NonFiction shouldn't be a four-letter word in your classroom

Week 2 Here at Teacher's College is all about Reading.  #Favorite

Today we spent our time working with a subject that scares the bejeesus outta me....NON-FICTION! *If you read all the way to the end...I'm sharing some great FREE online resources!

I know what you're thinking, snooze-fest. BUT.....I now realize what a powerful tool this type of writing can be.  Not only can it be high-interest (hello, SHARK WEEK!)

#ForReal  The cross-curricular connections are endless.  What a novel idea, teaching reading while we're in the middle of science? Social studies? 

Idea #1: Read the best parts of several non-fiction texts. 

This is something I've always struggled with.  Instead of drudging through an entire text, why not pick the best examples of the information you're trying to access?  Maybe that author didn't hit all the points you want to make....find another book!  Even better, find a different format to share (maybe an article.) 

Idea #2: Give them artifacts to use while you read.  

A must if you're having them take notes.  Give them a word bank of important academic vocabulary they'll hear in the text.  A map of Africa when reading about Gorillas.  Even better, expect them to interact with those artifacts.  USE that word bank to add to your turn & talk conversations.  Show me on the map where you think the Western Lowland Gorilla might live....why do you think that? 

Idea #3: Give them a strategy to take notes

Guilty!  Are your kids just copying information and regurgitating facts?  Teach them how to dive into that text, find information, and assimilate those facts in a new way.  They need to decide how to organize the information, and what makes the most sense to them.  

Idea #4: Take something unknown and attach it to something known

#CHALLENGE  This is my absolute favorite idea.  If they truly understand the new information, they should be able to flip through their notebook and compare these ideas.  Higher level thinking!!!  

This connects to.....

This fits with......

because.......

I love this type of connection!  This is a huge TEK for us in Texas, and I'm sure the Common Core is all over this too.  

Here are some great places to find kid friendly articles: 

News-o-matic : an app with daily news articles for kids...LOVE IT!!

newsela.com : check here to find new articles every day, they even offer articles on different reading levels, and checks for understanding on some!

http://tweentribune.com  : This is actually the Smithsonian for kids, lots of great articles, sorted by age level.  

https://www.studentnewsnet.com/

In closing, I am so excited to really start pushing my teaching forward with non-fiction texts.  They're a great way to incorporate and reinforce the habits of good readers all day in any subject.  The possibilities are endless!  

#cross-curricular

Braaaaaaaains.......Freebies, Zombies, & Homographs

Match made in heaven?!  Possibly.  I, much like my students, am obsessed with zombies.  I look forward to the Walking Dead each week, and I habitually watch episodes on Hulu to get my fix.

Zombie Homographs Full Version

Playing on what my students (and myself) are interested in, I created a zombie workstation!  Vocabulary is a huge struggle in my class, and we do whatever we can to practice and understand new words.  I tell them everyday the only way to grow their vocabulary is to read.  Plain and simple.

But zombies, they listen to zombies.
This station includes 4 different activities which are tried and true.  Task Cards, a no brainer.  A Matching game; match the word with the 2 different definitions.  A Scoot! game (one of our favorites) Tape the cards to their desks & let them scoot to the next desk each couple of minutes.....great for those kinetic learners.  Lastly, a gallery walk.  Tape the cards around the room & in the hallway; your students can walk around and show what they know!

It's Saturday & I'm feeling saucy!  Click on the pic below for a freebie version of this station.  If you like-y, swing by my TPT for the full version.

If anyone has any other ideas for teaching vocabulary, please share! Leave me a comment if you download, I'd love to hear from ya!

What's this word mean?

How many times a day do I hear this phrase uttered in my classroom?! I know the best way for my kids to learn new vocabulary is to read, but sometimes they need a little push! So....I thought I'd share my vocabulary routine with you. I use this as my morning work, and my kids are trained now. They come in, grab a dictionary, get out their vocabulary ring, and they get started acquiring those words! Pretty simple concept, 2 new words to explore each day. I put a paper with words on each table; I also mix it up with QR codes sometimes. Whether they scan a QR code, or read it off a paper; the format is the same. They are looking at the word, and a sentence using that new word. Not only do they have to look up the definition; they also have to find the correct definition based on the context clues. 2 TEKS, 1 task! They Frayer model each word, I use various headings....synonyms, antonyms, definition, use it in a sentence, part of speech. When they finish, they add their new word to their "vocabulary ring," which is actually just a collection of cards held together by a binder ring. They love it because they can flip through it, and they are also obsessed with clipping them to the legs of their desks for a unique storage solution. If you'd like to use the "amazing" words I use each week; check out my Vocabulary Routine packs. I follow Reading Street's curriculum, 10 new "amazing" words each week. Even if you don't use RS; they are still great vocabulary enrichment! I'm also putting together QR codes for each word for you techies out there! TEKS aligned!! How about y'all? What do you do to help your kiddos expand their knowledge base of vocabulary?