Readers in Room 123 are considering a new question: How can I become the best me I can be? Patty Lovell’s Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon offered students a lot to think about as they looked for answers to that question.
To help them with that challenge, first graders are learning about the strategies readers use after they have finished a book. This begins with retelling the story, which helps insure understanding and enhances recall of specific details.
Then readers take their thinking deeper by analyzing the characters in the story. As they do so, they use specific details as evidence for their positions.
Finally, readers tie all their thinking together to infer the themes of the story. They use these themes to begin answering the big question.
Initially, readers discussed the text as a whole group. Over the next few weeks, they will work in pairs, small groups, and individually to do so.