The Common Core Companion: Booster Lessons, Grades 3-5

Leslie Blauman has been teaching reading and literacy in the Colorado public schools for over 30 years. Leslie's classroom is a working model for child/staff development in reading, writing, and critical thinking. Partnering with the Denver-based Public Education and Business Coalition (PEBC), her classroom is frequently the subject of professional workshops, classroom reading enhancement films, and education journals. While she works with teachers and students in a majority of the states and internationally as a consultant, her heart is in the classroom and she brings this to both her writing and her consulting. She speaks regularly at teacher/literacy conferences and workshops.

Introduction LESSON SEQUENCE 1: Integrating Opinion Writing With Evaluating Argument What Teachers Guide Across the Week What Students Do Across the Week Booster Reading Lesson 1: Understanding Point of View Adapting This Lesson for Other Text Types: Informational Companion Writing Lesson 1: Launching Opinion and Persuasive Writing Snapshot of a Turn-and-Talk Peer Conference on POV Booster Reading Lesson 2: Co-Constructing and Close Reading Companion Writing Lesson 2: Determine Structure and Essential Elements Language Connections: Formal Versus Informal English Booster Reading Lesson 3: Reading and Annotating Fairy Tales Companion Writing Lesson 3: Planning and Drafting Booster Reading Lesson 4: Compare/Contrast Writing Companion Writing Lesson 4: Revision Focus on Transition Words Booster Reading Lesson 5: Complete Compare/Contrast Piece Companion Writing Lesson 5: Edit and Finalize Piece Third-Grade Adaptation Fifth-Grade Adaptation NEXT INSTRUCTIONAL STEPS What Do I See? A Student Sample of Persuasive Writing What Do I See? A Student Sample of Compare and Contrast Authentic Assessment: Student Reflection and Evaluation Peer Power: How to Use Student Work as Mentor Texts If/Then Chart Mentor Texts Unit Planning: How to Build Out Three Weeks LESSON SEQUENCE 2: Integrating Reading Craft and Structure With Opinion Writing What Teachers Guide Across the Week What Students Do Across the Week Booster Reading Lesson 1: Explaining How an Author Uses Reasons and Evidence in Informational Text Companion Writing Lesson 1: Expressing an Opinion in Response to Text Booster Reading Lesson 2: Examining How Text Features Help With Main Idea and Evidence Companion Writing Lesson 2: Modeling Opinion Writing Language Connections: Determine or Clarify the Meaning of Unknown Words Booster Reading Lesson 3: Using Essential Questions to Dig Deeper Companion Writing Lesson 3: Launching Opinion Writing Booster Reading Lesson 4: Moving to Independence Companion Writing Lesson 4: Working Through the Writing Process Booster Reading Lesson 5: Assessing Our Learning Companion Writing Lesson 5: Wrapping Up the Writing Snapshot of How to Move From a Written Opinion Piece to a Speech Third-Grade Adaptation Fourth-Grade Adaptation NEXT INSTRUCTIONAL STEPS What Do I See? A Student Sample of Response to Reading What Do I See? A Student Sample of Response to Reading Authentic Assessment: Student Reflection and Evaluation Peer Power: How to Use Student Work as Mentor Texts If/Then Chart Mentor Texts Unit Planning: How to Build Out Three Weeks LESSON SEQUENCE 3: Integrating Narrative Writing With Craft and Structure What Teachers Guide Across the Week What Students Do Across the Week Booster Reading Lesson 1: Elements of Myths Companion Writing Lesson 1: Starting to Envision an Original Myth Adapting This Lesson for Other Text Types: Informational Booster Reading Lesson 2: Co-Constructing a Summary and Independent Reading Companion Writing Lesson 2: Planning a Myth Booster Reading Lesson 3: Mini-Book Clubs Companion Writing Lesson 3: Adding Character Description and Dialogue Language Connections: Eavesdropping on a Book Club Conversation Booster Reading Lesson 4: Looking at Language Companion Writing Lesson 4: Rich Language Equals Rich Writing Booster Reading Lesson 5: Wrapping Up and Assessment Companion Writing Lesson 5: Finalizing the Myths Langage Connections: Reading With Fluency Third-Grade Adaptation Fifth-Grade Adaptation NEXT INSTRUCTIONAL STEPS What Do I See? A Student Response to Literary Elements What Do I See? A Student Sample of an Original Myth Authentic Assessment: Student Reflection and Evaluation Peer Power: How to Use Student Work as Mentor Texts If/Then Chart Mentor Texts Unit Planning: How to Build Out Three Weeks LESSON SEQUENCE 4: Integrating Explanatory Text Writing With Reading for Key Ideas What Teachers Guide Across the Week What Students Do Across the Week Booster Writing Lesson 1: Informative/Explanatory Text Makes the World Go 'Round Companion Reading Lesson 1: Noticing Text Features Adapting This Lesson for Other Text Types: Literature Booster Writing Lesson 2: Grouping by Headings Companion Reading Lesson 2: How Authors Use Headings Booster Writing Lesson 3: Sequencing Information Companion Reading Lesson 3: Close Reading a Text and Visuals Language Connections: Vocabulary Booster Writing Lesson 4: Vocabulary and Elaboration Companion Reading Lesson 4: Assessing Understanding With Annotating and Summarizing Text Booster Writing Lesson 5: Presenting the "All About" Pieces Companion Reading Lesson 5: Presenting the "All About" Pieces Snapshot of a Presentation Fourth-Grade Adaptation Fifth-Grade Adaptation NEXT INSTRUCTIONAL STEPS What Do I See? A Student Sample of Informative Text What Do I See? A Student Sample of a Topic Written in Two Different Formats Authentic Assessment: Student Reflection and Evaluation Peer Power: How to Use Student Work as Mentor Texts If/Then Chart Mentor Texts Unit Planning: How to Build Out Three Weeks LESSON SEQUENCE 5: Integrating Research With Presentation What Teachers Guide Across the Week What Students Do Across the Week Booster Writing Lesson 1: Introducing Research and Questions Companion Reading Lesson 1: Evaluating Print and Digital Content Adapting This Lesson for Other Text Types: Literature Booster Writing Lesson 2: Determining Importance and Note-Taking Companion Reading Lesson 2: Becoming a Media-Savvy, Critical Reader Snapshot of Student Collaboration Language Connections: Words in Their Best Order Booster Writing Lesson 3: A Focus on Note-Taking Companion Reading Lesson 3: Analyzing Notes Booster Writing Lesson 4: Drafting Companion Reading Lesson 4: Re-Reading and Refining Drafts Booster Writing Lesson 5: Putting It All Together Companion Reading Lesson 5: Compelling Conclusions Third-Grade Adaptation Fourth-Grade Adaptation NEXT INSTRUCTIONAL STEPS What Do I See? A Student Sample of a Nonfiction Article What Do I See? A Student Sample of a Nonfiction Research Piece Authentic Assessment: Student Reflection and Evaluation Peer Power: How to Use Student Work as Mentor Texts If/Then Chart Mentor Texts Unit Planning: How to Build Out Three Weeks References