Creating Scenes Checklists

In Writer's Workshop, students are finishing up their rough drafts. Each day they are revising their stories with the help of a writing buddy.  In order to make sure their story is made up of scenes they need to include snapshots (imagery/show, don't tell), thoughtshots (their character thinking in their head/telling), dialogue (characters talking to one another), and establish the setting for each part of their story. 

When writing buddies meet they first swap writing papers and fill out the Creating Scenes Peer Checklist.  For each category they give 5-1 score and have to include one example they saw for each category.  (This way they are being held accountable).

5 = just the right amount to create a scene
3 = needs a little more
1 = not included

Then each author takes their own rough draft back to their writing spot and begins revising their story, based on the checklist feedback. Finally they fill out the Creating Scenes Self Checklist. We have been very pleased at how independent each student is during Writer's Workshop!

We are continuing to learn about the historical fiction genre though novel discussion groups, independent reading, and read alouds.  This week the class is listening to the story Dandelions by Eve Bunting.  As they are listening to the read aloud on the carpet they are completing a T-chart in their notebooks.  Students are listing the real information from this time period (such as people had to travel in a covered wagon) to what the author has included to make the story interesting (characters). 

What We've Been Up To Part II

 In Reader's Workshop, students have been learning about the comprehension strategy Determining Importance.  One way to find and recall the important information from a nonfiction text is to complete a Facts/Questions/Responses chart.  


To teach students how to complete this chart, we completed one as a class after reading the first article in the special Time for Kids Earth Day issue. 

Then, students read the following article, highlighted facts, and completed a FQR chart independently in their reader's notebook.

Additionally in Reader's Workshop, students learned that while reading historical fiction, good readers can infer important information about a historical time period while reading.  Before reading aloud Cheyenne Again by Eve Bunting, I provided the class with background information about Indian Boarding Schools in the late 1800s.  While I read they completed a chart of facts (inferred information) and inner voice (questions, feelings, reactions). 

What We've Been Up To Part I

Students have been brainstorming possible fiction story ideas.  They have been thinking about characters, what stands in the way of their character getting what they want, and stories they wish existed.

Playing Fraction/Percent/Decimal Concentration in math.  Students should be memorizing some conversions such as 1/4 is equivalent to 25%.

During our Land and Water unit in science, groups studied the four soil components: sand, clay, humus, and gravel. 

Billy sharing his adventures at Epcot and Universal Studies!! So jealous!!!