Trade Book Tuesday...x's 2, plus 2 FREEBIES!

So, I originally started this feature because...
(a) I LOVE finding awesome trade books to use in mini-lessons and thought it would be fun to share about on my blog
(b) I thought it would keep me accountable to my bloggy buddies! Well, you can see how long that lasted! haha I haven't had a "Trade Book Tuesday" since August, and in case you've seen a calendar lately, there's been lots of Tuesday's since August. We won't talk about it.

 Moving on to it, sistah (or any brotha out there)!

So if you follow my TpT store, you might have noticed an influx in inference activities. Well, guess what we be doin' in our learnin'?! If you guessed making inferences...*DING! DING! DING!* Of course, making inferences has always been one of my most favorite skills to teach in reading. So, having only 3 weeks to focus on this abstract yet exciting skill before our next district test, I figured we'd jump right into it the first two days back from Christmas break, last Thursday and Friday.

This is what we did:

THURSDAY:

1) I introduced what an inference is by stomping into the room, crossing my arms, pouting, shuffling papers loudly on my desk, and finally plopping down harshly in my chair {You should have seen their faces! haha PRICELESS. Try and you'll see.}
2) I had the students recount what they'd just seen, and of course they described what I had done, and inevitably one little muffin said, "Mrs. Flood! You were MAD!"
3) I asked the students how they knew I was mad, and of course they explained all the actions and then I told them that they just made an INFERENCE.
4) I talked up the skill BIG time...like, if they made an inference, they would probably grow up to be the greatest detective ever to live because they would be using clues. They loved it!
4) We watched "BrainPop, Jr.'s" inference video {except I couldn't get my sound to work so I narrated Moby the robot and Annie the 5 year old child which they thought was hys-TERICAL}
5) Then, I showed the kids my inference poster and talked about the two things they'd need to make an inference:

Background Knowledge {Schema - Their "file folders" of information} + Text Clues {words and pictures in the book} 

= An Inference

{You can snag this poster I used, plus a free graphic organizer, here at my TpT store!}

Then, I created this anchor chart with my kids {I had the face and book drawn before class, but then added the other elements during my mini-lesson...or supposed-to-be-a-mini-lesson-that-was-really-about-35-minutes...ooops....so it would make sense to them as we went}. I have the mini poster, plus this poster, hanging in visible spots for my kiddos to reference!

The definition got cut off in the pic...sowwy. It says, "To figure out what the author is
trying to tell me, but doesn't."

Then, we read this super fun trade book, Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie de Paolo. It's a wordless book, so it's perfect for making inferences. 

The kids did AWESOME while we filled out our anchor chart. I led the first inference, and they listened, except for giving me their background knowledge. The second & third inference, we made together, but I guided the process and prompted their thinking often since this is the first time this year we've talked about making inferences.

 I loved their schema. They were also so cute when they "pulled out" their "file folders" {I told them to "open their brains" and pull out the folder...and by George, they did! CAH-yute!}These are the results of their thinking. I have two classes, and these are both of the charts. I love  how their thinking is so different, but on target both times! 

I add the students' initials after they give their schema. They love seeing their initials! It makes the proud, and want to be more involved in the lesson! 

FRIDAY:

It was a weird day. We had a "Peaceful School Bus" meeting so that ran into our morning session, we only had a 30 minute planning {Yippie!...said no teacher ever...}, then I had a four hour meeting in the afternoon. It is what it is. So, I was only there for my morning ELA rotation and we had a blast-a-roni reading this little muffin of a book!

My kids L-O-V-E Kevin Henkes. I read his books all the time. Chrysanthemum is one of those books that grabs every child's attention, because it's so relate-able {is that a word? I don't know... it has a red squiggle under it...oh well! It is NOW!}.

1) We started by reviewing our posters, and turning and talking and teaching our partners about what we learned on Thursday.

2) Then, I read to them Chrysanthemum {that's just so fun to say} and during a guided mini-lesson, we completed this chart:

We have a super dooper poster maker machine at school that allowed me to blow up this anchor chart so I wouldn't have to write it twice, plus I had a sub, so I wanted to make sure everything was perfect! {Not that I'm a control freak or anything. umm...yeah...}

Normally, we would move into my version of the Daily 5 rotations, but since I wasn't there and the first two days back were nutso-Mc-nutso, we will get back to the regularly scheduled reader's workshop this week. Woohoo!!! 

I'll post more about my inference literacy centers and activities that my muffins will be using during small group rotations soon. 

Have a wonderful week! :)

Until then,

Trade Book Tuesday: Shelia Rae, the Brave {and FREEBIE}

Happy Tuesday, friends! :) I am quickly becoming obsessed with falling in love with my weekly feature! I went through my books at school the other day to scan through all that I had for this week's post. However, I became very over whelmed with all of the books and post ideas that popped in my head. Needless to say, I don't think I will ever run out of ideas for this feature...WOOHOO!!

With that being said, I'm really excited to introduce you to my second favorite children's author, Kevin Henkes. His precious little books are great reads for all ages and the under lying themes of each book are perfect conversation starters about real kid issues.

I use Kevin's books all throughout the school year for many different skills. My top three favorites are:
1) Chrysanthemum
2) Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
3) Shelia Rae, the Brave

Click on the picture above to purchase this book from Amazon! 

This week, I'm gonna tell you all about sweet little Shelia Rae.


TITLE: Shelia Rae, the Brave
AUTHOR: Kevin Henkes
GENRE: Fiction
SKILLS THAT COULD BE TAUGHT USING THIS BOOK: Theme, Asking Questions, Making Connections, Point of View (Perspective)


In lots of ways, we have a little Shelia Rae in all us. Many times, we like to act brave, like we got it all together, until we are caught off guard. (Anyone ever experienced anything like this....say, the first day of school?!?! haha) Shelia Rae is that child that is never scared of anything and wants everyone  to know how brave and risky she really is. However, one day Shelia Rae gets caught off caught and has a moment where her bravery is almost nonexistent for a while.

This book is a precious book to talk about how it's okay not to always be brave, and learning to depend on others when you feel scared and don't know what to do.

Yesterday was my first day back with my little darlins' for the school year, and right after our Morning Meeting, I read them this book. We created an anchor chart and talked about Shelia Rae and her feelings and what it really meant to be brave. We talked about how they (as in the students) felt like they had to be brave coming into third grade (which for our kiddos is a HUGE step because they come from a K-2 school that feeds into our school, a total different building with 3-5 kids). We talked about what it means to be a good friend when a friend of ours isn't always so brave, how to help each other, and what it means to be brave for the other person.

I told the kids how I was nervous about the first day of school and how my teaching partners helped me to be brave because we leaned on each other for support.

After our looooooooooong conversation and completing our anchor chart, the kids went back to their desks and worked on the graphic organizer below while the rest of the class took turns turning in their school supplies. You can click on the picture to download a FREE copy of this graphic organizer from Google Documents.

Click on the picture to download your free copy of the activity to go along with the story!

I hope you enjoy this sweet little book with your kiddos as much as I do. And don't forget, if you ever start to feel nervous and not so brave anymore, lean on a friend (or go eat a piece of chocolate...that works too!).

Until then,