We have even done two connecting to text short focused art projects. One related to student novels they are reading in class. The other one related to an informational reading of Bees and Colony Collapse Disorder. This reading packet, that I crafted, used information relating to this huge issues of disappearing bees and the impact on all of us. The art projects, completed just before a vacation, helped to demonstrate a deeper understanding of this topic. Students were free to engage their MultipleIntelligences and create a visual display of their this topic.
We are also working on some writing and have been all throughout the year. We focus in on these informational topics under study, and write paragraphs which I post on my secured Google + Novels page. It's nice to see the student work displayed there.
The goal is always to spend a larger amount of time, than is spent in the mainstream, on these concepts and I also spend a great deal of time in daily mini lessons, recycling these concepts continually to reinforce and work towards mastery. Deep reading with deep understanding is not a clear path for all. Students will arrive at that destination when they are ready. The key is to constantly approach these deep reading skills, develop comprehension skills, and thinking skills in ways using many different resources and topics.
As we are nearing another round of testing, I am also working to help students develop their test taking skills. Most recently this week, Rhyme Scheme has been the focus. Onwards and upwards......
