Mr. Moshé’s Critically Thinking . . . Are You?

Well, for starters, we’ve been getting to know what reading strategies are, how we use them, and how they are actually skills we put to use all the time…not just when we read. The core strategies are: Predicting, Questioning, Visualizing, Connecting, Evaluating, and Clarifying.

We have also begun our deep dive into the Elements of Fiction. We started today by getting this list down, and looking up the definitions: Short Story, Novel, Plot, Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Resolution, Setting, Conflict – Internal & External, Characters – Dynamic/Protagonist, Antagonist/Static -, Theme.

Ah, yes, and I collected everyone’s Reader’s Notebooks today. I am very impressed with what I’m seeing. Keep up the great work!!!!

But the COOOOOOLEST thing going on right now is that students have begun creating their own websites. How awesome is that? You can check them out at your leisure whenever you like. We will be visiting the computer lab again this Thursday to work hard on customization, About Me pages, and an initial discussion question (or two). Stay in touch to find out how you can get in on the discussion.

If you are a participating student, keep up with what’s gone on, what’s going on,a nd what’s ahead by looking at the Classroom Rules Project Pages.

If you are a visiting teacher, check out the pages detailing the way this project can be rolled out in your classroom. This project gives children the chance to work independantly, in pairs, in small groups, and as a whole class.