Reading+-+Literacy

Some ideas for supporting reading, ESL, primary students for reading/literacy:

App: Download Storyrobe or Voicethreads and some note taking app. Grade 3 up Have students identify the elements of a story, and give a reflection for that story. We have been reading the story, "Thunder Cake". Students first had to create an outline of the story elements using the Notes app on thier iPads. Students then had to import a picture into Storyrobe and record themselves reviewing the story elements and giving their "Author's Viewpoint".

Grade 4 students examples of asking critical questions. (Mr. Oden) Using blooms to scaffold students to ask higher order thinking questions. My Storyrobe project focused on the reading strategy questioning. The emphasis was on writing excellent questions, so I did not have the students record their answers in Storyrobe. I've noticed that my students are good at asking recall questions, but are much less skilled of thinking of questions that inspire deeper discussions. For this project, the kids had to write one question for each of the six types of questions according to Bloom's Taxonomy. I asked students to write questions that relate to the pictures in the story, "Pioneer Girl." I did provide question stems to assist with formulating the different types of questions. I also modeled the process from beginning to end. I've provided three samples, one each from a high, average, and lower student.

I had the kids use DoodleBuddy to label their questions. One problem they had was that Storyrobe cuts off the top of pictures. We learned that labels need to be placed lower on pictures to avoid being cut off.

Here is a living list of ideas by teachers: http://eusd.edmodo.com/public/eusd-iread/group_id/68882