One of our big downfalls as a district has been student struggles with literature themes. Moving from broad umbrella themes to a study that looks at books specifically selected to share some of those 'universal themes' has begun moving our kids towards recognition. a THEME vs themes, if that makes any sense at all. Joy, for my money start with your themes or guiding questions and work BACKWARDS to build text sets that will scaffold kids towards broader understanding. When I saw Aimee Bucker last fall at NCTE, she said she is working on a new books that will include some focus on recognizing themes.
Lori Jackson District Literacy Coach and Mentor Todd County School District Box 87 Mission SD 5755 ----- Original message ----- From: Joy <jwidm...@rocketmail.com> To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> Date: Saturday, June 20, 2009 12:43 PM Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] themes- friendship vs friends help > It was about thematic teaching, but what's wrong with going on a tangent > about book themes? My difficulty with themes is not limited. I think I must > have a mental block about this, as I get stuck with book themes, too! > > OMG, if you all can help me learn how to identify themes you will have > performed a miracle. I will be a better teacher, and my students will be the > beneficiaries. > > > Joy/NC/4 > > How children learn is as important as what they learn: process and content go > hand in hand. http://www.responsiveclassroom.org > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Renee <phoenix...@sbcglobal.net> > To: Mosaic: A Reading Comprehension Strategies Email Group > <mosaic@literacyworkshop.org> > Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2009 12:59:11 PM > Subject: Re: [MOSAIC] themes- friendship vs friends help > > I thought this discussion was about thematic teaching, not book themes. > Perhaps I'm wrong. Having said that, I think having the reader figure out > what specific behaviors demonstrate friendship is a good thing. :-) > > Renee > > On Jun 20, 2009, at 8:40 AM, cfoa...@aol.com wrote: > > > > > I think the difference is that Friendship covers many specific behaviors > > whereas "Friends help out in hard times" is just one specific example.? So > > the book may be about friendship ( general) and specifically about helping > > in hard times.? If you use the general label, then the reader must figure > > out what specific behaviors demonstrate "friendship." > > > > Carolyn > > "The most important office in a democracy is the office of citizen." > ~ Barack Obama > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > > > _______________________________________________ > 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. > > _______________________________________________ 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.
