Tagging the Main Idea

Readers,

One way we gain information about our world is through reading news articles. Examples of good news articles are on the Scholastic News website. Go to http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/scholasticnews/index.html to read an article. You can copy and paste the link.

We have been working on summarizing the main idea when we read - or another way to say it, "getting the gist." To help us with this, I want us to look at a digital tool called "tagging". When bloggers and other writers submit online articles, they can "tag", or label, the most important words and phrases. This allows people who are searching for specific information to locate their articles easily online. When writers "tag" words in their article, they think of the most important words and phrases, ones that stand out the most, and the words that show what the article is really about. In other words, online writers "tag" their Main Idea words.

Read one of the articles on Scholastic News. Write about the words you would "tag" as the main idea, explaining why you would choose those words. Then write a one-sentence summary about the article, pulling out the gist. I have given you an example.

What is your character like?

Dear readers,

Have you ever had a friend ask you about someone? Maybe your mom or dad has asked you about a new friend at school. People are always asking, "What are they like?"

We have been studying the characters in our book by naming their character traits based on their actions, thoughts, dialogue, and appearance. Often times a character is why we enjoy or don't enjoy a book. It can also be why we enjoy some people more than others. A character's traits are very important.

I am interested in knowing more about your character. Tell me the title of the book you are reading and choose a character (main or secondary). If you were to describe the character in one word, what word would you use and why? Use the text to support your answer.

Remember to edit and revise your writing before you post! You must answer all the questions.

What makes a good book conversation?

Dear Readers,

I have participated in many book conversations over the course of my life. Some conversations leave me feeling energized and thinking about things in a new way. For example, the last book my book club read led us to a discussion of history and the connection between war and religion. The book was about War World II and it opened our eyes to a part of history we were not aware of during this war. We pushed our thinking and I walked away from the conversation pondering how this time in history influenced culture and religion in Europe. Deep, I know!

However, I have also had conversations that are dull and I don't leave any smarter than if I had just thought about the book on my own. Often times these conversations are just a retelling of the book or people sit there quietly, not wanting to push the conversation to a new level.

I am interested in what you think a good book conversation needs to in order to be energizing and thoughtful.

When have you had a great book conversation? What made it great? When have you had a dull book conversation? What made it dull?

Remember to reread your post to make sure you answer all the questions and edit your typing!

Reading Alive!

True confessions, here...I sometimes fake read. It's true. When I am at the nail salon, having a pedicure and reading a magazine, I'm sometimes fake reading. When I'm tired at night, I choose a magazine and look at the pictures and captions more than the article. I know I'm fake reading because I when I put down the magazine or book that I'm thumbing through, I cannot remember anything about it. My reading didn't matter. My "reading" was really just scanning words on a page.

But when I'm reading a book, especially a chapter book with great characters and an interesting plot, I'm reading for real! My mentor, Lucy Calkins, likes to call this "Reading Alive!" Alive Reading is when you visualize what you read, you back-up and reread because something didn't make sense, you think about the characters. When I Read Alive, I feel like the characters are my friends, like the places in the book are places a can visit in my mind. Reading Alive brings me in and makes me part of the book. I know I my reading is real because I CAN remember it. Real reading stays with me even when I've put the book away and sometimes I don't want the story to end.

Mrs. Jenkins' homeroom had a great debate the other day about when we are reading, and when we are "thinking reading." Many of you argued that unless there was a lesson or assignment, a task along with the reading, that the reading didn't require thinking. Others of you argued that readers are always thinking, regardless of time, day, place. It's a Reading Alive vs. Fake Reading!

What do you think? Are you only Reading Alive when the teacher gives you a task to do or a lesson to think about? Or are you Reading Alive all the time? Explain what Alive Reading feels like to you. How is reading at home different from independent reading time at school? Do you feel less Alive at certain times?

Answer the questions in bold. You must edit your writing before submitting.

Poetry Madness: FINAL FOUR!!!

Refer to previous posts for expectations. Your post should try to persuade other classmates to vote for the poem you like best by making sure your original thought and poet's craft comments are thoughtful and convincing.

Poetry Madness: FINAL FOUR!!!

Refer to previous posts for expectations. Your post should try to persuade other classmates to vote for the poem you like best by making sure your original thought and poet's craft comments are thoughtful and convincing.

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 4

Refer to previous posts for expectations.

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 3

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. For the remainder of the posts, your explanation for choosing a winner must include new, original thought and attention to the poet's craft.

As a reminder, when choosing a poem based on poet's craft, you must pay attention to: rhyme scheme, line breaks (when a poet ends a line), punctuation, word choice, simile/metaphor (comparing one thing to another), and repetition.

Original Thought could include a personal connection or the ability to visualize the poem.

Your post must include the following as to why you chose a winner:
*Poet's craft
*New, original thought

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 2

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. For the remainder of the posts, your explanation for choosing a winner must include new, original thought and attention to the poet's craft.

As a reminder, when choosing a poem based on poet's craft, you must pay attention to: rhyme scheme, line breaks (when a poet ends a line), punctuation, word choice, simile/metaphor (comparing one thing to another), and repetition.

Original Thought could include a personal connection or the ability to visualize the poem.

Your post must include the following as to why you chose a winner:
*Poet's craft
*New, original thought

Poetry Madness: Round 2, Game 1

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. For the remainder of the posts, your explanation for choosing a winner must include new, original thought and attention to the poet's craft.

