Here in Texas, we have a few weeks left before state testing in reading. So, we have been busy preparing our students with the skills they will need for the paired passages they will face. We started the week by reviewing vocabulary for compare and contrast questions and tricky testing words that stump the kids. To get the kids engaged, we played vocabulary bingo and heads up with specific words we chose from our Reading Vocabulary Games. Our students were having so much fun they forgot they were learning. Yay!
Next, we read a nonfiction article from DoGoNews. Our students were touched by this inspiring story. After reading the article, the students partnered up and completed a simple graphic organizer for expository text. Then, whole group we discussed our findings. The next day,
we introduced the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes. We read the book way back in September as a mentor text for writing personal narratives. Since we have 1:1 tablets, we decided to let the kids watch the story being read aloud on YouTube as a treat. You can find the video HERE.
After watching the video, the students completed another simple graphic organizer for literary text. Then we discussed our findings whole group. The following day we completed a venn diagram over the two books. We had the students use expo markers on their desks, while working with a partner to fill in their diagrams. They love using expo markers, especially directly on their desks. Much to our surprise, our students nailed it with the venn diagrams. Again, we discussed our findings. Last, the students completed 5 questions comparing and contrasting the texts. They rocked it! If you would like a FREEBIE of the questions, look no further. HERE they are just for you!
We began the following week by reading a fiction story, Diary of a Mighty Gorilla, from our Nonfiction Paired Passage resource on TpT. You can find HERE. Our students were intrigued by the story being told from the perspective of the gorilla. We discussed whole group about the genre, author’s purpose, text structure, and information learned. The next day, we read Gentle Giant, a nonfiction passage about gorillas.
We began the following week by reading a fiction story, Diary of a Mighty Gorilla, from our Nonfiction Paired Passage resource on TpT. You can find HERE. Our students were intrigued by the story being told from the perspective of the gorilla. We discussed whole group about the genre, author’s purpose, text structure, and information learned. The next day, we read Gentle Giant, a nonfiction passage about gorillas.
Again, we discussed whole group about the genre, author’s purpose, text structure, and information learned. To our surprise, some of our students started drawing venn diagrams and organizing the information without being prompted. HAPPY TEACHER DANCE! So following their lead, we discussed how they were alike and different. Finally, our students independently completed questions specific to each passage and questions comparing and contrasting the two. We also watched the Houston Zoo gorilla webcam during our independent reading time that day. We saw a silverback beat his chest! We went ape!
We found that working at this pace gave our students time to read, reflect, and discuss. This prevented them from feeling overwhelmed and allowed them to enjoy their reading.
We found that working at this pace gave our students time to read, reflect, and discuss. This prevented them from feeling overwhelmed and allowed them to enjoy their reading.
No comments