The Reading Strategies Book: Goal 5 {Book Study}

One of the greatest gifts of summer is time. Time to dive into whatever inspires you, rejuvenates you, and relaxes you. One of my favorite ways to spend my time is reading. This summer I have been reading about pirates, catching up on some children's literature and diving into The Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo.

This week I am teaming up with some amazing bloggers to host a quick reflection of Goal 5 -Supporting Comprehension in Fiction: Understanding Plot and Setting.

Truthfully, this book had been on Amazon wishlist for awhile, but I never pulled the trigger on the purchase. I don't know why! Now, I can't believe I didn't have this book in my hands the minute it was published. The Reading Strategies Book is truly an incredible resource for teachers. It is practical, easy to use, and filled with great ideas that are easily implemented and great for students. I can't wait to make this book part of my daily practice in the classroom.

To catch up on our book study and all things Reading Strategies Book related click below:

• Intro & Book Set-Up
• Goal 1: Supporting Pre-Emergent and Emergent Readers
• Goal 2: Teaching Reading Engagement
• Goal 3: Supporting Print Work:
• Goal 4: Teaching Fluency: 

 

Now, let's take a closer look at Goal 5

Supporting Comprehension in Fiction:

Understanding Plot and Setting

Why is Goal 5 important?  Well, it is basically the heart of what makes reading enjoyable. The best reading happens when one is completely immersed in the text, lost in another world, and apart of a story that feels all too real. Naturally, we want all our students to experience this true magic of reading. But in order for this to happen, readers must know what is happening.  They need to know the who, the where, and the what to fully understand what they read. Plot and setting are a pretty big deal.

Who needs Goal 5? Students who may need additional practice with this skill are your kiddos that retell with WAAAY too much detail, or not enough detail, or jumble up the order of events during a retell. They are the kids that miss the connections between events and don't see how one event leads to another event in the story. Sequential understanding is a key component of understanding plot. I can think of many students who fall into one or more of these categories and I'm sure you can too.

Serravallo breaks down plot and setting into 4 parts and offers twenty-eight (TWENTY-EIGHT!) different strategies to support readers working on this goal.

• problem/conflict and solution/resolution
• retelling/summarizing (must be sequential)
• visualizing setting
• cause and effect (connecting events in the story)

 

Today, I want to focus on three strategies that I can't wait to use with my students this year in both independent conferences, guided reading, and general reading instruction.

5.3 Summarizing What's Most Essential

What is it?

This strategy focuses on summarizing what is most important in the story in order in a way that makes sense.  It is ideal for levels E-K and fictional texts.

This is basically an introduction to a good fictional summary. I love the language Serravallo uses to explain a summary. She says, "Your summary should include enough information to make sense to someone who hasn't read the story before. That means you need to make it clear in your summary how one event led to another." This idea forces students to think about the most important events that are connected to each other, not simply part of the story.  

Best Part:

My favorite part of this strategy was the foldable idea presented in the book (shown above,  The Reading Strategies book, pg. 136).  It is a wonderful visual for students and serves as a practical guide for summarizing.  I could see making these foldables with my small group as we talk about  the important elements of a good summary. Then using this tool each time we finish a book or a chapter to help us practice.  I can't wait!

Now, I know you could easily recreate this with markers and colored paper, but I was so excited about this idea, that I created a template for my students to use to create their own.

If you think you may use this strategy and would like to use my template, go for it! Click the pictures above to download it for free!

5.14 Chapter-End Stop Signs

What is it?

This strategy gives students additional practice finding the most important events in each chapter. At the end of a chapter, students simply stop and jot the most important event. Students can then reread their notes to remind themselves of where they are in the story. This strategy is great for kids reading level L and up.

It is also incredibly versatile. You could easily use post-it notes, bookmark, or notes page to keep track of big ideas in each chapter.

I've used them all, but I like the notes page best for independent reading/conferences and guided reading. I like to have everything all in one place and easily accessible. Kids simply fold the page in half, stick it in their books, and use their notes as their bookmark.

