Hi Susan, I like you say about focusing on building community by focusing on things pertinent to the kids. That's exactly what we are focusing on making connections and how easy this is, if we build on what they already know--themselves & their families. I have re ad Starting with comprehension by Cunningham and it really lays out how to make sure that the comp. strategies are driving your instruction. I couldn't believe some of the connections the kids made to the character leon in Leon & Bob. I kicked off schema by bringing in photographs from the paper that I thought the kids would connect to. We started by deconstructing what we say, for instance, summer scene, probably brother & sister, probably in a backyard, and then I used the prompt This reminds me of..." The kids shared Knee to knee and then orally---it was amazing where the kids' thinking took them. Since that first photograph, I've done a few more and each time, the kids are able to tell me what they are reminded of and why pretty well! For the art res ponses, I am trying to tie this in as well to making connections--I do a read aloud and then we talk about the illustrations in the text, what they remind us of etc. and the kids draw their connection. Let me know, what you're thinking and any ideas to i mprove my practice would be fantastic! Michele
_______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
