ELA Reading Strategies

In class, we've been working on many strategies to help us read ELA passages and respond to questions. 

Here are some strategies we’re learning in class:

Before reading the passage:

·      Read the directions carefully. Figure out what kind of passage you’re reading (story, article, fable), and ask, “What is everything I know about this genre?” For example, a fiction story will include characters with traits, a problem and a solution, a setting, and will often include a lesson or moral.

When you’re reading the passage:

·      Read through the passage carefully. If you’re reading on your own, stop and think along the way, based on what you know about the genre. If you’re reading with a partner, stop and talk along the way.

After reading the passage:

·      Read the question. Cover the answer choices with your hand.
·      Think about what answer makes sense. You will probably need to re-read part of the passage to figure it out. Say what you think the answer is in a simple sentence.
·      Look at ALL the answer choices before making a decision. Think, “Is there an answer choice that matches what I thought the answer was? Is there another answer choice that makes more sense?”
·      You might need to eliminate answer choices that don’t make sense to narrow down your options.
·      Choose the best option, and circle it!

Read-a-Thon for Hurricane Sandy

Our schoolwide Read-a-Thon to raise money for Hurricane Sandy relief was a huge success! Altogether, we raised nearly $23,000 for three New York charities: the Red Hook Initiative, the Rockaway Waterfront Alliance, and New York Says Thank You.

As a class, we enjoyed reading for 90 minutes straight while wearing our pajamas. We also had brunch while we read. Thanks to all of our families for sending in bagels, cream cheese and butter, and all kinds of fruit!

Special Reader's Notebook Work

Yesterday, we got special new notebooks we'll be using to track our thinking about our fiction books. Today, we shared the work we had already done in our notebooks and studied the kind of work readers could do at the beginning of a book. Here are some examples. Click on any of the pictures to enlarge them:

Write about traits and the evidence you have for the traits for your main character and secondary characters.

Track character relationships with a relationship map and record traits you're noticing.

Create a web of pressures your main character is facing.

Write long about a big idea you're developing and the evidence you have for it

Tell about your character's actions and what might be motivating them to act that way.

Here's a link to the kind of thinking work that could be done at the beginning, middle and end of a book.  I'm excited for Fiction Fridays!

Exciting Deliveries!

We were so excited this afternoon because two packages arrived for our class during lunch time. They were filled with books purchased by all of you from our Amazon.com Class Wish List.

Here are our new books! Click on the photo to enlarge it!

Out of all the new books we received, which do you want to read first? Why?

200 Book Challenge Update!

We're only one week into our 200 Book Challenge, but we've already read 59 books as a class!

Out of all the books you've read so far this year, which do you most recommend? Why? Leave your thoughts in the comments so other readers can get ideas for great books to read!

200 Book Challenge!

We officially kicked off our 200 book challenge yesterday! As a class, we set a goal of reading 200 books. Each book we read will be logged in the front of our reading log. Once we hit 200 books, we'll celebrate with a Reading Marathon! We'll wear our pajamas to school, eat breakfast in the classroom and enjoy 90 minutes straight of reading! We can't wait!

Each Friday we'll count the books we've read and watch as we get closer to our goal.