Reading

*Please note that in order to access current lessons you are invited to do the 'Scroll of Achievement' past the introduction and former lessons toward the bottom of this page. All lessons appear in order from the beginning of our online learning.  :)

Welcome to our 'Focus on Reading' with Ms. Bourassa

Introduction and Online Learning Start-Up:

Hello readers!

I am very excited to be your reading coach for this online learning time! We will be practicing a variety of reading comprehension and vocabulary building strategies to enhance your skills and reading habits. Ultimately, it is my goal to help you continue developing a lifelong love of reading! Many of you have books at home, and don't forget about all the online options available, eBooks are available through the 'Lethbridge Public Library' website; see Quick Links: Literacy (on the right side of this page).

Here is what you will need to set yourself up for success in our Grade Five Focus on Reading:

1. A novel to read : This should be a chapter book, not a graphic novel--this will be discussed in our first lesson.

2. A reader's notebook: This can be as simple as a piece of paper, or it can be a notebook, or you may choose to write on a device. If paper is what you will be using, you will need a pen or pencil (I often choose something I enjoy writing with like a fancy, colored pen.)

3. Time to read: 25 minutes each day (minimum): This should be uninterrupted reading time; we are aiming to strengthen our focus and lengthen our attention spans which helps build our reading stamina. 

4. Someone to talk to about your reading: This can be someone in your home such as a sibling (preferably close to your age or older) or a parent, but it could also be someone outside of your home that you are able to communicate with...perhaps a virtual partner (a friend or relative via phone or FaceTime?)

*You will have opportunities to share your thinking about reading with me and each other; I welcome emails, pictures of your work, and later I may be offering some online platforms you can use to respond and share your thoughts.

Like starting into a brand-new book, we are embarking on a bit of an adventure; I'm so glad you are with me on this journey!

Happy Reading!
Ms. Bourassa

karen.bourassa@lethsd.ab.ca

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While it is expected that students are reading for a minimum of 25 minutes each day, I suggest working on two reading lessons each week. The dates indicated for each lesson are simply guideposts; please work on your reading lessons when it works best for you and your family.

Check out the introductory video here:

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Lesson 1

Date: Monday March 30th 

Topic: Book Choice

Overview: In this lesson we will explore how we make choices about the books we read, we will choose a novel, and we will write a detailed explanation of how we made our choice in the first 'Reading at Home' challenge.
Video Lesson:

'RAH' Challenge #1:

1. What is the title of the book you chose?
2. Who is the author?
3. Why did you choose this book? (Remember to give a detailed explanation of your thinking and decision-making process.)

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Lesson 2
Date: Wednesday April 1st
Topic: What do strong readers do? Reading Strategy #1: Making Predictions
Overview: In this lesson we will explore what strong readers do and begin our focus on reading comprehension strategies with making predictions about our reading.
Video Lesson:

'RAH' Challenge #2:
1. Looking at the cover of the book you will be reading, in your 'Reader's Notebook', create and complete the following:

What I notice…	What I wonder...
*	*
*	*

2. Write a prediction.
What do you think your book will be about? What makes you think that? (give evidence)

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Lesson 3

Suggested Date: Monday April 6th 

Topic: Reading Strategy #2: Visualization 

Overview: In this lesson we will explore the importance of visualization as a reading comprehension strategy and practice creating, describing, and sketching the images we see in our minds while we read.

Video Lesson: 

'RAH' Challenge #3:

1. As you read your book today, stop and think about what you are visualizing in your mind. Aim to see details according to the description in the book. Choose one section of text to focus on, create the image in your mind, then copy and complete the following:

When I read…	I visualized …
*	*

2. Illustrate the image you are seeing in your mind (draw a picture).

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Lesson 4:

Suggested Date: Wednesday April 8th
Topic: Reading Strategy #3: Questioning
Overview: In this lesson we will focus on questioning as a strong reading comprehension strategy. We will explore and practice formulating both 'thin and thick' questions while reading.
Video Lesson: Part 1

                                                                     Part 2:

'RAH' Challenge #4:

1. Describe in your own words the difference between thin and thick questions. 

2. While doing your daily reading today, stop frequently to ask questions about what you are reading. Record some of the questions you formulate (2 thin and 2 thick):

Thin Questions :	Thick Questions :
*	*
*	*

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Lesson 5
Suggested Date: Monday April 20 or Tuesday April 21
Topic: Making Connections
Overview: In this lesson, we will explore the importance of connecting as a reading comprehension strategy. We will practice making connections to our own lives, to other texts we have read, and to the world.
Video Lesson: 

'RAH' Challenge #5:
Choose 2 of the following starters to copy and complete (you may create or modify as needed).
*Remember to include evidence explaining why/how you were able to connect.

