Tips, Titles and Tools for Teachers
Instructional Resources and Book Recommendations
In this month of gratitude, I am thankful for the chance to celebrate the incredible things I see in our classrooms and to have the opportunity to work in both buildings. Learning from all of you is a gift!
Happy reading,
Shelly
My Favorite Picture Books for November
Build a Story ~ A Vocabulary Instructional Strategy
Step 1:
Create a list of interesting and important vocabulary words from the text. (Avoid proper nouns.)
Here is a list of words for the picture book Princess Furball.
frequently
capable
clever
ogre
bargain
demand
command
thimble
seasoning
glimpse
smudge
confess
soot
banquet
You will want to consider the age and background knowledge of your students when selecting your words. At the K-2 level, you will want to select a handful of words that will help your students' understanding, as well as words that students are likely to hear again.
Step 2:
Post the words on a piece of chart paper in the order that they appear in the text. Begin your lesson by reading through the words on the chart and having a brief discussion of the meaning of any unfamiliar words with your students.
Step 3:
As a class, create a story using the vocabulary words on the chart. The words should be used in the order you have listed them on the chart paper. As you write the story on chart paper for all students to see, underline the vocabulary words or write them in a different color so they stand out from the text.
Step 4:
Read the mentor text. As you read, stop and pause when you come to the vocabulary words from your chart. You will find your students highly engaged and interested in the use of the word in the actual text!
You can reread your modeled writing and discuss the similarities and differences between the story that your class created and the actual text. Build a Story is a fun way to interact with vocabulary in a way that connects reading and writing!
I am more than willing to teach a Build a Story lesson in your classroom. Let me know if you are interested in trying out this fun and powerful instructional approach!
Black Bear Book Program at WES
Bumblebee Book Program at Atwood
I Don't Want to be a Frog is a silly story (told through hilarious dialogue) of a frog who wants to be anything but himself! This book has a great lesson for students of all ages!
Atwood Teachers:
Here are some activities that you could do in your classroom to extend the book after Amy's read aloud in library!
https://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/IDontWantFrog_Kit_Brochure_WEB.pdf
Click on the image below to check out the book trailer for I Don't Want to be a Frog!
Shelly Moody
Atwood Primary School
Williams Elementary School
Email: smoody@rsu18.org
Twitter: @shelmoody