Folktales and Nonfiction Focus

Currently, students are reading folktales in class and for independent reading. Students have learned that Fables are stories told to teach a lesson or a moral. The morals often have to do with using one’s thinking to overcome enemies such as the value of cooperation, looking at problems from a different point of view, and being satisfied with what life deals you. Folktales represent many different countries and cultures.

In addition, students are writing their own folktales. Some students will be typing their writing on the computer and some will be using the SOLO program. SOLO is a computer software program that includes word prediction, a text reader, graphic organizer, and talking word processor. This assists students in being more independent during the writing process and is just one more tool for students to use during the writing process in class.

SOLO
This year, many students were introduced to the SOLO program. Students learned how to use the Write Outloud and Co Writer features of the program to take notes and write a summary of a book we are reading in class, something previously completed with pencil and paper. Some of the features of this program are its ability to read the text students write, spell check, and click and drag text (instead of retyping it.) Another advantage of using this program is its high motivation. Not only is the new technology fun for students to use, students are finding the writing process to be less laborious and more enjoyable.

Reading Nonfiction and Taking Notes
During our weekly LMC times, students are reading more and more nonfiction books. Reading nonfiction requires readers to think differently about the text. Readers need to determine the big ideas and figure out the most important facts from the interesting ones.

The process of note taking involves many skills that can be challenging. Here are some of the skills I have focused on with students.

Just Right Books
Students need to be able to read most of the words in the book and retell what they read. Nonfiction can having challenging vocabulary and names. Students are also frequently interested in reading about topics /books that are not at their “Just Right level”

Summarizing
We are focusing on the comprehension strategy of summarizing. Summarizing is when students determine the main events and write them in their own words. It is critical now that students are reading longer chapter books! Students have learned and practiced a strategy called RAP to assist them in summarizing.
RAP stands for:
R=Read
A=Ask yourself what is most important
P=Put it in your own words

Summarizing In Writing
We have also used a specific format when writing our summaries. Students have used this format often when reading a short nonfiction text on the computer and then writing a short summary. Posters are near each computer and hung throughout the classroom to remind students of what to include in their written summary.