Our next read aloud was Poppy by Avi. This is actually one of my ultimate favorite read alouds. It is written exactly as you would expect talking animals to act. It is full of great learning experiences as the main character, Poppy, has to show great courage and save her mice family. I begin our Read Aloud notebooks with this text. Students create a map of the setting, Dimwood Forest, upon the initial reading of the book. During each read aloud experience students pull out their maps and follow along as Poppy journeys through the forest. They also draw their visualizations of Poppy, Mr. Ocax and Ereth, while also making predictions along the way. I love how it also ties in to our animal studys in Science. The students really latch on to this book series and there becomes a waiting list for the book in the class and our library.
For October, we began our first book clubs. Students were in groups with classmates who had similar interest and reading skills. They had assigned roles to complete each week and these roles helped lead the weekly book club meetings. This year one of my groups read the book, Closed for the Season by Mary Downing Hann. This book club was very vocal with the entire class about how they could not put this book down. It really motivated other students in the class (and other teachers) to check this book out. I was pleased to also see this book and Hann's other book, The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, at our school Book Fair. My class could not wait to get their hands on their own copy and begged to read a bit longer that day. Check out the pictures of our Skeleton Projects the book clubs created in celebration of completing the books.
 |
 |
| This free slideshow design generated with Smilebox |
I just love it when the reading bug spreads throughout the class!
