December+lessons

December
During the month of December I would like to focus on Book Reviews and how to create one with grades 4 and 5. We spent some part of November reviewing on-line Reviews by other students. This month, we may step up to writing reviews together as a class project. This would mean that we will be dismissing Stations for a while. However, during check out, those students who are able, may organize books on cart and (if able) shelve fiction books.

TLW: work together to identify important elements in a story that are needed to include in a book review. They will take notes as the teacher reads a story. The notes will be compiled into a "Review."
 * Week One**

Procedure: Assessment: Collect notes to evaluate each student readiness to write an independent review. Check for important details without retelling.
 * Students listen to read aloud and take notes. They would include, setting,characters, interesting facts, important event in the story but no ending
 * In groups students share notes and decide which to keep or eliminate
 * Each group contributes their notes and T. writes them on whiteboard for all to review
 * Each team compiles a group synopsis of the story and shares with the whole class
 * A final Review is written by T. on whiteboard with everyone's contribution including recommendations.

TLW: Write a group Review of a book read aloud by teacher. They will understand that Reviews of one story should include main elements, but each group's review will vary somewhat.
 * Week Two**

Procedure: Same as the first week. However, depending on their readiness, the students in groups may take notes and write a group Review. They will share their completed Reviews with the class.

Assessment: Collect all notes and group Reviews. Check for understanding on how to write a review.

TLW: Write an individual book review of a book read aloud by me, or of their own choosing if ready. Procedure: Same as above, but students work individually Assessment: Collected Reviews will demonstrate readiness to write a Review on a personally selected story.
 * Week Three**

In writing a book review, students need to know how to summarize. This is a very difficult concept for young students. I wish I could spend more time on it. It would also help to have the students more often. Checking out is still dominating the class period. Writing the group review was worthwhile of course, but some children missed Learning Stations.
 * Reflections:**

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