Let's start with the 5th graders. We are currently reading "No Talking" by Andrew Clements. This book is perfect for my little group of 5ths because this particular group LOVES to talk! This is a story about a group of 5th graders that loves to talk. The boys and girls start a competition to see who can talk the least over a two-day time period. It's a fun book with a great message at the end. I'm using a novel unit that I created:
My novel unit contains vocabulary for each chapter and comprehension questions too. The comprehension questions are both multiple-choice and short-answer. Of course, the packet is the least favorite of my students' tasks. They actually would love to listen to me read the entire time, but I take turns reading with them and then we answer the questions together. On the short-answer questions, we are working on using part of the question in our answer and writing complete sentences. I'm kind of a stickler for this skills, as I know many teachers in the future will require them to write this way, and I want them to be prepared for that.
With my 6th graders, we are reading "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix. This book is a science fiction novel based in the future. The government has made a rule that families can have no more than two children. Luke is a third child, and he has to spend his life in hiding. He begins to wonder if there are other third children out there. This is the first in a series. Kids usually can't wait to read further into the series after reading the first book with me. I'm using this packet from Lovin' Lit:
Lovin' Lit also has vocabulary, multiple choice questions, and more in her TPT store, but I've been using this packet because it focuses on text evidence. I can also keep working on writing complete sentences, using part of the question in the answer, with this group as well.
If you're interested in either of these books and the questions that go along with them, just click on the picture of the novel unit you'd like, and it should take you directly to the product for purchase.
Reading novels is one of my favorite things to do with students. I love choosing books that get them excited about reading. The 5th grade teacher asks what I do in my room because her students can't wait to get out the door to my room. All we are doing is reading, and they can't get enough of it. Their next choice is "Holes" by Louis Sachar. This book is one of my favorites, so I'm really excited to share it with my 5ths. However, I'm a bit worried that they won't understand the content since they are all struggling readers, which is why I'm saving it until the end of the school year. I'm hoping that if we take it slowly and spend a lot of time discussing, they will pick it up just fine.
Thanks for tuning in! Hope you've all been having a wonderful spring break. I know I have! :)
