Text Connections With Heart

Hello Everyone!

Thanks for stopping by this little blog. Just a quick share tonight.  It's report card time, and I have a few reports to get finished before Friday!  I didn't want to hold on to this unit for too long, because as I use it this week, I see the connections starting to develop! 

 As teachers and parents, you know that reading comprehension is paramount for all ages. Reading Comprehension is the making of meaning of texts. When readers see how the ideas in a text connect to their own ideas, lives, and experiences,  the meaning of the text becomes more evident.  When connections are made, reading can come alive for a reader. Readers need to be aware of the different connections there are to be made.

For our youngest readers, I like to focus on “Text to Self” and “Text to  Text” connections.  As readers mature, “Text to World” connections can come into play.

When young readers are given a purpose for their reading, they are able to better comprehend and make meaning of the ideas in the text. Having them make those connections can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of the reading process to get students engaged with a text, to help students understand the text more deeply, or to evaluate students’ understanding of the text. Making connections puts heart into reading. The mini unit I'm sharing tonight includes some mini poster to display after describing the connection. I've also included a sample of a larger anchor chart you can make if you want.  And don't forget about the bookmarks!!  My kids loved them.

Teach the kids to make a connection sign with their fingers. Every story you read, they can form the symbol every time they make a connection!

If  you would like a printable of these posters, recording sheets, and bookmarks...

simply CLICK HERE!!! Get the connection!!!

Hope this helps you in your quest to help your kids with comprehension!  Let me know!! Till then, thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the week!! 

Joyfully!

Nancy

A Pinch of "You Know Who!"

Hello Everyone!
Next week we will learn through the celebration of a wonderful holiday classic by Dr. Seuss.  We will be learning so much through this wonderful story.  We celebrate this amazing author and know that he would love for school children to spend so much learning time using his book!! He would love the connections we are making with his characters.  We thank him for inspiring us to read, write, talk, and learn!
We'll concentrate on adjectives, text connections, author's big idea, comparing holiday traditions, energy, matter, and so much more.  I have shared this unit before, but have added a bit to it.

If you're interested in the updated 56 page unit, click 
here...it's free! :)


I'll post some pics next week to let you know how everything went!! Let me know if you have any questions, or problems!!
Have a great week! Stay tuned for some pics of our learning activities from this short week! We're taking a mouse to the movies!!! :)
Joyfully!
Nancy

Retelling Thanksgiving

Hello Everyone!
I hope you're having a great weekend!  I wanted to share a couple of quick but very special things. First off, we will be doing so many wonderful Thanksgiving related learning activities this coming week. One of my favs is our Thanksgiving Retelling Story Bracelet.  As the kids are reading a poem about the first Thanksgiving, they are creating a bracelet with beads on a fuzzystick. You've probably seen this idea floating around for a while.  I think it originated with the infamous Dr. Jean. I just love it so much. I updated the poem a tiny bit and can't wait to share it with my kids this coming week.

You can get your copy of the poem and directions HERE!

Oh...My...Goodness...I am so thankful for these kids and the gifts they give me every day!!

Thankful for you, as well!! Your encouragement has kept me on this joyful journey!!

Nancy

Not by the Color of our skin...

Hello Everyone,
I never really took time out to think about this, but in learning about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. we have an opportunity to make so many connections with ourselves, other characters and people, and of course, the world, and I think it's important for kids to do the same.  My little Social Studies unit on MLK does just that.  Many of the activities have and will help kids understand what life may have been like in the late 50's and 60's.  Many of us and unfortunately many of our kids have experienced discrimination to some degree. In our classroom we have discussed how important it is to look at the inside of a person, rather than how she looks, sounds, moves, etc.  From Chrysanthemum to The Grinch, to Rudolph, we keep digging to find the hidden meaning the author is trying to portrait.  
MLK is one with whom we should spend time on.  I have compiled many of the ideas we have used in the past and created a few new things to help those connections happen!

A 9 page mini book for the kids to make is included in the unit.

For your free unit, celebrate freedom and click here!

The unit is over 20 pages and includes patterns for the craft connection, some mini posters, writing activities, a book for the kids to make, a song, and a puzzle.

Thank you Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.!

Joyfully!

Nancy

(That Green Guy) Math and Text Connection

Hello Everyone!

Welcome back for a peek!  We have been enjoying that timeless story "The Grinch" this week and I wanted to share a little bit of what we've been up to.  Today we played a fun whole group game that I call Grinch Triple Toss.  We needed to practice our addition strategies as well as adding three addends, so I made a huge work mat ( a snowflake shape cut out of a round plastic table cloth) and wrote numbers 1-10 on some green (of course) paper plates.  We used three large pom poms to toss on to the numbers and talked about the strategies we would use to get our sum.  The kids had a recording sheet to show their thinking. So fun!

Tomorrow we'll reinforce subtraction skills with the same idea!!(Grinch Toss and Take)

We also worked hard on our text connection ideas for "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  We reviewed what each connection meant and then created our little heart books connecting all our connection!  As one of my kiddos said, "It's all about the heart!"  Enjoy the pics.

We used green pencils for recording of course!

Made a large snowflake from a plastic table cloth

kids take turns tossing pom poms and then working on the addition problems

Make a ten and then add the 7!!  Yes!!

 For your printables of these two activities, click here

Our Text Connection anchor with The Grinch looking on!

for my grinch unit , click here


Thanks for stopping by!!
We are having a great week!

Joyfully!

Nancy

A Pinch of Grinch- Free Unit

Hello Everyone!

I've been busy getting my Grinch on!  Creating, organizing, and updating all my Grinch stuff has been a JOY!!  I'm sharing what I have so far in case you want a peek. If you are a parent or a student of mine, please log off right now! :) I want these activities to be a surprise for my kiddos!!  Thanks!! If you are a teacher, or home schooler, take a peek at the samples of what is already a 33 page unit.******** It includes some author's message, character analysis, adjective study, a math tub game, a mystery picture, science, songs, poetry activities and more!!  There will be more to come, but I've got to get my turkey on, too!! :) *********** Please see the message at the bottom of this post!!!

What is Dr. Seuss' message?

Text Connection Activities

I am so sorry, but I have been made aware that it is against trademark law that I display anything with the Grinch on it, or even use the word Grinch.  I plan on asking permission from Seuss Enterprises to celebrate this beloved character with school children using my unit. I strive to uphold the integrity that teachers should exhibit, and truly was unaware of the restraints against teaching through the use of this book. Dr. Seuss was an author who encouraged reading by writing books for kids to help them with their phonics, their sight words and their imaginations. I kind of feel like he wouldn't mind teachers using his characters and stories to promote a love for reading!!

 

Here's to the meaning of Christmas!! 

 Love that Dr. Seuss!

Have a good one!

Joyfully!

Nancy