• This book reminds me of a time when...
• I can connect to this book because...
• This book reminds me of another book/text I read because...
• This book makes me think of _____________ because...
• The character ___________ reminds me of __________ because...

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Lesson 6

Suggested Date: Wednesday April 22

Topic: Making Inferences

Overview: In this lesson, we will explore the importance of inferring as a reading comprehension strategy. We will practice using clues from the text as well as our own knowledge and experiences (schema) to make inferences while we read. 

Video Lesson:

'RAH' Challenge #6:

Choose one of the following thinking stems to copy and complete showing an inference you have made while reading. You may create your own if needed. Be sure to include the clues from the text as well as your own schema that you have used to support your inference.

• I predict...
• My guess is...
• I infer...
• Maybe / Perhaps / It could be that...
• This could mean...

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Lesson 7
Suggested Date: Monday April 27
Topic: Fluency
Overview: In this lesson we will explore the components of reading fluency and the importance of developing fluency to enhance our comprehension and overall experience with a text.
Video Lesson:

'RAH' Challenge #7:
1. Choose a piece of text from your book and practice reading it out loud the way you think the author would want it to be read. (It should be about 1 minute in length when read out loud.)
2. Practice and practice some more! You will want to have 'mastered' the reading.
3. Check your student email (go to the webmail link on our school's website and use your school login--as if you are logging on to a school laptop to access; if you don't know your username or password, please contact your classroom teacher) for a note from your teacher on Monday April 27. This note will include the information you need to access Flipgrid to share your response: a fluent performance-style reading of your chosen text!

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Lesson 8
Suggested Date: Wednesday April 29
Topic: Summarizing
Overview: In this lesson we will focus on summarizing as a reading comprehension strategy. We will explore a few formats we can use to create our summaries and will practice summarizing using one of the formats suggested.
Video Lesson:

'RAH' Challenge #8:
Using one of the frameworks, write a brief summary in your own words about the book you are reading/have recently finished reading.

Somebody
Wanted
But
So
Then

OR:

In 10 words or less...

OR:

The 5-Finger Retell:
Who?
Where?
Problem?
Significant events?
Ending?

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Lesson 9
Suggested Date: Monday May 4
Topic: Evaluating
Overview: In this lesson we will explore evaluating as a reading comprehension strategy. We will talk about how we make judgements about what we read and the importance of providing evidence from our reading to justify our evaluations.
Video Lesson:

'RAH' Challenge #9:
Choose 3 of the following to copy and complete in reference to a novel you have finished reading.
1. My favourite part/thing about this book was...because...
2. The character I most admire was...because...
3. I think the setting of this book was important because...
4. I would rate this book __ stars out of 5 because...
5. If I had to give my book to someone else to read, I would choose...because...
6. I found this book to be entertaining / informative / useful (choose one) because...
7. I would read more books by this author because...

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Lesson 10
Suggested Date: Wednesday May 6
Topic: Searching for Tasty Tidbits of Writing
Overview: In this lesson we will discuss what makes writing powerful to read. We will explore many 'tasty tidbits' and what makes them 'oh so good'!
Video Lesson:

'RAH' Challenge #10:
1. Use your detective skills to find as many tasty tidbits as you can in your reading.
2. Choose your one favourite to share.
3. Submit it to Ms. B. via email (karen.bourassa@lethsd.ab.ca).
Be sure to include: the tasty tidbit, the book title, author, page number, AND what made it 'tasty'.

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See you in the 'Literacy Tab' for our next focus: Non-fiction