As a reminder, when choosing a poem based on poet's craft, you must pay attention to: rhyme scheme, line breaks (when a poet ends a line), punctuation, word choice, simile/metaphor (comparing one thing to another), and repetition.

Original Thought could include a personal connection or the ability to visualize the poem.

Your post must include the following as to why you chose a winner:
*Poet's craft
*New, original thought

Poetry Madness: Game 8

Choose a winner for Game 8 tonight. Refer to the rubric in the previous post to remind yourself of the expectations. Be sure you are writing meaningful reasons for why you choose a poem

Poetry Madness: Game 7

Choose a winner for Game 7 tonight. Refer to the rubric in the previous post to remind yourself of the expectations. Be sure you are writing meaningful reasons for why you choose a poem.

Poetry Madness: Game 6

Choose a winner for Game 6 tonight. Here is a reminder as to how your responses will be graded.

Poetry Madness Blog Response Rubric

	Exceeds Expectations	Meets Expectations	Working Toward Expectations	Below Expectations
Poem 1 Summary – you explain the main idea of the poem in a clear, concise way.
Poem 2 Summary – same as above
Supported Opinion – your own thoughts, use a “because,” you explain specific poet’s craft that you like, ask a question, make a connection.
Well-written to the best of your individual ability (spelling, punctuation, complex and compound sentence structure)

Poetry Madness: Game 5

answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.

1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.

Read Game 5 and choose your favorite.

Reminder: Don't forget to reread your writing. i am noticing spelling mistakes and run-on sentences.

Poetry Madness: Game 4

answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.

1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.

Read Game 4 and choose your favorite.

Reminder: Don't forget to reread your writing. i am noticing spelling mistakes and run-on sentences.

Poetry Madness: Game 3

answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.

1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.

Read Game 3 and choose your favorite.

Reminder: Don't forget to reread your writing. i am noticing spelling mistakes and run-on sentences.

Poetry Madness: Game 2

During March, the best college basketball teams vie for the National Title. In order to be the best, each team must state their case by playing the best, scoring the most, and ultimately advancing to the next round.

To create a sense of poetry madness in our room and celebrate poetry and songwriting, we will read a bracket (2 poems) each evening and advance a class winner the following day. However, like the basketball tournament, we must use specific criteria to judge a poem: meaning, poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition), ability to visualize, and your personal connection.

Each night you will answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.

1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.

Read Game 2 and choose your favorite.

Poetry Madness: Game 1

During March, the best college basketball teams vie for the National Title. In order to be the best, each team must state their case by playing the best, scoring the most, and ultimately advancing to the next round.

To create a sense of poetry madness in our room and celebrate poetry and songwriting, we will read a bracket (2 poems) each evening and advance a class winner the following day. However, like the basketball tournament, we must use specific criteria to judge a poem: meaning, poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition), ability to visualize, and your personal connection.

Each night you will answer the following 3 questions about the poems you have read.

1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)
3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY? ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.

Tonight please read Game 1 and choose your favorite.

"Tagging" the Main Idea

Readers,

Many of you have heard about the unrest in Egypt right now. Perhaps your parents have been watching the news coverage or discussing the problem at home. As a child, you might be confused or unsure what is really happening. When it comes to important issues around the world, especially those in unfamiliar areas, adults can feel the same way as well.

One way we gain information about world events is through reading news articles. Read this article about Egypt. If you wish, discuss it with your parents.

We have been working on finding the main idea when we read - what a story/article is mostly about. To help us with this, I want us to look at a digital tool called "tagging". When bloggers and other writers submit online articles, they can "tag", or label, the most important words and phrases. This allows people who are searching for specific information to locate their articles easily online. When writers "tag" words in their article, they think of the most important words and phrases, ones that stand out the most, and the words that show what the article is really about. In other words, online writers "tag" their Main Idea words.

What words would YOU tag from the Egypt article? What words stick out as really important? After reading the article, comment here about the words YOU would tag in the article and explain why. I have given you an example below and tagged words from the blog I just wrote.

A Teacher's Reflections - What are your thoughts?

Readers,

The new year underway, I began to reflect on my reading life; therefore, also thinking about the reading life in our classroom. Over the break, I was able to enjoy reading for pleasure, where I read books that have been on my "Books I Plan to Read" list for quite awhile. The books I read were recommended to me by dear friends, who are voracious readers and know a good book when they read one. Their recommendations were spot on and I found myself in the "Reading Zone" time and again.

As I began planning our next steps for our reading lives in the classroom, I came across this blog post by a fellow reading and writing teacher. I don't know her, but I know she is passionate about teaching reading and writing and thinks deeply about what she reads. I read her blog often for inspiration.

In her post, she reflects on her reading life and what she noticed. It made me think about why we read and the best way to enjoy reading. The changes I have made to our reading class are somewhat influenced by this post and my own reflections.

She begins her post with a quote by Kate DiCamillo, author of Because of Winn-Dixie and many other acclaimed books: "Reading should not be presented to children as a chore or a duty. It should be offered to them as a precious gift." As a teacher, who considers reading as a "precious gift" in my own life, I hope, if you do not already feel this way, you will see reading as a gift in the New Year.

As you read her blog, post your reactions to her reflections. I have posted my own response to demonstrate the level of thinking you should demonstrate in your own post.