| Farm Unit: Shared Reading Books |
When we first began using the "balanced literacy" method, we didn't have many
appropriate shared reading books. So, like any other teachers, we made our own.
These two books were made using computer-printed sentences and clip art illustrations
on poster board pages. These books are very simple because we always study "Farm"
at the beginning of the year. Shared Reading books are read each day during the week.
Each day a different concept of print/vocabulary is introduced or reinforced.
appropriate shared reading books. So, like any other teachers, we made our own.
These two books were made using computer-printed sentences and clip art illustrations
on poster board pages. These books are very simple because we always study "Farm"
at the beginning of the year. Shared Reading books are read each day during the week.
Each day a different concept of print/vocabulary is introduced or reinforced.
| Shared Reading: day 1: make predictions using the front/back cover, introduce book, title, author, and illustrator, then read for enjoyment! day 2: reread the book with the children, focus their attention on new vocabulary day 3: reread the book with the children, focus on print conventions day 4: reread the book with the children, experimenting with intonation and expression, focus on same/further print conventions or language targets day 5: reread and respond (responses can be oral, written, or visual, depending on the shared reading book) |
The Farm
page 1: I can see a cow.
page 2: I can see a pig.
page 3: I can see a horse.
page 4: I can see a sheep.
page 5: I can see a chicken.
page 6: I can see a chick.
page 7: I can see them on the farm!
Concepts of Print:
left to right progression, voice/print match, distinguishing between letters and words, punctuation,
sight words: "can," "see"
The students get very excited during shared reading and often blurt out, "I see an exclamation
point!" or "Look, there's a 'sh' in sheep," or "I found 'the' on the last page!" or "Chick has the
same letters as chicken." ....... which is, of course, exactly what we want them to do- be excited
about the new reading knowledge they've acquired.
Reading Response: After reading The Farm all week, we decide which farm animals the
committees will paint on our kid-sized barn (see Farm Unit Page for more details about the barn).
Animal Talk
page 1: Cows say, "Moo, moo."
page 2: Pigs say, "Oink, oink."
page 3: Horses say, "Neigh, neigh."
page 4: Sheep say, "Baa, baa."
page 5: Chickens say, "Cluck, cluck."
page 6: Chicks say, "Peep, peep."
page 7: I say, "The end!"
Concepts of Print:
left to right, voice/print match, word vs. letter, punctuation: quotation marks, as well as speech
bubbles, sight word: "say"
Reading Response:
Committees will add appropriate speech bubbles to animals already on the barn.
page 1: I can see a cow.
page 2: I can see a pig.
page 3: I can see a horse.
page 4: I can see a sheep.
page 5: I can see a chicken.
page 6: I can see a chick.
page 7: I can see them on the farm!
Concepts of Print:
left to right progression, voice/print match, distinguishing between letters and words, punctuation,
sight words: "can," "see"
The students get very excited during shared reading and often blurt out, "I see an exclamation
point!" or "Look, there's a 'sh' in sheep," or "I found 'the' on the last page!" or "Chick has the
same letters as chicken." ....... which is, of course, exactly what we want them to do- be excited
about the new reading knowledge they've acquired.
Reading Response: After reading The Farm all week, we decide which farm animals the
committees will paint on our kid-sized barn (see Farm Unit Page for more details about the barn).
Animal Talk
page 1: Cows say, "Moo, moo."
page 2: Pigs say, "Oink, oink."
page 3: Horses say, "Neigh, neigh."
page 4: Sheep say, "Baa, baa."
page 5: Chickens say, "Cluck, cluck."
page 6: Chicks say, "Peep, peep."
page 7: I say, "The end!"
Concepts of Print:
left to right, voice/print match, word vs. letter, punctuation: quotation marks, as well as speech
bubbles, sight word: "say"
Reading Response:
Committees will add appropriate speech bubbles to animals already on the barn.
