Friday, March 1, 2013

Character Traits & Currently

Before we went on break (almost over... :( ), I did a really fun lesson with my kids on Character Traits. You may remember me talking about changing the way I run the Literacy Block for the week, and having a 'fun Friday' type thing, but focusing on skills I think they needed.

Well, thanks to a Snow Day, and a Professional Day, I finally got to do my Character Traits lesson I had planned.

O.M.G! They LOVED it!

I started off by asking them to give adjectives about me (if they were telling someone about me and only had one word, what would they say?)

Then I asked them to prove it. What makes you say that about Miss M? Give an example.

We talked about how people show/demonstrate their character traits/personality...while I made an anchor chart :)
 After that, (before we added the adjectives to the chart) I read Hooway for Wodney Wat. We talked about what kind of traits Wodney (Rodney) had, and how we could prove it.  (That's him on the chart...no judging please :)

Then we started adding the adjectives to the chart, and talking about what they mean.

I had gathered a variety of picture books, and found this fabulous freebie from Tessa at Tales from Outside the Classroom


 I scattered the books all around the room (and told the kids that they needed to stay where I put them), and then set them free to fill out their sheets (after I modeled how to do it using Wodney Wat and SkippyJon Jones!). I told them that they could choose as many books as they wanted.

As I was walking around, I noticed that, with one or two exceptions...they got it! AND, they were super quiet. (They are normally quietish anyway-but this was dead silent!). They were so engaged, and those that were talked were talking about the lesson.

These are the books I chose (pulled from my Mentor Text Library (not accessible to kids), and Picture Book Library (accessible to kids), but you could chose whatever you wished. I picked books that I thought had strong characters, with easy to identify character traits and support.
Eggbert: The Slighly Cracked Egg; Ruby the CopyCat; Chrysanthemum

Swimmy; Sloppy Joe; Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon

Weslandia; Diary of a Worm; The Greedy Python

Chester; Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink; Click, Clack Moo: Cows That Type

Giggle, Giggle, Quack; Mother, You're the Best, But Sister, You're a Pest; Wemberly Worried

Substitute Creature
By having them use easy to read picture books, they could really focus on the skill, and not struggle as much with trying to figure out words/meaning. Soon they'll be able to do this on their level!

As we were standing in line for dismissal, the kids told me that they loved the lesson. I told them that we would be doing 'Fun Friday' every Friday and we would switch off on focusing on Reading and Writing. Next up, Poetry! (This brought some smiles!)

Next up: Currently! I can't believe it's March already! Only 4 months left of school.




Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

12 comments:

  1. Creative use of the letter k! I like your color choices in the font too :)

    Christy
    Teaching In Oz

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  2. LOVE how you put a different color in each section... so cute...
    thanks so much for linking up :)

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  3. Oh my, I totally did ROY G BIV too! Let's be friends, k?
    Christi =)

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  4. Yay for Kindle! I love mine too! I also love Hooway for Wodney Way. Great book! :) Sounds like you had a great lesson!! Glad I found you through the currently! I'm a new follower. :)

    Kate
    Second Grade Sparkle

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  5. What a great lesson!! How cool you know how to crochet. My mom used to crochet and her blankets are so precious to me. I always wish I had the opportunity to learn.

    Angelia
    Extra Special Teaching

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  6. I like to crochet also. I find it relaxing.

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  7. I love, love the books you choose! Thanks so much for sharing. :)

    Catherine
    The Brown-Bag Teacher

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  8. Those are some great picture books to use for character traits.
    I am over the snow also. We got SOOO much.
    Am so ready for spring break. Your's seems so early. Ours is a week away! :)
    Thanks for sharing the great character trait ideas. :)
    Antoinette

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  9. Thrilled to find another 4th grade teacher through this month's Currently. Also, I love your lesson idea about character traits. I completely agree with your reasoning about using picture books for introducing an activity like this, and you chose some of my favorites! Good luck finishing up your blanket -- I'm a knitter, myself.
    Alison
    Eberopolis: Teaching Reading & Writing with Technology

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  10. Sounds like an awesome lesson! I found your adorable blog through the currently! I am a new follower!
    Hilary
    Second Grade is Out of This World!

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  11. Oh my goodness, I love your character traits lesson! Found you through the currently--I'm your newest follower. Please feel free to stop by if you get a chance!

    ~Steph

    The Quirky Apple
    Sparkly, Quirky Lifebox

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