Thursday, August 12, 2010
Group C Reader Response Discussion
Please make a plan as to how you might share this book with the rest of the class. To what does the book lend itslelf? How can you develop a feasible and engaging group share:PoemsCharacter websPerson on the Street InterviewDifferent Endings: ABC book (electronic format?)Act out a dramatic scene from the bookPlease respond to each other's entries on how to share this book.
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Many different response ideas came to mind while reading this book. The book lends itself to imaginatinative ideas as well as researchable. One idea would be to keep a timeline of all the sightings of the Loch Ness. Since many sightings are at the beginning of each chapter, it would be an assignment that would keep the reader involved. Another individual response project would be to have the reader follow the multiple descriptions of the Loch Ness and illustrate accordingly.
ReplyDeleteA great way to present this book as a group would be to create a map and show Vanessa's thinking of how the Loch Ness got trapped. In addition, you could compare it to Nessie's description of how she was trapped. Another way to present this book would be to do a comparison between Vanessa and Lee. It was interesting to find out how alike they really were at the end of the story.
I think presenting this book while creating a timeline of events would be a great idea to do with the class. Each chapter starts off with something the students could write on their timeline and track throughout the story.
ReplyDeleteResearch would be another great idea. It would be great to have small groups of students in charge of "researching" something about the Loch Ness or Ireland. Each group could be responsible for presenting their research to class at the end of the book.
Because this book mainly takes place in Ireland, and specific places in Ireland, the students could also be presented with maps of Ireland and the specific places that the book talked about. It would be nice for them to visually see where Ireland is in relation to where we live. It would also be a cool idea, to get brochures from a travel agent about Ireland and the places where Vanessa and her family were.
Maps of Ireland would be a great idea! It is very hard to picture all the different lochs and locks that take place in the book. Having a mini map close by while reading would help the students visualize where everything is taking place!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree! I was thinking the same thing while I was reading, as I looked up the Loch Ness to see what the area looked like. Also, to encourage motivation to read, while looking online I found a "webcam" site, that allowed you to take a constant look at the movement of the water at Loch Ness. This would be an excellent resource for your unmotivated reader to encourage their interest in reading this book, as they can participate in a component through technology related devices, as well as real-life participation.
ReplyDeleteWhen considering the components of a well-written book, this book consisted of precise vocabulary. There was an extensive amount of vocabulary for readers to be good "word wizards", as well as not overwhelmingly difficult for struggling readers. The figurative language within the book allowed for imaginative thinking to take place, while being creative as to how hte characters felt, as well as interacted with this fictional tale.
I really liked your idea on comparing and contrasting Vanessa's and Lee's experience with the Loch Ness Monster. This part of the book was very interesting to me as well. I also think you can talk about how character's feeling change from the beginning to the end of the story (always a question on the CMT). It was interesting to see Vanessa's feelings about Lee evolve at the end of the story. Students can use a Venn Diagram to help them organize their thinking in the upper grades and then write an essay. In the lower grades, the teacher could have the character's experiences already written out on cards and then ask the students to properly place them on the Venn Diagram as a shared literacy experience. I also love the idea of integrating maps as an extension of the students' learning. My fourth graders love looking at maps and globes. We even have a map of the U.S. and the world posted as a bulletin board in my classroom. Each student has a different has a different color tack where they pinpoint the many settings of their stories during independent reading. I have a tack too so now I can add it our bulletin board and show them that reading really does "take us places". (The idea was adapted from Beth Newingham, a mentor for Scholastic).
ReplyDeleteI really like that map idea Marie! I think I might have to try that in my own classroom. When looking at the components of good literature, I think this book included many features. Through precise vocabulary, figurative language, dialogue and surprise observations; the author did a very nice job "showing" the reader what was happening. There were many times in the book where the author also included examples of "understatements" especially when describing the relationship Vanessa had with Lee. Also, with the feelings Vanessa had towards her mother's death.
ReplyDeleteAren't we talking about the Scottish Highlands?
ReplyDelete