Topics by Cluster:
Reading: Writing:
Cluster 1 - Building a Reading Life Cluster 1 - Crafting True Stories
Cluster 2 - Reading to Learn (Nonfiction) Cluster 2 - Information Writing
Main ideas and text structures
Cluster 3 - Mystery Cluster 3 - Persuasive Writing
Cluster 4 - Poetry Cluster 4 - Poetry
Cluster 5 - Character Studies (Fiction) Cluster 5 - Baby Literary Essays
Cluster 6 - Research clubs Cluster 6 - Writing about research
Cluster 7 - Reading Skills Review Cluster 7 - Writing Skills Review
Cluster 8 - Book Study Cluster 8 - Book Study writing responses
Reading Strategies
To become successful, life-long readers, children must be reading a variety of books on their independent reading level. The following strategies may be taught and used when choosing 'just right" books at school. Please encourage your child to used these strategies for selecting books at home and at the public library as well. Here are some terms you might hear us using:
Context clues = using the information around a word or thought to gain meaning
Fluency = reading the way you talk, in smooth sentences with expression
Predictions = making educated guesses about what will happen next. Predictions can be confirmed by the end of the story.
Inferencing = Background Knowledge (What I already know) + Text Clues (Information the author gives me) to make a guess about the story. Unlike predictions, inferences may or may not be confirmed to the reader.
Draw Conclusions = using my inferences to make decisions in a story or passage
I PICK
I choose a book.
Purpose- Why do I want to read it?
Interest- Does it interest me?
Comprehension- Am I understanding what I
am reading?
Know- I know most of the words.
How to Choose "Just Right" Books
1. Look at the cover.
2. Read the title and author.
3. Read the blurb in the
back.
4. Flip through the book.
5. Read a random page.
6. Use the 5 Finger Rule.
0-1 Fingers=Too Easy
2-3 Fingers=Just Right
4-5 Fingers=Too Hard
Five Finger Test
Read one page of a book. Raise one finger for each word on the page that you don't know.
NO FINGERS OR ONE FINGER= This book is easy for you to read. Have fun!
TWO FINGERS=This book is just right for you. Enjoy your reading.
THREE FINGERS=This book is challenging, but you may still enjoy it. Try it!
FOUR FINGERS=This book will be very challenging. Read it with a partner and/or a dictionary handy.
FIVE FINGERS=This book is probably too hard to be fun. Save it for later ,or read it with an adult who can help you.
Responding to Reading:
*Tell what you like or dislike about a book and why.
*Tell about parts of your book that confused you or made you ask questions.
*Tell what you noticed about the characters, such as what made them act as they did or how they changed.
*Write about something in the book that surprised you or that you found interesting.
*Write your predictions and about whether predictions were right.
*Ask for help in figuring out the meaning of your book.
*Tell about the connections that you made while reading the book. (Text to Text - reminded you of another book you read, Text to Self - reminded you of yourself or your life, Text to World - reminded you of something around you or in the outside world)
*Write about the author's style and how it makes you feel.
*Write about the language the author used and why you think the author wrote this way.
*Write about the author's craft - what was effective about the way the author wrote.