My First Reading Log

I whipped up a Reading Log that helps track what type of reading students are doing at home. Are they being read to, reading with help, or reading to someone independently? It also gives a place for children to rate their book. I left a blank on the left edge for hole punching in class you use your reading logs in a folder or binder.

Making the most of non-fiction in the classroom.

I am probably in the minority of most readers, but I prefer to read non-fiction. I enjoy a good guilty pleasure (read all the Sookie Stackhouse books the week I had the swine flu) but what I consistently read is non-fiction. This has translated over to my 3rd grade classroom so much easier than it did in Pre-K. I have incorporated nonfiction reading centers into my science and social studies classes. My mid-year AR reports showed my class read 51% fiction and 49% non-fiction. You can't get much more balanced than that!

I have not really taught my students how to read non-fiction. I found a great preview technique on ReadWriteThink called "THIEVES" and being a sucker for acronyms, I'm stoked to try it. Yes, stoked. =P

I can use this with our text books, or expository texts, with our Georgia Studies Weeklies (SS newspapers). I lurve it! I hope someone else lurves it too!

Fact/Opinion and ROLL TIDE!

 

Being in the SEC and being an Alabama gal teaching and living and Georgia, football is the current hot topic in my classroom. I introduced fact and opinion on Friday with a fun powerpoint I found for free on TpT that focuses on High School Musical. They were so motivated and giggled the whole way through the presentation. It encouraged me to use more topics that my students are interested in.

The nice part about this, is I secretly get to try to indoctrinate my Georgia Bulldawg students into a Crimson Tide way of thinking  <<insert evil cackle>>. It's a freebie you are welcome to, please say thank you by posting a big ROLL TIDE in the comments..even if it hurts a little ;) Link to file.