Synthesis, Sound Snackers, and Multiplication Practice! Whew!

Today, I unveiled the synthesizing strategy using my synthesizing goodies!  My students were so engaged!  They loved the nesting monkeys, and they were completely enthralled by The Littlest Matroyshka!  I love this book so much, and it was perfect to teach the strategy.  However, you could really teach the lesson with any book that lends itself to this comprehension skill.  Honestly, this is one my favorite lessons... ever!

I began by introducing the book and discussing the history of matroyshkas (which is in the back of the book).  I demonstrated how they fit together with my nesting monkeys and pointed out the various sizes.  I explained that during today's read aloud, I would be sharing how my thoughts grow and change as I read.  I explained that we call this synthesis, and I pointed to the nesting monkeys (which were all set out from smallest to largest).  I explained that when I read, my ideas grow and build on to previous ideas.  I demonstrated putting the monkeys together again.  I discussed how I start with the smallest nesting monkey, just like we usually start with one small idea about a book.  Then, the idea grows and it changes just a little bit.  It adds on to what we originally thought, and we eventually end up with layers of thoughts.  I compared it to a ripple in a pond and an onion, then I asked the students to pay attention as I read and shared my thoughts.

Occasionally, we paused so that I could model synthesizing or to engage the students in sharing their thoughts.  By the end, I took my post-its and we reviewed how my thinking changed throughout the story.  I added them to my anchor chart.  Then, I had the students practice.  I read Koala Lou, and I told the students to raise their pointer fingers every time they had a Eureka moment and noticed their thinking change.  At the end, they turned and talked to one another briefly and we shared out thoughts.  Then, I sent them out to practice the skill during independent reading.  I also used cards that you can see in the corner of the first picture to help students use the language of synthesis initially.  You may opt to use the nesting doll as talking prompts as well, once the students no longer need the language prompts.  They could hold a small doll and start saying, "I'm thinking..." and progress through larger dolls to discuss their synthesis of the story.  Eventually, the students should be able to discuss how their thinking grows and changes without them!  :)  In the meantime, it's a nice scaffold!

In other news, I wanted to take a moment to share the finished Sound Snackers!  I can't wait to use them with the kiddos!  They created quite a buzz in the classroom today.  :)  Instead of giving students words to sort, I am going to have them add words to the Sound Snackers when we go on word hunts.  They'll write on Post-Its to feed the animals, and then if the word fits the rule we were looking for, we'll add it to the anchor chart.  I let my kiddos have ownership of our posters, but sometimes there are scribbles and words scratched out when they realize there's a mistake.  It sometimes makes me crazy looking at it, so this should be a happy solution for all of us!

I also wanted to quickly share these cuties!  I stuck dice in them to have students shake and solve multiplication problems in their math journals.  Very little prep on my part, but the kids think they are so cool!  I found them at the Dollar Tree!

Lastly, look who came back from Spring Break with a stack of books today!  Emily!  You know you have a community of readers when even American Girl dolls are voracious readers.