Characterization

I usually start off my first reading lesson of the year with characterization, having students use an about me graphic organizer to describe themselves and then explaining that characters from books could be described using similar organizers.. I'll probably still do that, but this summer I discovered Wordle and Tagzedo. I love them and I am sure my students will too! Check out some of these resources to help students with characterization. I like to use a Venn diagram with our Reading Buddies so that kids an easily learn about each other instead of being stumped as to what to talk about when they first meet.

Wordle

Tagzedo

All About Me book from Enchanted Learning

tons of characterization graphic organizers

Prediction Pete

In my classroom, I have a stuffed wizard named Prediction Pete, an Ask Zandar globe (remember that game?), a wizard hat, and a star pointer. I also use this icon on my sheets whenever I want students to make a prediction. As soon as they see it, they know what to do!

Anticipation guides are also a great way of having students predict, make inferences, and make conclusions about story events because they offer more structure. Click on either of my examples (astronomy or Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - my favorite book EVER!) to download templates.

Here are some  other resources for using the prediction strategy:

Prove It
Harcourt Digger Dog
Guess What Happens Next
Prediction Practice Sheet
Seed/Plant Prediction Sheet
Predicting and Inferring Organizer
Anticipation Guides for Literacy

Very Easy True Stories books with picture walks - a series

Somebody Wanted...But...So...Then

I forget where I heard it, but someone once told me that any book or story can be summarized with the following phrase:

(Somebody) wanted __________, but __________ so ____________; then ___________.

Let's try it:

Cinderella wanted to go to the ball, but she didn't have a dress so her fairy godmother made her a dress and then she went to the ball.

(Click for a rebus story)

Little Red Hen wanted to get help making bread, but dog, cat, and duck didn't want to help, so she made it alone then she ate it all herself.

So the grammar fanatic in me says these are run-on sentences, but it makes summarizing very easy for younger children!

Here's our anchor chart:

Download my graphic organizer or check these out:

Fortune Teller foldable
Roller Coaster

Beginning, Middle, End form