Maxine, I tried this with first graders and we did plant a garden outside as well. Using the actual tools helped them to make the connections big time. In the spring we used the garden daily to do our read alouds and were blessed with the blooms we had planted in the fall. Reading was the most comfortable and inviting time of the day... even for the strugglers. They looked forward to reading .... and they asked if we could do our guided reading outside as well.... I thought I end up with bug catchers and wanderers but no...... they loved it and it drastically changed my reading from reading and writing and centers to more discussions...small group, large group..... partners ..... in a way I would have never imagined. The garden analogy is very powerful in its explanation of big concepts in reading and one of the most developmentally appropriate ways I know of pulling all the symbolic talk together. I spoke to them in analogies about the garden all the time when relating the strategies .... In return they talked to me about their problems and successes in terms of the garden.... I had weeds growing when I read that page or I bloomed with the author at the end....I was shocked......... I highly recommend that you try it Pam
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