TCRWP August Reading Institute Highlights

             I spent a week learning with Maggie at TCRWP about how to read more deeply Historical Fiction with Nonfiction or how to use TEXT SETS (multiple books with one thing in common). I read Bud, Not Buddy while these other 3 titles were read by my collegues. We all were given an nonfiction book called The Great Depression. Thus, the common theme among these texts is the setting - the 1930s.

Maggie modeled how to help readers read deeper using this book:

As I listened to this story, set in 1952, I was motivated to read nonfiction related to the Green Book that Ruth's family uses as they travel from Chicago to the South to visit their grandma. I experienced the power that a historical fiction book can have to build my curiousity about a time period. I found myself googling Esso and The Green Book.

Then after I read the first 3 chapters of Bud, Not Buddy, I did the same. I opened the book given me entitled The Great Depression which honestly had NO appeal when I saw it on day one.

As a teacher, I will remember this experience. I will  help connect kids with books of all genres around a similar topic. I will especially model using nonfiction to understand historical fiction. What a great way to build reading volume and deeper understanding of a topic!

I also spent a week learning with Shana about how to use performance assessments to drive our instruction in Reading Workshop. She modeled and had us experience jotting our thinking while she read-aloud this book:

Then she suggested we think in terms of SKILL PROGRESSION.

Looking at my post-it, I named a main character, Hare, and named how the Hare felt.

A conference might sound like this:

Remember when you were the kind of reader who kept track of the plot and jotted that down?

(Name the logical skill that came before what you notice now)

Now I see you are the kind of readers who is also noticing the characters carefully and are able to name how they are feeling. (Name what reader is currently doing.)

(Now name the logical and significant next step to keep the reader growing as a reader.)

It seems that you may be ready to also try some more character work. As you continue to read, continue to

notice the characters and think about how they MOSTLY feel. See if you notice a pattern.

Assessing students informally using post-its and then conferencing by naming what they used to do and what

they are doing now, a teacher can help a reader to read more deeply.

I luckily got to hear children's author SEYMORE SIMON as a keynote speaker. What an inspiration!!

Check out his AWESOME WEBSITE!!  http://www.seymoursimon.com/ 

He turned 81 on Thursday, August 9th. He grew up in the Bronx and taught science for 25 years, always interested in bugs, plants, lightning, and planets – all things found in the city!

His 1st  book is Science in the Vacant Lot. Now he has published over 250 books!

His favorite book – The Paper Airplane Book – inspired this cool video - check it out!!

http://www.seymoursimon.com/index.php/blog/new_york_paper_airplane_flight/

He now is offering his books as ebooks through StarWalk Kids Media. You can read about this on his website.

He also has a post each Wed – Writing Wednesdays and students can write in to respond to his post. I plan to share this idea with students and teachers. He also has Teachers Guides available for each book!  What a treasure Seymore Simon is! I loved hearing him speak in person!!