Friday, November 1, 2013

Reading - Ensuring Students Understand

Chapter 7 - Fiesta Fatal
As I have probably stated before, when I read mini-novels with my students, I want the students to understand the storyline.  I know from experience, that if I ask the students if they understand, some will say yes even when they don't.  My job is to ensure they really do understand.

After reading chapter 7 of Fiesta Fatal, the book I'm piloting for Mira Canion, I created a review activity of the main character's journal.  Some of the statements are taken directly from the chapter, others are thoughts that Vanesa might say or think, and others are statements that are not true.  Students read the statements and checked the ones that match Vanesa's character. 

Chapter 9 - Fiesta Fatal
In the last few years, I have moved away from grammar lectures and have replaced them with many short pauses in conversation and reading to point out and/or ask questions why something is written the way it is.  My students do not specifically know the terms imperfect and preterite, but they are beginning to write the correct tense when needed.  To sharpen that skill, I tried a new activity in which I could quickly assess their progress.

First, I gave each student a page from the newspaper, folded to make it more manageable.  Since newspapers are a good source of information, the newspaper represented background information.  I also gave them a copy of a ticket to a Lucha Libre event that I made online. Lucha Libre is entertainment similar to WWE, which means it is an event filled with a lot of action.

Then I read the chapter to the students.  They closed their eyes and when I said a statement which included information (imperfect), they held up the newspaper, and for a statement that described a specific action of one of the characters (preterit), they held up the Lucha Libre ticket.  It didn't take long for me to see which students were consistently answering  correctly and which students were unsure and were making more errors.  

After the newspaper/Lucha Libre ticket exercise, I gave them a paper with sentences that they read and then wrote I (for información) or A (for acción). 

The newspaper/ticket activity can be used with any book or story. Choose something to represent the two different past tenses that are related to the storyline and choose a reading that has a good mix of both tenses. 

Both activities described above are good reviews of the chapter for the students, and also will enable you to better identify which students are struggling and need extra support.

39 comments:

  1. I love this idea! Could I possibly get a link to your journal activity? I just started the book this week...my email is lcenci@beaufortacademy.org.

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    1. I emailed the link to you today. Let me know if you have difficulty opening the document.

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    2. Would you also be willing to send me a link? I'm starting this book this week. jmerillat@edgertonschools.org

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    3. Could you send me a link as well? I'm excitedly starting this with my students next week!

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    4. Hi, can I possibly get a link for Vanesa's journal entry as well? email: cfdespain@aurorak12.org

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    5. I realize I'm copying everyone else here, but I would LOVE to get a link to, if you don't mind. This is similar to what I wanted to do as an IPA, so I would love to see your take.

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    6. Hello! Could you possibly send me the link for Vanesa's journal entry? I LOVE this idea!! Thank you!
      sgutting@hse.k12.in.us

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    7. Hello! Can I please have a copy of your activity too? My email address is figueroagilda@saydel.net

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  2. Thanks for all your creative ideas! could you share the journal activity. My email is st_jordan@smfcsd.org

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  3. I love your diary idea, new spin on things. Could you send me your document? My address is hesslere@hermantownschools.org. ¡Mil gracias!

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  4. Thank you so very much for all your hard work and sharing of materials. I am quite new to TCI and have been learning from wonderful blogs like yours. This is my first time teaching from novels and your resources are truly life-and time-savers. If you are willing to part with the journal activity link, may I please have a copy? janetlhu at gmail dot com !!Mil gracias!!

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  5. thank you for always sharing your materials!! would you be willing to send me the journal document, please? agasser@norwayne.net I would be so grateful!!

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    1. I emailed it to you today. Sorry for the delay in sending it.

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  6. hola,
    I'm starting this novel and interested in this journal. Please send the link mehughes@ccsd.ws

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    1. I emailed the link to you. Let me know if you have any problems opening it.
      C. Hitz

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  7. Could I also get a link for the journal? Much appreciated! Lmichalczuk@swcrk.org

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  8. Hola! I would love a link as well. mandy.gillin@redclay.k12.de.us Gracias!

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  9. Gracias for the help in Fiesta Fatal, I would love the link too if possible. hgrimm@nevada.k12.ia.us Gracias!

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    1. I emailed the document to you. Let me know if you did not receive it. C. Hitz

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  10. I would love to have the journal activity. My email is kali.thigpen@cabarrus.k12.nc.us Thank you in advance!

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  11. Hola Sra Hitz ,
    Me podrias enviar el enlace, por favor? voy a ensenar esta novela ahora. Gracias :)

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    1. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bjS3kT5C3dYAi2vy5FciyEtGoQgTYSt4/view?usp=sharing
      Let me know if you have any difficulty opening it and downloading it.

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    2. Sorry - I thought it was going to make a live link, but you'll have to copy and paste the link above.

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  12. I would love to have this journal entry. Can you send it to me too? thanks!
    mechiburu@djusd.net

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  13. Could I get a copy of your diary entry please? Christie.anderson@k12.nd.us

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  14. I would love to have this journal entry. Can you send it to me also? thanks in advance!
    heavenspanish@gmail.com

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  15. I would love to have this journal entry. Can you send it to me also? thanks in advance!
    heavenspanish@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I emailed it to you today. Let me know if you have any problems accessing it.

      Delete
  16. Hello, I would love a link to your journal entry please!! correak@loudoncounty.org

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  17. May I have a copy of your journal entry? Correak@loudoncounty.org
    Thank you!

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  18. May I have a copy of your journal entry too?
    cfdespain@aurorak12.org
    You are AMAZING!!!

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  19. May I have a copy of your journal entry also? Thank you.
    kathy.leaf@venturausd.org

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  20. May I also have a copy of your journal entry? tsalinas@granvilleschools.org Thank you! :)

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  21. May I too have a copy of the journal entry? thorn@bennps.org
    Thanks!!

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  22. May I also have a copy of the journal entry? Riveral@lasd.k12.pa.us

    ReplyDelete