Jack and the Beanstalk!

Hi friends!

I wanted to share a little bit more about the close reading we've been doing the last few months. 

I'm. in. love!

I pretty much follow Tara's model of close reading- it's totally applicable to our little ones and works so well! I own every close reading pack she has- they are fabulous!! {Jack and the Beanstalk is not in her units- but my partners and I wanted to read it during our plant unit} This week we read Jack and the Beanstalk and I wanted to share with you a little about it! Here is my plan- it's just a "loose" version- for the questions on Wednesday I usually go through the book with sticky notes and write my questions out. Otherwise, sometimes I forget exactly what page I wanted to ask the question on. {Click on the picture below to snag up the lesson plan}

After a "cold read" on Monday, I have my students share their "I wonder" questions with each other. Sometimes we just share out loud, sometimes I have them write them out. I love hearing these, because, seriously! they think of things I never would have wondered. I like to guide our conversations in a certain directions or investigate more if they tend to be all wondering the same things.

 On Tuesday, we listen for a new purpose: Vocabulary. I like to give my students ownership of this. I use highlighter tape to tape over the words that they pick out. I stop after reading each page and ask if anyone heard something unfamiliar. I highlight everything they ask about and then we go back and weed out some of the words. Then I have the students help me with the definitions. We turn and share what we *think* the word means and then I give them a definition. We usually make up silly motions and act it out- I want these words to stick! {my kids will gasp at hearing a vocab word months after we have learned it in a different text than the original!}
I forgot to take a picture of my focus board this week- but I write the words on sentence strips and place them in a pocket chart. 
{One of our words this week was "frustrated"- see how my student used the word in her writing!}

On Wednesday, we always ask text-dependent questions. This can be anything- it just means that my students have to cite their evidence and be able to justify their answers. We use highlighter tape for this too- OR if I have a digital copy of the book we highlight on the Smart board.

 On Thursday, I usually have one essential question that my students work together in groups to answer. Sometimes I have them work together on a large sheet of paper, sometimes they each work on their own paper and present as a group- it really just depends.

This Friday we started out writing project...but didn't finish! It was a busy day! It includes a fun craft that I will be sharing with you soon! I hope you enjoyed reading a little bit more about how I close read in my class!