Opening the door for reading: Sharing favorite texts to build community
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=852
A lesson plan for grades 3–4 English Language Arts
This lesson focuses on building classroom community by sharing favorite texts with one another. Prior to the first day of school, the teacher decorates the classroom door with symbols related to books or genres that will be studied over the course of the year. On the first day of school, the teacher invites students to contribute details they know about the decorations on the door and encourages them to ask questions about things they do not understand. Then, after students have had the chance to make connections to the decorations, the teacher shares text related to the door decorations with the students. After have written in their journals about their favorite book, genre, or author, they share their ideas with a partner. Once students have had the opportunity to discuss what characteristics make an appropriate display, they plan a visual representation relating to their favorite book, genre, or author. When students have finished planning, they create their product and share with the class. Readwritethink suggests extension activities, provides links to web resources, and offers opportunities for student self-assessment and reflection.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 3
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.03: Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author's chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
Grade 4
- Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
- Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.
- Objective 4.04: Share self-selected texts from a variety of genres (e.g., poetry, letters, narratives, essays, presentations).
