Monday, November 1, 2010

Additional Blog for Reading Responses

Every week students are to write a reading response to me on an additional blog, which is http://kidblog.org/Mssmallsinthehouse/ and it is closed to any visitors.  Only students and teachers can log onto this blog.  (You can log onto it using your child's user name and password).

While writing reading responses, students are learning how to write about their thinking of their reading as well as learning how to use the writing process.  I am focusing on the revision aspect of the writing process; however, I am also aware of the editing aspect too.

Below are some posts that I put on the new blog:


October 25, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post
You are to write a letter to me telling me how things are going in your book. Essentially, this is a “what are you thinking?” response but addressed to me. Please be as thorough, detailed and clear as possible. Here are my expectations for this letter.
1) Your letter must be addressed to me, have the date and be signed by you.
2) Your letter must include the title, author and genre of the book you are reading.
3) Your letter must discuss your thinking about your reading.
4) Your letter must include words from the book when you give me examples of what’s happening in the book. Please include the page number, so you can find those words again.
5) Your letter should include how this book is affecting you.
Reading Responses will be assigned on Monday and due on Friday morning.  You are responsible to revise and edit your response during the week; however, your classmates and teachers can also help you revise your reading response by leaving you comments.

October 25, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post
When writing comments, please leave one positive aspect of the writer’s reading response and one suggestion for revision or editing.
Revision suggestions:
-add details
-delete details
-move things around
-add required elements of reading response

October 25, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post
To describe your reaction to the book, you may include:
  • Is the book just right, too difficult, or too easy?
  • Why you chose the book
  • How the author describes things
  • How you like the author’s writing style and language
  • Favorite part of the book
  • Parts of the book you like or dislike
  • Characters you like or dislike
  • How does this book make you feel
  • Something that made you laugh out loud
  • Would you recommend the book?
  • Why did you (or will you) abandon the book?
  • What you do when you’re confused
  • Favorite words
  • What you like or dislike about the setting
  • How you like the introduction
  • What books do you look forward to reading
  • Would you change anything in the book?
October 29, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post
If you post a draft of your reading response by Tuesday morning, I promise to read your reading response and give you a revision suggestion by Thursday at 3pm.
Also, every week, you are required to read one of your classmate’s reading responses and give one positive feedback as well as one constructive suggestion by Thursday morning.

October 29, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post
Please put the title of your book as well as the due date of the reading response on your post title.
November 1, 2010 ~ 0 Comments       Edit this Post
November 1, 2010
Dear Ms. Small
I just read a personal narrative titled, “Halloween” in Jon Scieszka’s book, Knucklehead.  I know it’s a personal narrative because Jon Scieszka’s writing a story about his own childhood.  It’s hilarious, I laughed out loud on many occasions because Jon Scieszka used a lot of dry humor and great voice in his writing.
I had to monitor for meaning after I read an entire paragraph and knew it was a joke, but I didn’t get the joke.  Jon Scieszka wrote on page 45, “Sorry about that, Brian.”  I wondered what he was sorry about so I reread the paragraph and realized that Jon must have thrown his brother, Brian, off the porch one Halloween when Brian was dressed up as a ghost.  The ghost was one of the not too cool Halloween costumes in the Scieszka family.
As I was reading this personal narrative, it really reminded me how much I loved Halloween as a child.  (As an adult I despise it).  When Jon was describing that he and his five brothers had to share four Halloween costumes (that weren’t really cool) I was thinking of how lucky I was that my sisters and I never had to share Halloween costumes.  My mom would take us to the party store every year and we got to be whatever we wanted to be.  I can’t decide if my favorite costume was a ballerina or a Care Bear.  (I LOVED the Care Bears!)  (I don't like Halloween as an adult because the costumes cost a lot of money and instead of trick or treating, I have to give out candy…My students get wired on candy and can’t pay attention.  Also, I do not enjoy planning silly games).
Sincerely,
Ms. Small




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