Using Post-Its During Reading

 

 

There is a website called Postit.com/teachers.  You will find some great ideas to use your post-its.  Here is one that worked for me. 
 

Read and Find  - Post It - Activity
 

Description:

Before the students arrive, place two post-its on each student's desk. One has a ? on it. The other has a ! on it. As they read the assigned text, they look for something they have a question about and something they learned. The question is writen on the post-it with the ? and the thing they learned is writen on the one with the !  I assigned reading on informational text, namely, rocks and minerals.

During reading, I encourage my students to think of something they have a question about and something they found interested about; something they learned.  Students write statements on the post its.  Next,  the students stick the post-its on a large graphic organizer I have prelabled with questions I have, something I learned.  This activity sets a purpose for reading and helps students to focus on the text.   

How it Works

Step 1: Create a class sized graphic organizer that relates to the text you have chosen.

Step 2: Pick two light colored post-its. On one color, print a ? in a corner. On the other color, print a ! in a corner. Place one of each color on each student's desk.

Step 3: Tell the students to read the assignment and find one thing they have a question about and write it on the post-it with the ? They should also find something they learned and write it on the post-it with the !

Step 4: Have the students put their post-its on the graphic organizer.

Step 5: Use the results as a way to guage the students' understanding of the text.  Later, ask students to read on to find the answers to the questions. 

(Credits to postit.com/teachers....thanks!)

Below is an example anchor chart used in a classroom that uses post-its

Another great idea for post its during reading.  Easy way to show
that our thinking changes when reading a chapter book.

 



Extraordinary Poet and Illustrator

by Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrated by Josee Bisaillon

 Bookspeak is a wonderful book! a collection of poetry about books!  You will love this book; especially if you are a book lover, as I am.  Laura Purdie Salas is the author.  Josee Bisaillon is the illustrator and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her illustrations.  This is a perfect book to read aloud to your students to teach poetry AND the love of books.

I love every poem in this book but here is the one I will read tomorrow to my third graders.

                        Top Secret

Describe your desires and they become mine.

I'm a treasure box where feelings can shine.

All thinkers need pages where dreams can take flight.

Reveal all

Your secrets, one entry per night.

So you might ask, how does this tie into my curriculum and all else I am doing.  The page of "top secret" (the poem) is beautifully illustrated with butterflies skittering out from a book and across the page.  In Science, we are studying life cycles. We are waiting for our butterflies to be born and our chicks to hatch.  We also just started a unit on rocks and minerals...and another poem in this book will be perfect.  It's called "Cliffhanger".  We are also reading Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White.  Sam Beaver, a character in that story always keeps a diary so I chose "Top Secret" to make a connection to our read aloud.  And most important, "all thinkers need pages"!  

Laura Purdie Salas' awesome website!

Hydrophobiac

I swallow up dragons
and cannons and wars.
I don't fear old mansions
with slow, creaking
doors.
I quite like the dark---
murky midnight's no threat
The one thing I fear
is the feeling of

wet!
When puddles attack me or
raindrops are sprinkled,

they leave me all soggy---
they turn me all wrinkled!

Check back ...as one book leads to another!