Friday, October 25, 2013

LAST STOP of the Super Sleuths Mystery Blog Hop!

Awesome job, Super Sleuth!  You made it to the final letter!  You are almost ready to crack the mysterious reading code!  If you just 'hopped in' and missed some clues, retrace your steps and head back to Stop #1 Comprehension Connection to collect all the fabulous FREEBIES along the way!
NOW....get ready to read about an awesome strategy for teaching informational text...The Text Feature Walk!
Most primary-aged students learn how to do a "Picture Walk" before reading a story.  While previewing text, students activate prior knowledge, make predictions, and set a purpose for reading the book.  Effective reading instruction includes this important strategy yet this supportive practice is not as common when using informational text. 
When entering intermediate grades, students may experience difficulty reading textbooks and informational text due to high-level vocabulary and unfamiliar concepts.  In addition to these complexities, students encounter numerous text features throughout the text that often get overlooked even though they have been taught their importance.  The Text Feature Walk is a technique that explicitly teaches the purpose and importance of text features which enables students to navigate any informational text more effectively. 

First, students learn how text features support informational text.  Familiarizing your students with the purpose of each text feature is key to the lesson's success.  Additionally, it is important to model an interactive discussion about text so that students will be prepared to do it on their own.

Once students are familiar with text features and are able to hold a focused discussion about text, you can easily introduce the steps of a Text Feature Walk.  Through explicit modeling and thinking aloud, demonstrate the steps to follow while taking a Text Feature Walk using a short nonfiction article.  The steps outlined on our Student Cue Cards include identifying the text feature, making a prediction, making a connection, asking questions, and predicting the main idea.


Part 2 of the lesson focuses on guided practice with the teacher providing support as needed.  Within small groups, students use the cue cards to preview and discuss each text feature in order to activate prior knowledge, make connections, and set a purpose prior to reading the information text.

Once groups are finished, have students come back together as a whole group to discuss what went well and what they learned from their discussions.  They are now ready to read and more fully comprehend the text!


We hope you enjoy the last FREEBIE in the Super Sleuths Mystery Blog Hop!  Thank you to all the participants (Reading Specialists/Literacy Coaches/Title 1 Teachers), especially Carla from Comprehension Connection, for coordinating this awesome event!  Don't forget to follow all of us on Facebook or bloglovin' for updates on future blog hops and fun!
 And now for the moment you have been waiting for.....the last letter to crack the mysterious reading quote from Katherine Patterson! Use this quote to enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win 1 of 6-$25.00 Teachers Pay Teachers gift certificates!


Have a great weekend, friends! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway





























28 comments:

  1. Hi! I entered the giveaway, but I didn't see where to put the quote. There wasn't a spot to type it in. If I am supposed to send the quote another way and just missed it, please let me know!

    - Katy

    first grade kate @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Katy-I just fixed it. You will be counted as entered.
      Carla-Comprehension Connection

      Delete
  2. I had the same question as Katy above.
    jkmatuch@aol.com

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  3. Ditto for me, I entered the contest , but there wasn't a spot to type in the quote. CRBURRELL@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about that. It's fixed now and your entry was counted.

      Delete
  4. Same here :) teachingwhope@gmail.com There were some AMAZING freebies on this hope though. Thank you for the hard work that went into putting it all together!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about that Hope. It's fixed now. If you entered already, your entry will be counted.

      Delete
  5. Same here. Here is the quote: It is not enough to simply teach children to read. We have to five them something worth reading, something that will stretch their imagination.

    Beverly Oliver (loliver2 at bak dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about that, Beverly. It is fixed now. Please enter now. If you already did, your entry will be counted.

      Stacy

      Delete
  6. Thank you so much for putting this hop together. It turned out amazing, and I'm so excited to use my new freebies! I really love your product and can't wait to use it with my students.

    Don't Let the Teacher Stay Up Late
    Follow me on Bloglovin!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Was tons of fun! What do we do with our quote?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about that Sara. It's fixed now and you can enter quote.

      Stacy

      Delete
  8. I am so sorry. I had entered the information wrong with Rafflecopter. I have fixed it and all who entered their names will be counted.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Stacy and Colleen...Wow...your freebie is adorable, and I love it. I appreciate all of your help to make this happen, and I'm sorry I dropped the ball with the Rafflecopter. We had grades and report card comments due today, so I worked full day vs. PT. I just couldn't get back to check on things. Sorry for the confusion to you guys and participants that came through early.

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  10. This was soooo much fun!! I picked up some fabulous tips and strategies that I will be using with my students. Keeping everything crossed that I win one of the gift certificates!! :^)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are so happy you enjoyed it, Melissa! Good luck!

      Stacy

      Delete
  11. Lots of fun and lots of great stuff and information. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Laura! We are so glad that you liked it!

      Colleen and Stacy

      Delete
  12. Thank you ladies for your efforts in the blog hop. I loved your promoting images and freebies. I really appreciate all you did to make this a huge success! :))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Emily! It sure was fun! I just finished the hop and was AMAZED by everyone's work! Awesome!

      Stacy

      Delete
  13. When I enter the quote, there is only enough room for the first line. Here is the whole quote:
    It is not enough to simply teach children to read;
    we have to give them something worth reading.
    Something that will stretch their imaginations

    I loved the hop, great resources!

    Dee:)
    overthemoonbow.owner@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry about that, Dee. We have had a little trouble with the Rafflecopter. Your entry will be counted! We are glad you enjoyed the hop!

      Colleen and Stacy

      Delete
  14. An awesome finale to our blog hop !
    Thanks so much ! I look forward to more collaborations with the two of you ! :)

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    Replies
    1. Ah, thanks Wendy! It sure was fun!! Same here!!

      Colleen and Stacy

      Delete
  15. Yay! We did it! I just finished hopping through. It literally took me all day, but I stopped to read each post carefully, download the resources, comment, and follow each blog, FB, and TPT page. This was such a rewarding experience; I'm thrilled to have been part of it. Thanks for hosting!

    Your resource is so fun! I'm excited to use it with my third, fourth, and fifth graders. :)

    Wendy
    Read With Me ABC

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you, Wendy! We are so happy that you joined us.

    ReplyDelete