Saturday, April 6, 2013

No, David! - Inference

Reviewing Inference:  Day 2 (review pic of Day 1)

Cassie and I used the children's book No, David! by David Shannon to begin our STAAR Reading review.  We started with this for multiple reasons:  kids just took STAAR Writing this week (tired), Inferencing is a HUGE part of the STAAR Reading test, inferencing with a children's book and pictures is a nice ease into the skill.


As I mentioned in my last post, Cassie found this lesson on a kinder teacher's website:
First Grade Parade

This kids LOVED it!

First, we reviewed the Inference Anchor Chart we created the day before.



Then, we did an interactive read aloud of the book.  I read while the pages of the book were projected so the kids could see the pictures well.  You could take your own pictures or do a search on youtube.  There are a few options.

I had a chart posted on the board that mirrored the Inference formula (connection to math) we discussed the day before:

TE  +  BK  =  Logical Inference


I put this chart together based on a  couple of different anchor charts I found on Pinterest.

We then went back through each page and charted the text using text evidence and background knowledge to reach a logical inference.  Each student had their own copy of the No, David inference chart to fill out as we discussed and reviewed.  They were allowed to discuss with their group and then we took turns as groups came up to the board to chart their inference on our class chart.  

What I found what that kids have a hard time understanding what background knowledge really is!  Wow!  So on Monday, we will be reviewing making connections:  T-T, T-S, T-W and the 4 specific types of Inferences.  That way we will be able to further clear up what using background knowledge really means before we move on.  I learned I sometimes take for granted what they should already know.

Success!

Maas Out!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Inferencing! The big buzz word, skill, focus,... new ideas

Inferencing...  a HUGE part of our ELA curriculum.  So... jumping into our two week review before STAAR Reading, my teaching partner and I have come up with a few good ideas...actually...stolen ideas from great resources!  Taking a page from Harry Wong's book... STEAL, STEAL, STEAL!  

So, I went to Pinterest and found some great Inferencing Anchor Charts and squished a few together to come up with the following:


Will work on reviewing what it means in general one day, and students will begin their Making Connections folder with this anchor chart on the front:


Stole the Making Connections Unit idea from our 6th grade ELA team (thanks Sara!) and the folder idea from our 7th grade history teacher (thanks Sharon!)!  : )

More will be added to the interior of the folder as we move through the next two weeks: examples, foldables glued in, venn diagrams, charting of text, etc.  More pics to come as I finish my teacher model.

Day 2 we will use the book No, David by David Shannon to do an introduction review to inferencing with pictures as we chart the following for each page as a class:
 1.  What I see/read (Text Evidence)  +  2. What I Know (BK)  =  Logical Inference

My teaching partner, Cassie, got the book idea from a kinder teacher website!
http://thefirstgradeparade.blogspot.com/2012/01/inferencing-with-no-david-and-silent-e.html

The chart idea I got from Pinterest and just tweaked it a bit.

That's it for now!  More to come and will certainly share....  already have another idea for next week that I'm stealing from another 6th grade teacher, Chad, at our sister middle school!  Thanks Chad! Sharing IS Caring!  : )

Maas Out!