Click the image below to grab my End-of-Chapter Summary Stop & Jot Notes Sheet.  It includes a two-sided fill in the chapter form and pages for chapters 1-47.

Best Part:

I love to use this strategy during read alouds. After each chapter, we pause and think about the most important event in that chapter. We write 1-2 sentences on a strip of colored paper and add it to our "Story Chain."  I just tape the new sheet on to the old and we keep building on, always switching colors for each chapter.  By the end of the novel, our "Story Chain" is almost touching the floor!

This is a great way to help students keep track of the "important stuff" as we read and serves as a jumping off point the next day when we return to our book. Plus, it create a pretty fun display in the classroom. I really wish I had a picture to show y'all, but (of course) I can't find a a single one. Follow me on Instagram and I will be sure to post a picture this upcoming year when we start again.  :)

5.24 FQR (Facts/Questions/Response) 

Sheets for Filling in Gaps

What is it?

This strategy is helpful when you are reading a book that is a bit confusing.  A FQR Sheet is any simple three column chart with a column for facts, questions, and responses. I have known about FQR charts for what feels like forever, but I always associated them with non-fiction text. Turns out, they are great for fiction too! FQR charts are a great way to help readers on levels Q and up develop a better understanding of complicated plots.

Best Part:

I love that it is a new way to use this old idea. Recommended for when you are reading a more challenging text that is set in imaginary places or historical times, this strategy helps the reader take stock of what they DO know and what the NEED to know to better understand the text. I can think of so many books this would be great for: The Westing Game, City of Ember, The Fog Diver, Sky Jumpers, The Lost Planet, etc.

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These are three of my favorite strategies from this chapter, but I flagged many more in my book. I hope you find these ideas as helpful and inspiring as I did. I'm just itching to get started. 

Thank you for joining my for a quick look at 

Goal 5: Understanding Plot and Setting. 

Have you read The Reading Strategies Book? 

Do you already use it in your classroom? Tell us more!

We would love for you to share your knowledge, ideas, and expertise with us. 

Comment below or link up your blog to join the conversation. 

Thanks for reading!

An InLinkz Link-up

DIY Dry Erase Boards - Easy and Cheap!

Happy Monday peeps!

I finally have working internet at my house and I couldn't be happier.  As the Time Warner guy carried my laptop into my kitchen I screamed, "Is that Google?!?" and ran to take possession of my computer.

It's been a busy week moving in, painting my study (love the new color!), and getting organized enough to have house guests.  Yes, house guests!! Two of our best friends from Seattle came to visit on Friday, so the whole week has been a whirlwind, but so much fun. I love having my friends in town.

I should be in bed, but I wanted to link up with Tara for Made-It Monday really quick. So, without further ado...here are my DIY classroom dry erase boards!!

I saw these on Pinterest (I know you have too) and I HAD to try them out.  Supplies are easy - sliding bar report covers, duct tape and/or colorful packaging tape, and I added stickers. 

I bought the plain blue duct tape because I got more duct tape for the money. Then I added some cute monster stickers to brighten it up and make them a bit more fun.  Of course, you can just use the super cute stuff to begin with, but with hubs standing right behind me when I bought supplies I decided to be more cost conscious.  :) 

I could walk you through the steps, but Charity over at Classroom DIY has video instructions and what could possibly be better than that? I just going to leave the step by step directions to her. Thanks Charity!

After playing around with them for a day, I decided that these things are awesome! 

I was really impressed with how well they worked. They were easy to wipe off...even if I left the marker on there for a bit.  Yes!

Total cost for supplies was about $20 and I bought enough to make 18 boards with duct tape left over.  Talk about a great deal AND it didn't take me long at all. It was a great excuse to sit down and watch some TV.  I was working. *wink, wink*

I plan on using keeping these dry erase boards with all my guided reading materials for students to use while in small group.  This way I can fill the slips with blank paper or a graphic organizer for them to use while we read  AND since I have so many extra boards that take up virtually NO storage space,  my students can work on them continuously throughout the week, no problem! (You could even use different colored duct tape and/or stickers to differentiate your groups. Brilliant, right?) 

