• Mystery -

    Mystery Book Clubs

    *Wondering/Noticings
    *Clues/Notes
    *Suspect/ Culprit
    *Characters/ Characteristics
    *Victim/ Red Herring
    *Predictions/Props
    *Author’s Style/Events
    *Problems/Conflict/Tension
    *What is the mystery?
    *Vocabulary/Places
     
    James Preller   http://www.jamespreller.com/ 
    James Preller Jigsaw Jones Mysteries http://www.jamespreller.com/jigsaw/ 
     
    Folktale 
    Revise and edit your folktale on Google Docs.  Be sure that it has:
      - a plot or clear sequence of events with a beginning, middle, and end 
      - a beginning that introduces the characters, setting, and problem
      - dialogue that uses the characters' words to describe how they feel or what is happening
      - sequence words and phrases that tell when story events happen in order
      - a happy ending or one that feels finished, explains how the problem is solved, tells what happens as a result, answers questions raised earlier in the tale, brings the tale to an end
     
    Discussion Forum (on hold)
    *Discussion Rubric is inside plastic sheet in your agenda.  Please review rubric with a parent and replace rubric inside plastic sheet so it can be seen.  
     
    The Five Finger Rule
         The Five Finger Rule can help you determine if a book is "just right" for you.  A "just right"book is a book that you can read by yourself; books should be neither too difficult nor too easy in order for you to grow as a reader.  Once you have chosen a book, read the first page aloud.  As you read, count on one hand any unknown words (this includes words that you are able to stop and figure out, as well as words you do not know).  If there are five or more unknown words on a full page of text, this book is too challenging!  if you know all of the words, it may be too easy. 
     
    Our Readerly Lives
    * Make pictures in mind
    * Love new books/feel of cover and new pages
    * Read magazines like Boys' Life, Lego Magazine, People, Highlights, Discovery
    * Comics and graphic novels- separate books and in a newspaper
    * Visit the local Scarsdale Library to find books and read there too, come to school to read
    * Read books at home, in the morning, after school, and on weekends
    * Read series like Big Nate
    * Like realistic books about boys and girls my own age and about time long ago
    * Road signs, directions, maps
    * Author/Illustrators like Shel Silverstein
    * Enter every reading game at the library
    * Chapter books and picture books
    * Read recipes, math book problems, flight schedule at airport
    * Email, research topics, Blog on Internet
    * Various genre (legends, graphic novels) and topics (scary)
    * Read before go to bed, when can't get to sleep, in the car,  or are bored, while eating
    * Relax when read a book, on the couch, on and in bed, in a chair, at a table, on the floor, while traveling on the bus, in a car, train, or airplane, at the library, on the stairs, on the computer, at the bookstore
    * Read on electronic devices like Kindle Fire and remember to charge it
    * Read to sibling, parent, or grandparent and have them read to you
    * Keep books on desk, night stand, on shelf
    * In the morning, at night, during the day, when my sister is getting ready for bed, when my parents need to do things like change tires
     
    Conversational Moves - Students are learning to respond to literature in the following ways:

    Sharing Our Thinking and Building on an Idea:
    •    I think/I believe/I feel…
    •    I agree/I see it differently…
    •    I learned

    Opening up Possibilities:
    •    Maybe it could be…
    •    But what about…

    Questioning Each Other:
    •    Why do you think that?
    •    Can you say more about that?
    •    Can you give an example from the text?

    Reacting to the Text:
    •    I'm concerned…
    •    I can't believe…
    •    I admire…

    Questioning the Text:
    •    I wonder why…?
    •    Why did/Why didn't…?
    •    How could/How couldn't…?
    *   What if...?
     
    Read Aloud Questions -  
    Parents, please read aloud to your child at least one night during the week.
    Students, choose any of the following prompts at any point in a read aloud.  Be sure to give reasons for your response.
    *  I think this is about... because...
    *  It was confusing when...because...
    *  I was surprised by...because...
    *  The picture in my head that I will remember most is...because
    *  It was so (funny, sad, scary, etc.) when...because...
    *  The character...is...because
    *  The author probably wrote this because... 
     
    Questions to Ask Yourself While Reading Folktales
    1. What does the main character look like? Why is this important to the story?
    2. What inner traits do you associate with the character? Why?
    3. What is the character’s goal? Explain.
    4. What problems does the character face in reaching the goal?
    5. Where and when does the tale take place? Why is this important to the tale?
    6. What events are most important to the tale?  Why?
    7. Is magic or fantasy important to the story? How?
    8. What lesson can the reader learn from this tale? Why is it important?
    9. How does the problem in the story get solved? How is this important to the story and its lesson?
    10. Explain what you have learned about the culture of the people who created this tale. (Think about cultural universals.)
    11. Why do you think this tale was shared from generation to generation?

    Title of Folktale:____________________________________ Country of Origin:_____________________

    Directions: Chose at least two of the questions above to answer.  Remember to indicate which number question you are answering.  Provide specific answers with supporting details from the text. Remember claim, detail, detail.
     
    Looking at Myths, Legends, Folktales Through Different Lenses -What can Myths Teach us about Cultures Around the World?  Write a claim and two details for each claim.
    1. What can you learn about the culture from the clothing worn by the characters in the myth?
    2. What aspects of the culture's language are in this passage?  What does these words/aspects of language teach you about the culture? Why are they important?
    3. Who has the power in the story?  How do you know they have the power?  What does this tell you about the culture?
    4. What does the information about transportation in this myth tell you about the culture?
    5. How are money, wealth and class systems important in this myth? What does this tell you about the culture?
    6. What are possible messages that the author meant to convey by writing this myth? Are there any lessons learned by the characters in the myth? What information does this give you about the country?
    7. How is geography(land and/or water) important in the myth and what does this tell you about the country?
    8. How are art and architecture important in this myth and what do they tell you about the country's culture?