Cause and Effect

Running through almost every text your students read, there are examples of cause and effect relationships.  We often think of them as a text structure.  But I also see cause and effect when looking at a sequence of events. I see cause and effect when looking at a problem and solution.  And I see cause and effect when inferring, "why did this happen?" Is it just me? Causes and Effects seem to be everywhere!

Notice how this chart illustrates how there need not be only one cause and effect.  There could be several causes for a given effect...My good grades, my good attitude AND my helpfulness in the classroom might have all CAUSED me to get the Good Citizen Award. On the flip side, one "event" or cause such as a tornado might produce multiple EFFECTS such as building damage, torn up landscapes and bodily damage.

 The author writes about one or more causes or events and what happens because of it, the effect/or effects. The PURPOSE is to explain why or how something happened, exists, or works.

Sometimes authors use words that signal when a cause or effect will be shown. 
Here are some signal words to watch for:

because     therefore     due to     accordingly      for this reason     so that     consequently   nevertheless         in order to      if...then

Here is a poster which illustrates it all:

A Character's Journey

In most stories your character takes some sort of journey.  It might be a literal journey or trip.  It might be a journey into new experiences, circumstances or feelings.  Help students take the journey with the characters they read about.  And as writers, invite students to take their readers on a journey!  The following idea was snagged from the Summer Writer's Institute at Teacher's College in New York.  I've used the example of Little Red Riding Hood, but you could apply this exercise to another story or demonstrate how a student might use this to assist with their own narrative writing.  Can you think of ways to use this?

Nonfiction Visuals

Chart Idea Inspired by The Comprehension Toolkit

Text Features

Nonfiction Readers

Student Nonfiction Features Journal

Journal Construction.

Hands-On and FUN!

Five Finger Rule

It is very important for students to learn how to choose their own books. As I've mentioned in a previous post, the best way for kids to raise their reading level is to read MORE on a level that is fairly EASY for them.  This would be their INDEPENDENT level.  The Five Finger Rule or Five Finger Test, is one of the easiest ways for kids to determine if a book they've selected, will be a match. If you haven't heard of the Five Finger Rule, I'll let the sample graphics that I've collected from the Internet explain it for you!

Find a Favorite.

Thanks to the following websites for the good ideas!!

http://krazyaboutkiddos.blogspot.com

www.oboyorganic.com

www.rivervaleschools.com

www.pabooklibraries.psu.edu

www.ayearofmanyfirsts.com

Writing Do's and Don'ts Flipbook

In Texas we took the 4th grade Writing STAAR test this week.
Teachers found a clever way to review with their students in the weeks leading up to the test.

Hints were cut and pasted inside. 

And the Don'ts...

Beginning Middle End

The ability to find the BEGINNING, MIDDLE and END of a story can help your students in more than one way. They can use it when SEQUENCING a story.  They can use it when writing a SUMMARY.  They can use it when RETELLING a story.  They can use it as a model when WRITING a story.  I'm sure there are more ways to use beginning, middle and end.  What do you think? 

Take a look at this fun visual for teaching it!

Can you tell these photos are authentic?  Complete with glue-smudged student desk!

Anchor Charts in Spanish

Anchor posters from a 1st grade bilingual classroom

Word Wall