Today, after the usual Morning Festivities, which included singing on old favorite ("Down by the Bay"), we had Reader's Workshop. Today, to extend our lesson from yesterday, we worked on what we're calling "Cover Questions" - looking at the cover of a book and using the "Cover Clues" to formulate a question or two about what the book will be about, its genre, or style. As the kids went off to read, they worked on making questions and then reading to answer them. All of the kids also traded books for the Independent Reading bookbags. At the end of workshop, then, each child shared one of the questions that they made, as well as if their reading thus far answered the question or not.
During Writer's Workshop, we are working on thinking more flexibly and creatively about stories, so I showed the kids a series of photos from old National Geographics and had them make up interesting and detailed stories about the people and objects in the photos. As you can probably expect, there were some very, well, interesting and entertaining stories told. Good stuff.
After writing, it was time for lunch and recess, and then back up to our room for literacy work time. Tuesday spellers got their words today, and then we worked on thinking critically and in more depth about the two Stone Soup stories that we have read thus far (this one, and this one, for those of you keeping score at home...). We are analyzing the stories for main characters, setting, and plot. Then we were on our way to the Media Center for class with Mrs. Hennen. After media, we headed next door to the computer lab for Math Workshop. The kids played games on our class math website, which you can certainly access from home, if you like (www.comp240.blogspot.com).
When we got back to our room from the lab, it was simply too nice of a day (in NOVEMBER!!!) to not go outside to play for a bit, so we headed out to the playground to finish up. After that, it was time to pack up and head home.
