Distinguishing Information from Text & Information from Pictures {Including FREE Resources}

Hi all!

Let me start by saying, you do not have to use Epic! in your class to read this post or use the accompanying resources.

Let me also say, if you are not using Epic! in your classroom, go check it out as soon as possible as soon you finish reading this post.  This online resource has tons of digital books, audio books, read-to-me books, and educational videos.  Best of all, Epic! is FREE for teachers.

I want to share with you the books I picked from Epic! that work perfectly to help students develop the skill of distinguishing between information found in text and information found in pictures.  All of the books are by one of my favorite authors, Gail Gibbons.  Not only does she write very informative and easy to understand informational texts, she also has several books available (for FREE) on Epic!.
Of course, all of these selections are also available in print.  You can click on any of the titles below for a link to each book.  Traditional books work just as well as the digital version for these activities.
The books are:  Apples, Wolves, Sharks, Penguins!, Horses!, From Seed to Plant, Whales, and Monarch Butterfly all by Gail Gibbons.

Distinguishing between information found in text and information found in pictures takes time for students to master.  In order to practice this skill, I start by having my students take a picture walk through a given text, for example, Penguins!.  We look closely at all the pictures and I think aloud my  observations of the pictures.  I'm modeling this behavior in hopes that students will begin to thoroughly examine pictures when they are reading a text independently.
After the picture walk, we use the Text Versus Picture sentence sort to identify which sentences tell information that we could glean from looking closely at the pictures. Students will mark the sentences. (I usually have the students just put a dot beside the sentence-for the time being.)

Then, I have the students listen to the text (or read the text, depending on the students' reading abilities).  By the way, all the texts for these printables have a read-to-me option on Epic!.
After students hear/read the text, we go back over the sorting sentences on the printable and discuss if the remaining sentences tell information students had to discover in the text.
Finally, students cut and glue the sentences into the correct boxes.

You can use one or all of these sorts.  I provide a good deal of support with the first few sorts.  Later in the year, as I see fit, I gradually take away some of the scaffolding for students to complete the assignment.  

You really can utilize these sorts however works best for your students. 

If you are interested in using any of these printables with your class, you can click on the box below.

I hope these ideas and resources will be a good jumping off point with your students as they become more attuned to texts, photographs, illustrations, and all sorts of other text features.

Happy Teaching!

The Daily Five: Where Are They Now? (Plus a Free Word Work Packet)

I'm a fan of HGTV's House Hunters.  I really like House Hunters International.  Most of those episodes really make me appreciate the size of my kitchen and closets.  House Hunters: Where Are They Now? gives you a chance to see what people did with their homes after they move in.
We are over half way through the school year and I thought I might do a little Daily Five: Where Are They Now? post about my Daily Five journey with my class and some changes I've had to make.

I am certainly not an expert on The Daily Five, but I have used it for more than a few years.  I figured if I have had some challenges, other teachers have too.
Here are some of the changes that have helped this year's group of students . . .

Below you will find a freebie packet I've put together for some of the paper assignments during Word Work.  You can use these activities even if you are not doing the Daily Five.

Click on the picture for more information and to download your own copy.

If you are interested in getting started with The Daily Five, be sure to read The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser and check out some of my other Daily Five posts.
Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great week.

Perfect Books for Launching The Daily Five: A Language Arts Mentor Text

Hi friends.  I start school tomorrow with my new class and I will be launching Read to Someone for The Daily Five as well.  I must say, the launch of The Daily Five is not my favorite part of the year.  But, it is so worth it.  Spending plenty of time training your darlings how to behave and get the most out of their time during your literacy block will pay off all year long.

I, of course, love to find fab books to go along with my launch mini lessons.  I have a few to share during this week's Collaboration Cuties weekly Mentor Text Link Up.

As I mentioned before, this trio of books by Debbie Bertram and Susan Bloom is great to go along with your Daily Five launch, but if you do not do the Daily Five, you will still enjoy these texts because they promote the love of books and reading.

The Best Time to Read is a great book to read aloud when you are doing the Three Ways to Read a Book lesson with your students.  I really like how the main character talks about how he used to read the pictures, but now we reads the words.  How perfect!

Click on the picture below if you would like a FREE Three Ways to Read a book anchor chart to go along with this lesson.  

