Content-Free Questions- A Bookmark Freebie

While browsing through Intervention Strategies to Follow Informal Reading Inventory Assessment: So What do I do now? (Whew! That's a mouthful!) the other day I stumbled upon some great questioning techniques to use during reading.

SIDE NOTE: Here's the one I was reading, but they're now up to at least the 5th Edition I think. 

 

The first is using content-free questions during reading. That means that you familiarize students with questions that can be used across various reading materials.

So...instead of:

How did June solve the problem of the missing diamond?

Try:

What was the problem in the story and how did the main character  solve that problem? 

This will, "help students set specific expectations for reading."

It would be worth a quick mini-lesson to have students generate the types of questions they think would be appropriate to ask. These questions can then be turned in to a bookmark for students to refer to before, during, and after reading. 

I went ahead and used the questions listed in the book (the same types of questions I would carefully elicit from my students during our mini-lesson) and turned them into bookmarks. My hope is that I can get these bad boys to print on both sides so I have a set of questions for narratives (Tell me a story...) and a set for expository text (Tell me about it...) on the same book mark.

I'm headed to the water park in a just a bit so I don't have time to get fancy and link up a document (sorry!), but if you would like a copy just sent me a quick email (teachonalimb@me.com) or leave a comment. 

Reciprocal Teaching, TpT, and a Freebie for Feedback

One of my favorite lessons that I created during college was on reciprocal teaching. 

I was working with third graders at the time and wanted a fun and memorable way for them to remember the four strategies used in reciprocal teaching: Predicting, Clarifying, Questioning and Summarizing.

I decided to create little characters that would help them remember each strategy. I found clip art online and created funny little descriptions for each character that related to the strategy. I cut out the characters and descriptions and attached them to large craft sticks. 

During my introductory mini-lesson I introduced each character and the kids loved it. Then as I had them practice each strategy, they were able to hold the character. The descriptions on the back were nice because students could refer to it if they forgot what they were supposed to be doing.

I still adore my originals, but I'm not going to share them because it's possible that I kinda-sorta swiped some clip art that may or may not have been free of charge. Lets just say that my originals happen to have huge watermarks all over them. 

Moving on. 

In hopes of being able to share my delightful little friends with you, I found some adorable clip art over at the KPM Doodles Etsy shop and revamped my characters to be of a more legitimate nature.

I'd like to introduce you to my...

 I have four Buddies:

 

Each of my new buddies still have cute little descriptions that tie them to the strategies. I'm excited to introduce my students to my new friends. 

I also thought my buddies might be a nice first item to add to my TpT store, which currently sits with nothing in it because, well, I'm a chicken. 

So here's the deal. I'm going to give a freebie for some feedback.  

The first four of my blogging buddies (make sure you're following) to comment on this post will receive my Buddies for Reciprocal Teaching set for free before it hits TpT. 

But remember, if you get the set you have to hold up your end of the bargain and email me with some constructive (aka: sweet, kind, encouraging) feedback, since, you know, I'm a chicken and all. 

Don't stop here...keep reading, it gets better!

Since being buddies is so much fun, those first four commenting buddies are going to get to give me the name of a buddy who they think would LOVE to check out my Buddies for Reciprocal Teaching. When that friend becomes a buddy (follower) I'll send them the set for free too!  

Thanks for all your support. Now get out there and buddy up!

*November 2012 Update: You can now find these adorable buddies in my TpT store by clicking here.