We recently shared the book The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague as a model and springboard to learn about story organization (beginning, middle, end), adding details and using transition words to help a story flow. After we shared the story of two boys, Wendell and Floyd and their "secret shortcuts" to school - including a jungle, alligators and quicksand, students created their own story maps and devised new secret shortcuts. These maps included new amazing encounters experienced by Wendell and Floyd on their way to school. After drawing maps, groups created three detailed sentences to go along with each spot on the map. We then talked about how to connect these thoughts with transition words. We will be sharing these in class tomorrow. Next, students will be writing individual stories. They have two choices. Each person can write another version of a shortcut story OR they can choose from a variety of wordless picture books we have in the classroom to create their own story. Look for postings of story maps and group stories soon!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Using the Book The Secret Shortcut to learn about story organization
We recently shared the book The Secret Shortcut by Mark Teague as a model and springboard to learn about story organization (beginning, middle, end), adding details and using transition words to help a story flow. After we shared the story of two boys, Wendell and Floyd and their "secret shortcuts" to school - including a jungle, alligators and quicksand, students created their own story maps and devised new secret shortcuts. These maps included new amazing encounters experienced by Wendell and Floyd on their way to school. After drawing maps, groups created three detailed sentences to go along with each spot on the map. We then talked about how to connect these thoughts with transition words. We will be sharing these in class tomorrow. Next, students will be writing individual stories. They have two choices. Each person can write another version of a shortcut story OR they can choose from a variety of wordless picture books we have in the classroom to create their own story. Look for postings of story maps and group stories soon!
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sinister was fun to look up, but our old book style dictionary didn't mention anything about the "left" history...bummer! thank goodness for the web-thanks! this was a great learning experience.
ReplyDeletesin·is·ter
[sin-uh-ster] Show IPA
–adjective
1.
threatening or portending evil, harm, or trouble; ominous: a sinister remark.
2.
bad, evil, base, or wicked; fell: his sinister purposes.
3.
unfortunate; disastrous; unfavorable: a sinister accident.
4.
of or on the left side; left.
5.
Heraldry . noting the side of an escutcheon or achievement of arms that is to the left of the bearer ( opposed to dexter)