Nonfiction Research 

Learning to read and understand nonfiction is at the core of this each day in the Diner.  As adults, we read far more nonfiction than fiction.  With that focus, I want my students not only to read and understand nonfiction but also to be able to break it down and write about it after they have read it.  "The Story of" Biography series will do just that all year.  Along with partner reading and book clubs, biographies will be fun.  I have 33 sets of biographies the kids get to choose from.  Discussions, learning how to take notes, learning how to create compelling text and graphic features, and building a more substantial vocabulary are all a part of this endeavor.  The kids are going to love learning about biographies and the people who have made an impact on our world over time.

The skills they learn researching biographies will translate to any nonfiction topic they encounter in Social Studies, Science, chapter books, FedEx Days, and Pop-up Days.  The goal is to develop a solid structure and confidence in reading and writing about nonfiction.

FedEx Days

FedEx Days will be special days throughout the year for students to research timely and fun topics.  This idea came from a book I read years ago about engaging workers in a business place.  The kids are not running a business, but they need days to step away from the schedule to apply the structures they have been taught, learn something new, and share it with others.  FedEx Days are usually announced.  The kids get excited about these days. They will have one to two days off our regular schedule for this.  

First, students will apply the fine art of breaking down a topic to research. Next, they will answer questions by taking notes, writing a solid introduction, making their notes into sentences, creating paragraphs, writing conclusions, and adding text and graphic features to their writings.  Then, in the end, they will learn a variety of projects to share their newfound knowledge with the world.  It is a fun way to learn how to dig deeper and research something of interest successfully while practicing the language, reading, and writing skills we are learning in class.  It is a unique part of the Diner.  

Just like FedEx, they will deliver the final product in one to two days.

Pop-Up Days

Pop-up Days are days on which we apply what we have learned in all subject areas to a fun topic. This is a very condensed version of a FedEx Day and won't be something we do all day on those days.  There will be several of these days throughout the year, but they are 100% a surprise for the kids, like avocados or Disney. Shhhhh.