Why do readers need to respond to a text? As, teachers it is our job to make sure that our students not only read a text, but that they also comprehend that text. In order to help our students comprehend a text, we should assign them reading response activities like we did in class last week. For example, after reading a text, I might ask students to respond to the text in their journals. I could also have them fill out Character charts, vocabualry charts, sequence charts, etc. I could have them create their own mini-books, summarizing and illustrating the events of the story.
Some ideas of my own: Last year I worked on a lesson plan where I had students write a comic strip, in which there is a character from the story, and themselves (as a character). Instruct them to have a conversation with a character in the book.
It is important that students make connections with the text, activate their background knowlege and that they find their own meaning of the text--as Rosenblatt would say. There are several ways to help students achieve these connections--ranging from simple journal entries to activities and projects.
My favorite book we read in class last Thursday was "The Sweetest Fig," and my least favoirte was "The Amazing Bone."
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great ideas! I work with many students who don't read well themselves or some not at all. We have them draw pictures and make puppets.
ReplyDeleteKayleen, I liked the idea of creating a minibook. It is definitely a great way to get the students to think about, and understand, what they read and how to put it all together.
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