Character Unit & Lesson Plans

Each teaching point within the unit has a corresponding lesson attached.  Teacher model and student try books are only suggestions, and corresponding read aloud lesson plans for those book can be found in the "Read Aloud" section.  Ideas for additional teaching points are always appreciated, as I'm designing lessons that correspond with a blend of the Common Core and Colorado Standards. 

Character Unit: Good readers understand the characters in their books! Good readers identify the traits of the characters and provide proof (evidence) from the story to support their thinking. Good readers notice what a character says and does and ask themselves, "What does this make me think?" to make an inference about the character. Graphic Organizers: Teaching Points 1 & 2 Good readers identify how a character's feelings change throughout a story and the events that contribute to their change.   Good readers synthesize what they’ve read by identifying and sequencing the character’s most significant events. Graphic Organizers: Teaching Points 3 & 4

Read Aloud Plans (Picture Books)

I first used many of these picture book plans with my 2nd grade class.  Starting in January 2013, since my students aren't quite as proficient of readers, I will be using them with my 3rd grade literacy group.  Depending on the purpose and reading level of your students, they could definitely be used with a wide range of rades. 

All of the read-alouds are written the same way to include:
-Main Idea/Lesson of the story in both adult/student friendly language
-Aligned teacher "Think Alouds" and student "Turn and Talks"

Ideally, the entire read aloud would take about 15-20 minutes, with some books being shorter and others longer.  All of the read alouds I post will be utilized for teacher modeling and student try's during Reader's Workshop lessons.  We'll be emphasizing fiction at first, and then jumping to nonfiction.  

Read Aloud Plans:

Doctor De Soto by William Steig

Enemy Pie by Derek Munson

My Name is Yoon by Helen Recorvits

Not Norman: A Goldfish Story by Kelly Bennett

Something Beautiful by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel: "Tomorrow"
Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel: "The Kite"

Houndsley & Catina: Plink & Plunk by James Howe
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Julius: The Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes

Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes

Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie de Paola

Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch

Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts

Wings by Christopher Myers

The journey to the present...

I've only been teaching for seven years, but somehow within that limited amount of time I have taught reading in MANY ways.  I started at a high-performing charter school in Colorado where we read "classic-ish" novels and developed worksheets and plans to align to the books.  Then, I worked at another high-performing charter in New York City where my world was rocked by Reader's Workshop.  And then, I moved back to Colorado Springs and became a pseudo reading-interventionist and was faced with teaching a "skills-based" reading method.  

While I recognize there is no perfect way to teach a child to read, I know that one style of teaching reading that has resonated most within me as an educator and is currently inspiring me to write and share units, lesson plans, and technology files.  I'm sure there will be typos not only in my lesson plans, but in my posts, and I ask for your grace as I work to get things created, posted, and out to others.  I'm also aware that many other people are probably doing and creating even more amazing lessons than I will post, but maybe someone will find these helpful.  All I ask, is that you use any materials you find and spread the word if you like them!  I hope this will become a place where passionate teachers can find, share, and collaborate to impact all students.