Day 5: Reading, Annotating, and Discussing a Poem
By this point, I think we're ready to stretch some of the muscles that haven't been used as often over the summer. We practice some of the skills we'll be using all year by analyzing a terrific poem that helps introduce the norms of the course.
This first time we work on a complex text together, I like to either start as a whole class and finish independently or work in pairs. This teamwork can help students who may feel less confident, and gives me a chance to circulate and learn how my students think and work together.
"What You Will Need in Class Today," by Matthew Foley speaks as much to young people as it does to teachers about what we should really be prioritizing in our classrooms.
You could choose from many poems for this activity, so if there's one that speaks more to you or your students, roll with that! The important thing is that students are practicing their before, during, and after-reading comprehension skills such as making predictions, making inferences, and forming connections with the text.
What's the best way to wrap up 5 days of new information and procedures?
Keep an eye out for our next post on Day 6: Grudgeball Review Game!
If you missed Days 1-4, you can check them out here!
Stay weird,
~Jamie
Comments