing what these kids can do when you model for them and train them up right!

Here are the links to what I used!  You may use them in your classroom, but please don't try to pass them off as yours :)

Simple Cards
Designer Cards

I have so many other things I want to share... but this post is long enough already :)  I have three ELL students this year, and one requires alternate homework.  I can't wait to share how I modify her 5th grade homework to help her read!

Is there something new you are using this year that you LOVE???