Author: jcavazo4

The Main Idea

Summary: This BrainPOP video talks about the concept of finding the main idea in a writing piece. It explains that the main idea is the main point that’s being stated in a paragraph, essay, article or other passage. The video also explains the difference between the topic of a passage and the main idea. Similarly, it talks about how the details in a passage support what the author is trying to say and explains that it is a form of evidence as to why the main idea is true.

This video would be great resource to use in a first grade classroom to reinforce the TEKS §110.13 (14)(A) Students are expected to identify the main idea in a text and distinguish it from the topic. As part of an ELA lesson, this video could be used to introduce the concept of finding the main idea in a passage. After showing this video, the teacher could read-aloud a picture book like Chrysanthemum by Kevin Hanes and then have students do a T-chart on their writing journals labeled as “topic” and “main idea” to practice distinguishing the difference between these concepts. Then, as a fun activity for students to practice supporting the main idea of a passage with evidence, the teacher could have the students trace their hand on construction paper and cut it out. The students would then be expected to write the main idea of the story on the center of the hand and write details that support the main idea on each of the “fingers.”

Here is the website address where you can access this fun video!

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/mainidea/

One Great Text: Sleep Tight!

TIME For Kids is a weekly news magazine available in both print and on-line. The magazine covers issues from a wide range of real-world topics across content areas and grade level. Also, TFK meets standards across the curriculum, including language arts, social studies, science, math and geography which are clearly listed in the teacher’s edition to guide instruction. I think that the articles available in site are great resources to get students motivated and engaged in reading and learning about new topics.

I chose the article entitled “Sleep Tight! More sleep helps children do better at school” as a One Great text to share with a fifth grader. The article talks about how in a new study students with less sleep were actually more cranky, frustrated and distracted. When I showed this article to my student her reaction was very positive. She seemed to be very interested in the topic since she immediately agreed and mentioned “sometimes I feel like that like when I stay up late watching T.V. I feel tired and don’t want to wake up in the morning.” She was able to relate to the article and talked about how she sometimes feels like she can’t pay attention in class because she gets sleepy. Overall, her attitude toward the text was very positive and she was very interested in learning about this topic particularly because it was something she could relate to.

Here is the website address to the article:

http://www.timeforkids.com/news/sleep-tight/54321

I Face the Wind. By Vicki Cobb

I Face the Wind by Vicki Cobb, is a great tool to use in the classroom for integrating science principles in a fun and engaging way. This book explores the concept of wind by relating it to every-day life. As the story continues, there are numerous opportunities to engage students in discussion given that it poses questions that will be sure to spark students’ imagination. Similarly, students are invited to explore this concept through hands-on experiments presented throughout the story which makes learning about science a fun learning experience.

Here is a short snippet of her work:

“Ever face a strong wind?
Your hair blows away from your face.
You could lose your hat.
And if the wind is
blowing hard enough,
you may even have to walk in a slant.

You can’t see this force that’s pushing you But you can feel it. And you can see what wind does to other things.

It makes dust swirl in a circle.
It makes flags stick out straight and flutter.
Can you name some things you see wind do?

Go outside and watch.
Leaves on trees shake.
A kite stays in the sky.
An umbrella turns inside out.
Add your own ideas to the list.
Why does the wind push you?
You can discover WHY by asking questions and doing things to get answers.
Here’s the first question. What is wind made of?I Face the Wind

Pat Mora Author Presentation

Pat Mora Presentation

Below is a brief author presentation about Pat Mora.  She is a leading figure in contemporary Hispanic poetry and committed to promoting children’s literacy.  Her literature can easily be used to enrich lessons in social studies since her work emphasizes the importance of diversity, culture, family, and nature.  For instance, one of the ways for integrating Pat Mora’s work in the classroom is by reading the poems in Confetti and having students prepare a “Me Bag” that contains different items about their culture and have them share with their classmates.

Here’s a read-aloud of one of the poems from Confetti by Pat Mora: Confetti