Arctic Snow Business UPDATE etc.

Okay, first of all, I made updates to my Arctic Snow Business: An Avalanche of Nonfiction Fun pack!  I had a few special requests, so I have added an extra 12 pages to the file as a result.  :)  The packet now covers three more nonfiction features: the title, headings, and subheadings.  I have also added cover sheets for the student work pages to enable you to bind them into books if you choose to!  If you have already purchased the file, you just need to go into your downloads to access the updated file at no additional cost!  I hope you like the additions!

 We are just getting started with "A Symphony of Whales" in our Reading Street series, so we did a little previewing action today.  I like to use tree maps with my third graders as another alternative to the KWL or my schema charts once in a while to mix it up while activating prior knowledge.  Novelty is always a good thing.  I know you see them a lot on kindergarten and first grade blogs, but this is how I use them with older students, and I think it works just swell! :)  Please excuse my chicken scratch.  I frequently pump out quick anchor charts, and they rarely look like anything to write home about.

To preview our vocabulary, this time the kiddos went on a gallery walk.  I wrote the words on blue papers and hung them around the room.  The kids had ten minutes to walk around and contribute to each poster.  They either wrote the meaning in their own words, sketched it out, or listed examples of the word.  I had the kiddos read what other students wrote to prompt deeper thinking and more connections, and it was a hit! They were so into it, that there was an audible groan when time was up.  We took some time to go over their posters afterward, and we clarified any misconceptions about terms by adding the definitions they need to study for the RS test to our posters.  We acted out a few definitions like surrounded and melody, and of course, that always helps cement the meaning too!

In other news, it looks like the Arctic outside of my window.  We're getting hit with lots of snow tonight, so I am totally staying in.  All night.  :)  Yay!!!!