Kristin We too are working on theme and I have discovered that asking questions really helps kids focus in on the author's intent... especially for kids who are strugglers. They ask thick or thin questions before during and after reading. They can ask about any literacy element ( title, setting, character, problem, and solution illustrations etc.) Even though they don't know the answer ...the question brings them closer to the author's message. for example for a real struggler: what was the problem..... class discussion.... how come the author made that be the problem? more class discussion.... then connections to self and world..... the message becomes apparent because the author writes the way he writes for his purpose..... characters do what they do... problems arise and are solved so that the author can get his theme out there..... Asking questions makes strugglers less worried about not knowing and they are still adding to the discussion to discover the purpose of the author. As you continue to do this.... kids really get the reading/writing connection from the perspective of the author as well as their own as the reader. Hope this makes sense...... maybe i needed to give more examples _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org.
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