In ELA we read half of the first chapter of Beverly Cleary's Ramona the Pest. Before doing this we discussed what a character trait was and how to analyze characters and provide text evidence that helps them infer or draw conclusions about a character’s traits based on what the character says, thinks, feels, and does. Looking for details to support our analysis of characters will be a role in our Literature Circles (Which will happen once we have a better understanding on how to accomplish the tasks of specific Lit Circle roles). Oh and here is the standard that this Literature Circle role covers: Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
I think I made a fumble today, and the fumble was this: I modeled for students how to do this analysis for character traits while we read the story together for the FIRST time. Big mistake. I totally forgot to follow the rules of close reading! A reader reads something once to have a basic understanding of the plot. The purpose of a first read is to essentially to enjoy the story. Reading for pleasure you know? The second or third time reading is meant for a specific purpose, and that purpose is usually academic whether it be character analysis, summarizing, or comparing/contrasting themes.
It's more challenging to analyze a text when reading it for the first time. I knew this, and yet I got all gnarly about it, expecting the students to acquire a skill while reading a story for the first time!
Anyways, tomorrow will be a new day, and we will follow the steps to close reading in order to support our inferences on character traits! Read first to understand. Read second to analyze! Bam!
In math today, we began our unit in addition and subtraction concepts. We discussed what regrouping actually is and we illustrated addition sentences to show how to regroup (Fluently add and subtract within 1000 using strategies and algorithms based on place value, properties of operations, and/or the relationship between addition and subtraction):
Before we went to the Scholastic Book Fair preview, we had a friendly game of four square!
And after school today, I took a student to Barnes and Noble and to have ice cream because she won the silent action raffle!
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| "Do I have any chocolate on my face?" |
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