So, there we have it.  My version of the quick and simple DIY dry erase boards.  Isn't duct tape amazing?  It just accomplishes so much.  Between the duct tape and my glue gun, I think I could do anything.

Don't forget to check out other great projects and share your own with Made-It Monday at 4th Grade Folics. Happy crafting!

Guided Reading Folders with Freebie and Tracking Learning Poster

Today, I'm just another blogger linking up with Tara, over at 4th Grade Frolics, for her Monday Made It.  It's my first time linking up with her, so I'm excited.

As y'all know, I joined Pinterest last week and YOU WERE ALL RIGHT!  I'm obsessed!  I've seen so many cute project ideas.  I check my phone constantly and it was the perfect way to entertain myself while my husband watched all 4 days and all 72 holes of the U.S. Golf Open.  That's being said, both of my Monday Made-It projects are Pinterest inspired.

My first project was inspired by something I saw on What the Teacher Wants! She has a great post on guided reading, including free printables, so if you haven't checked it out, go for it.  This is what I loved:

Now, they do teach younger kids who move through their GR levels a little bit faster than 4th graders (due to excellent teaching, of course), but I loved the idea of having a folder to show the movement and growth of my students.  Right now, I typically only benchmark twice a year, but I will be benchmarking my lower readers mid-year as well.

I tweaked the folder a bit and made it my own and braved Walmart for the needed supplies.

The folders were only $1 and there are 3 totally cute folders in the pack.  Total cost...$2.00!

Here is the inside of the folder.  I had to cover one side with some white paper because it had these weird lines for notes.  Very strange. Anyway, since I teach 4th grade, I started with GR level J and only went through W.  I know I will have students reading below J, but a majority of my class will sit somewhere on these letters.  The GR level to grade level correlation varies depending on which scale you look at, but most seem to consider R-S end of the year 4th grade and T the beginning of 5th.  Once students make it to the blue part of the folder, we are good to go!  :)

I'm not much of a velcro kid.  I'm a post-it kid.  I use post-its for everything, so instead of attaching velcro and creating matching velcro pieces with student names, I just use post-its.  This is also easier when you have a high mobility rate and students are constantly filtering in and out of your room. 

I have always used folders to form my reading groups (yes, with the post-its), and I had two other cute folders so I created a new group folder and a folder for my notes.

The groups folder will be used to identify my reading groups. Very basic, but works great for quickly regrouping kids and remembering who is in what group.  The  post-its really help them stay flexible.

The notes folder will be used to hold my guided reading checklists for all my groups. You can get my guided reading checklist for free in my TN store, just click here!.  I did not come up with this idea.  I just retyped it and tweaked it to meet my needs. Let me know if you find it useful.

 So...that's my first completed project.  All I have to do now is... lllaaammiinnnaatteee!

My second project was another quick and easy poster for keeping track of exit tickets. I'm sure y'all have seen this floating around on Pinterest. The students complete their exit ticket (short response, math problem, etc.) on their post it and put their post-it on their number.  How could I not use something that involves Post-its?!?

Originally from Cheryl's Classroom Tips

 As soon as I saw this, I thought...exit tickets are like tracks of thinking, which led me to this...

Each paw print has a student number.  Students will leave their learning tracks post-it on their number.

I'm so excited to laminate it for next year.  It's going to be a great tool for both myself and my students.  The opportunities to use this are endless.  Ideas?  Please post a comment below.

So, those are the things I've made for my classroom this week.  Hopefully, once we get moved I will be able to get into some more crafty things.  I'm going crazy with everything in boxes.  My classroom is in boxes, my house in boxes, my life is basically in boxes right now. Ugh!

But, enough about that.  Before I go, I wanted to quickly tell y'all about another great 4th grade blog: Smiles and Sunshine.  She is newer to the blog world and is having a little end of year giveaway - $25 giftcard to Amazon.  Woot! Woot!  Go check out Kaitlyn at Smiles and Sunshine and show her blog a little love.

As for me?  I'm going to continue packing.  Time to tackle my closet, and believe me, that's a scary place. I might need to check out more great ideas from the Monday Made-It Linky first.  Um...pinning!