By all means---start over! It's better to tell your students up front that this is not what making a connection is. I've had to begin again---more than one time.
I also use the words "text evidence" with the older kids---4th grade and up. While reading aloud to model a "response," ask for their input and discuss why or why not their response fits. Is it a connection OR a coincidence? Just because your friend's name is Jill, and the book's character is Jill...is NOT a connection. It's a coincidence. Fifth graders should be able to understand the difference. I began response journals with my 6th graders about 7 days ago---my first period class's journals were due this week. In a word... All they did was "summarize." I had TWO positive examples out of the entire class, which I read to all my reading classes. (after getting permission from the writer, of course.) These two examples were NOT, by any stretch of the imagination, perfect----and I stated that. But both had examples of questioning the author, making connections, predicting. One girl even used two small Venn diagrams (something I had NOT told them to include---but made me SMILE) to compare/contrast the main character with herself and the main character's family and hers. Wow! I was very impressed...and of course gushed all over that idea! Next week my 2nd period class's journals are due...so I hope to get a few more examples I can share with my classes. Maybe even some I can copy to transparencies. Barbara/6th/FL -----Original Message----- On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] I would like some help on how you start this with your students. I have been modeling making connections with a book we are reading aloud. I modeled a written entry into my log. I asked the students to write a personal response to what we've read so far. The personal connections I made were about moving to a new place. A lot of my students wrote about how they felt when they moved. I doubt they all have moved! The character in the book talks about how he doesn't know the name of his street..half of my class said they felt just like him because they didn't know where they were! We've only been in school for week, and I need to start over. I really want these journals to be "thinking" journals where they are really recording thought s they are having while they read. I'd really appreciate any suggestions! thanks, Lisa _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.
