Tagging Dialogue

This morning, reading groups worked independently to prepare for tomorrow's book discussion.  Any in class work that wasn't finished in class became tonight's homework.  I always stress the importance of being prepared for novel discussion.

 

During Writer's Workshop students learned:

First we went through our mentor text Baby's Ears (can be found in students binders: Writing Resources) to find places where the author tagged dialogue with action or information.  Next we found places where the author did not tag the dialogue with action or information (ex. she said.) and revised two places in the mentor text.  The example below shows a students changed 'she said' to 'she said as she tasted the orange juice.'

 Next students were given a sheet to keep in their binder: Synonyms for Said.  First they found two places in the mentor text to change the word said to a more powerful word such as whispered or exclaimed.  Finally students went through their narrative rough drafts to revise their stories: changing the word and tagging their dialogue with action or information. 

The school was also treated to an assembly about bullying.  Mr. Paddy Whack is also a one-man-band and was on America's Got Talent.