What Do You Think About Questions?

Today I asked my first grade friends a few questions about asking questions as you are reading.  Take a peek at their thoughts (on the post-its).  Way to Go Super Stars!!!

Lesson from Reading with Meaning, Debbie Miller

One More...

On Wednesday we read Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger.  This book is about a Grandfather Twilight that walks through the forest to welcome the night with his gift to the growing darkness.  We used this book to reinforce what we have been learning about over the last two weeks-Asking Meaningful Questions.  Check out the questions they came up with before, during and after we read the book.   Then take a peek at their answers and the strategy they used to find the answer (using the text, inferring or other resources).  I am very proud of all their hard work.  As we continue to build on this strategy, my next step is to have them show me in a good-fit book of their own this process.

Lesson from Debbie Miller-Reading with Meaning

Meaningful Questions and Outside Resources (OS)

On Friday we read the book The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland. This books is about a young girl forced to flee her beloved Vietnam to escape a devastating civil war, a woman takes only her children and a single lotus seed to remember the emperor by. Years later, when her grandson takes the seed, she thinks all is lost until the beautiful lotus blossom reminds her of home and gives her grandchildren something to remember her by. This story will help readers appreciate those who must start anew without forgetting their past. As we were reading the kids practiced everything they have been learning about making meaningful questions.  I am very proud of them.  The questions they had before we read the book were insightful.  They were in tune with the new vocabulary that was being put in front of them.  As we were in the middle of book the kids had lots of questions about Vietnam, war and the lotus plant.  When we finished the book we went back and answered our questions.  There were a few we were unable to answer using the text/book or inferring.  So we got out the IPad and looked up Vietnam on the map and talked about where it is in comparison to the United States.  We also looked up images of a lotus seed/plant.  Then we looked up who was the emperor and viewed a picture of him.  Take a look at the picture below to see a map of our thinking that day.  

Story Map Code:B-the questions we had before we read, D-the questions we had during the book, A-the questions we had after we finished reading the book  T-we answered the question using the text/book, I-we answered the question by using our inference skills, OS-we answered the question using an outside resource

Our Outside Resources for this book..

                                                   lotus plant                           map

More Meaningful Questions

On day 2 we answered the questions that we had while reading All I See.  As we were answering them we labeled them with a T if we were able to answer the question using the text/book.  We used an I if we inferred the answer.  Then lastly, we put an OS if we used outside resources to answer the question.  Take a look at our answers.

Asking Meaningful Questions ????

Over the last two days we have been talking about how asking questions before, during and after we read a story allows us to understand the text better.  We read the story All I See by Cynthia Rylant.  Before I read the story, I recorded my first grade friend's questions about this book.  What were they thinking about after looking at the title and seeing a few pictures?  We labeled those questions with a B (before I read the book).  As we were reading, I would also record what questions were coming to their minds.  We talked about how the questions we have should help us understand the story. The questions my first grade friends came up with I labeled a D for questions during the story.  Then, when the story was over I asked them to think about they were still wondering.  I recorded these questions and labeled them with a A for after the story.  

Take a peek at their very insightful questions.

Lesson from Reading with Meaning-Debbie Miller

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

Celebrating Dr. Seuss fun--
Together we celebrated Dr.Seuss' birthday by dedicating our literacy time to him this morning.  I read The Cat in the Hat and One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish  to my first grade friends.  After we were done reading, discussing, and practicing our questioning skills we enjoyed a snack of blue jello (the water) and swedish fish (our red and blue fish). 

  Take a look below.....

Thanks to Pinterest for the cute idea.

We also used our Daily Five-Read to Someone time to enjoy other books by Dr. Seuss.  The kids had a blast reading his engaging books.  Take another look...

IPad Fun!!

What an Exciting 2 Days!!!!

On Wednesday and Thursday this week I had the opportunity to attend a district wide training for those of us receiving ipads.  This was two packed days of hands on learning with an Apple expert.  This inservice exceeded my expectations.  I feel very blessed to work for a district that values professional development.  I cannot wait for my first graders to get their ipads at the beginning of April.  During my training I was introduced to the Sock Puppets App.  This is a free app that allows kids to put on their own puppet shows.  If you have a device that allows you to download this app, feel free to give it a try.  I had my two kids (6 years and 8 years old) try it out.  I first had them write a play with two or more characters and then practice reading their lines, and finally they made their play come to life with the Sock Puppets App.  This will be one of the first apps I use with my first grade friends in April.   Take a peek...