The other two strategies I wrote lessons on were sequence circle and "what's the scoop?"
A sequence circle helps students to understand the sequence of stories and identifying the main points. The organizer consists of a paper divided into four parts. In the middle (overlapping the inside corners of each of the four parts) there is a circle flow chart labeled 1-4. The students draw and write the beginning of the story in the first area and end with the ending in the number four area. The flow chart helps students determine the flow of the story and emphasizes that they can only pull out four main things, not every little detail. Students, particularly young students can use the pictures they draw to aid in their writing and/or oral retelling of a book. I decided to use this strategy with a book about the four seasons since this is a topic my students have a hard time grasping and it is easily broken into four parts.
"What's the Scoop?" This is a retelling strategy that helps students understand the concepts of beginning, middle and end. The student starts with an ice cream cone (brown construction paper triangle) where he writes the title of the book. The child then has three “scoops” (ice cream shapes). On the first one (ends up on top) the child writes or draws what happened at the beginning of a story. On the second one, he illustrates or writes what happened in the middle of the story and on the last one (closest to the cone) the child represents the ending of the story. The child then has a very visual representation of the story. My kids loved this strategy- it was very visual and concrete but still very fun for the kids to make.
Comments (3)
Both of these strategies sound very student friendly. I like the visual with the ice cream. I wonder if the circle sequence could be adapted to use for life cycles? I feel that if the student can at least be allowed to sketch a picture it improves the writing product.
Posted by Lori Vestal | March 25, 2010 6:38 AM
Posted on March 25, 2010 06:38
Jackie, I really like both of these strategies. I think the sequence circle is a really great idea especially when working with students who continue to struggle with sequencing. Also, "What's the Scoop?" sounds like a great way to work on comprehension that will appeal to the students! I really like both of these strategies!
Posted by Ashley Funderburk | March 25, 2010 1:56 PM
Posted on March 25, 2010 13:56
Jackie- I really liked both of these strategies. We do butterflies soon and that would be a great way to show/write about metamorphosis.
The ice cream scoop activity sounds like the Hamburger model that I wrote about earlier. I guess foods are really appealing for reading comprehension- ha! Anyway, I also like that you mention drawing pictures of what happened. Some of my EC students would be much better equipped to draw pictures sometimes than to write. Good idea!
Posted by Kristen Kinney Reynolds | March 25, 2010 9:31 PM
Posted on March 25, 2010 21:31