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Home : 2007 : March : 7
I can share my birds-eye view judgements on the following responses later. But for now, how about I just post them so I can see what your opinions are on certain kids? A child who I feel is "getting it" may not be cutting it in your eyes. Let's start with the good news;) : 1. C came in as a reader AND a thinker. He is a leader in all of our interactive read aloud discussions and overall in our strategy studies. Here are some of his responses: Vacation Under the Volcano I think that they are going to get away from the volcano in time because in Tonight on the Titanic, they escape just in time. What I wrote back: Dear C, Excellent! You used your schema for Magic Tree House books to help you predict in the one you are reading now! When you finish this book, please write if your prediction came true or not. Love, M On Board the Titanic I am on a mystery. I am trying to figure out how much life boats the Titanic really needed. It said that the Titanic had 2,200 people on it and me and my friend and I agree that the Titanic life boats held 25 or so people. Dear C, You certainly ARE on a mystery! Can I make a suggestion for finding your answer? Use an outside source. What you have is actually a math problem. Maybe your mom or dad could help! Tell me if you solve it. Love, M 2. D also came in a reader, but did not know how to think about his reading on a deep level. As you'll see, it's debatable if that has changed. Encyclopedia of the United States In Kentucky I thought the most important crop was soy beans. But I was wrong. It was tobacco and coal. Dear D, I'm glad you are paying attention to how your schema changes. That is something that non-fiction lovers (like you!) always need to do. SOmething else they do is this: When they realize that they weren't right, they think, "Hmmm-- why is this? Why is tobacco and coal the most important crop?" Sometimes readers can figure it out with their schema. Other times, they have to read more. Please try to figure out the answer. Love, M Later, he wrote back: Because sometimes they want tobacco instead of money. A lot of his talk backs are similar to this: He asserts something that could be a good thought, but then he doesn't follow through. He doesn't see big pictures. 3. K is a very typical first grader who came in reading around a level B or C. She didn't really have any bumps in her growth-- she was just very typical. Biscuit's Big Friend I have a book to book connection with Bicscuit's Big Friend because in Angelina and Alice they were best friends and in Biscuit's big friend they were friends. Dear K, I see that you made a connection between two books with friends. Tell me, is friendship an important part in both books? (she wrote: yes they were friends in the whole book) If it is, then it's a good connection. How did reading Biscuit help you understand the friendship in the other book? Love, M She wrote: Because in every book they are friends Frog and Toad Together In Frog and Toad Together I have a book to self connection. Because in a part toad had a list to do and some days I make a list and it's a important part. Dear K, Yes, you are right that the list is an important part. :) But you still need to tell me a little bit more. How does you having a list and Toad having a list help you understand the book? Love, M She wrote back: Because all day I have to do my list and I know how toad feels. 4. N came in as one of my two lowest readers, with very little reading or writing experience. He still remains behind his peers, but at the same time, can "keep up" by applying the strategies we are learning to his books. He is now very tenuously reading Syd Hoff (i.e. Danny and the Dinosaur) books, but they aren't really a fluent fit for him. Stanley (Syd Hoff) I think that even though that the others were mean Stanley doesn't have to be mean. The author's message is don't be mean. Dear N, How does Stanley show kindness at the end of the book? He writes: He helps them build their houses and be kind. It remindes me of the Golden Rule! Love, M Clifford's Chick I am "inferred" that clifford is scared of what the chick is doing. I knowed is because of his big eyes. Dear N, I like how you used the _____ (he filled in: pictures) to help you infer what Clifford was feeling. Love, M 5. Finally, S is another who came in as an average reader who didn't really think about his reading. He has shown a great amount of growth. Baby Animals My schema changed. I didn't know that baby bunnies are 1 inch long and that a mother rabbit can have up to 8 baby bunnies at once. My mental image was 8 little bunnies in my two hands. I got that from when I saw a toy about 1 inch long. So I pictured 8 of them in my hand instead of 1. Dear S, WOW! You put 3 strategies together! Do you know what they are? He writes: Schema change, connection, mental image Love, M PS: I am impressed! THOUGHTS?? Judgements? Questions? (I have a lot swirling around right now b/c typing them up got me thinking. But I'll hold my tongue until I hear what you think...) PS: When we talk about them, why don't we refer to them as kid 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5? (for simplicity's sake!!)
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