Welcome to…
With Valentine's Day approaching, our group of reading specialists, coaches, and teacher bloggers decided it was the perfect time to share our love of literacy with you. Each of us is passionate about helping children develop a love of reading, and what better way to love reading than through our favorite books. Each blogger participating in this weekend's hop is sharing materials for his/her favorite book, book about friendship, or for Valentine's day. We hope you'll enjoy using them and sharing your love of literacy with your students.
I have a passion for teaching students to love reading. I was a very good reader, but I enjoyed reading less and less as I became older (sixth grade on). I began reading less for pleasure and when I did have to read for school, I found that my comprehension suffered if I really didn't care for the book. I found out as an adult that I have ADD, so I am sure that played a part in my lack of interest and comprehension as the books became more advanced. I know what it feels like to not want to read, so I make it my mission to find books that kids can get excited about and read even when they don't have to!
Today, I only teach reading, writing, and language arts, and I read aloud great books to my class every single day. Nothing inspires me more than to see students get excited about reading and learning about different authors.
One thing I have found that motivates reluctant readers and writers is poetry. We are learning about all kinds of poetry and how to write poems. Poetry motivates even the most reluctant reader and writer because it's fun, rhythmic, and it doesn't have to rhyme.
Today, I only teach reading, writing, and language arts, and I read aloud great books to my class every single day. Nothing inspires me more than to see students get excited about reading and learning about different authors.
One thing I have found that motivates reluctant readers and writers is poetry. We are learning about all kinds of poetry and how to write poems. Poetry motivates even the most reluctant reader and writer because it's fun, rhythmic, and it doesn't have to rhyme.
Product explanation… My students have started writing poetry, and they love it! They're pretty good at it, too! They love learning about the structure of poetry and how it sounds when they read it. One of their favorite assignments so far is writing color poems. I read students a few books to inspire their colorful imaginations!
These are all highly entertaining books that made colors come to life through figurative language. My students wrote letters to themselves from the point of view of one of their crayons and wrote color poems about a color of their choice. I have created a resource for writing color-themed letters and poetry that can be used with any or all of the resources shown above. Enjoy this freebie!
 |
Jenifer
What a great unit...thanks for sharing both your resource and your story...I found out as an adult that I have ADHD and it's such a struggle sometimes to maintain focus on one topic at a time & keeping up with paperwork, but it has brought me quite a bit of understanding for my kids and empathy for their parents...however I think it has also enabled me to not expect anything less than their best even if they struggle...I'm not always looking for the right answer ; I'm looking for their thought process
ReplyDeleteI'm the exact same way! I have very high expectations from myself and my students! I also love telling them that I know what it's like to struggle with attention. :)
DeleteThis makes me miss teaching poetry! Our required writing curriculum makes me so sad. Back when I taught poetry writing, my favorite mentor text was Little Dog Poems by Kristine O'Connell George. If you don't know it you, have to check it out!
ReplyDeleteDeb
Not very fancy
Many reluctant readers and writers love poetry because it lacks so many rules of standard and formal writing. I think I might have that book (I have hundreds of poetry books!) :)
ReplyDeleteJen