When I am teaching students the three ways to read a book, I usually start out on chart paper.  But, later in the year I like to switch to these smaller anchor charts to pull out for review.

The Best Place to Read follows the main character as he searches for (wait for it) . . . the best place to read.  I like to use this book with the Where to Sit in the Room mini lesson.

Finally, there is The Best Book to Read.  This story takes place in the library and shows different book genres.  It is a great jumping off point to talk about how there are books for every person's unique interests.  I usually use this text on the day we are talking about picking Good Fit books.

Click on the picture below if you would like a FREE Good Fit Book anchor chart to go along with this lesson.  

The clip art are from the anchor charts above is from Melonheadz and KPM Doodles.

During the first week of school I teach all of the lessons mentioned above:  Three Ways to Read a Book, Where to Sit in the Room, and Picking a Good Fit Book.  Bertram and Bloom's books fit perfectly with these concepts.  The illustrations are cute and colorful.  And each book is written in a fun rhyming style that the kids go for.

For a more details about launching The Daily Five, click here.

So here is the scoop for this week's Mentor Text:

For other great book suggestions, activities, and lesson ideas, 

be sure to check out the other mentor text recommendations at Collaboration Cuties.

The Daily Five: Focus on Small Groups

Happy summer everyone!  Mine is winding down and I am getting ready to present at our school system's annual reading and math conference.  I will be sharing about The Daily Five.  My presentation focuses on the recommendations made by authors Gail Boushey and Joan Moser in their book The Daily Five.

However, I have had to make a few adjustments to some of these recommendations so that this literacy structure can work in my classroom.  I think the mark of a good program is that there is some room for flexibility and personal touches.  From my experience, The Daily Five does offer that flexibility.

If you are launching The Daily Five, I have created a set of mini books to support student learning of procedures.  These mini books mirror the language I use on my I charts.  I plan to use them as I introduce each component of The Daily Five or use them as review (if and when students need a refresher on expectations).  If you are interested, click on one of the pics to find out more information.

Thanks for reading and if you have any questions let me know.
Have a great week!

Language Arts Mentor Text Link Up (Featuring Jon Klassen and Two FREEBIES)

It's the first Sunday of the month and time for Collaboration Cuties' Mentor Text Linkup.  This week's topic is language arts.  My mentor text picks for this week are two books by Jon Klassen:  I Want My Hat Back and This Is Not My Hat.

I Want My Hat Back follows Bear as he tries to find his beloved hat.  He asks a series of animals, including  Rabbit (who is actually wearing the missing hat) if they know where his hat is.  All of the animals tell Bear they have not seen his hat.  Eventually Deer asks Bear a question and sparks Bear's memory.  Bear retrieves his hat with a vengeance.
This book is great for sequencing, predictions, and identifying the problem/solution.  Its repetitive phrases are great for early readers.  Bear's hat is also very simple to make.  The kids will love it.

This is Not My Hat is Klassens' follow up to I Want My Hat Back.  It has a similar premise.  The Big Fish's hat goes missing.  But instead of following the Big Fish around, the story focuses on the hat stealing Little Fish.  The Little Fish has a plan to get away with the theft, however the end result is the same as in I Want My Hat Back.  Basically, both books show that crime doesn't pay.

This Is Not My Hat is also perfect for predictions, identifying the problem/solution, as well as retelling. When read together these books offer a fabulous opportunity for comparing and contrasting the characters or the texts.  Below you will find two Venn diagrams to go with these books.  The first compares and contrasts the characters.  The second works with the two books.  The clip art is from KPM Doodles and Melonheadz.

If you would like a free copy of these printables, click on one of the pictures below.

Here's the low down . . .

More mentor text recommendations and activities are at Collaboration.  Be sure to check them out.

The Daily Five: The First Days of Read to Someone (and a FREEBIE)

Hi Summer Lovers.  I'm adding to my ongoing series of Daily Five posts with a focus on getting started with Read to Someone.  As the year progresses Read to Someone (or partner reading) can be tricky.  However, if you really take your time during the first few weeks of school and train your students correctly, Read to Someone can work in your classroom.

If you are thinking about doing The Daily Five in your class, I encourage you to go for it.  If you are waiting to feel like you are an expert and all conditions are right . . . don't.  Read the book.  Look around at other blogs.  Try not to get, overwhelmed.  You will find what works for you, if you give it a try.
Best.