Among the Hidden

Bulletin Board for the book; Among The Hidden
Students used metacognitive stem; I'm Wondering before, during and after they read the book. Each student wrote what they were wondering on sticky notes before they started reading the book, after each chapter, and when they were done reading the book. After each chapter we viewed the questions from the sticky notes and the students answered the questions that they could. The students discovered that their comprehension improved when they asked questions as they read! Also, view the post on my blog; Thoughtful Readers Ask Questions As They Read for ideas on how to teach this strategy.

Student blog on ways Luke could try to change the law

After the students wrote the blog, other students made comments on sticky notes.

Synthesis

Teachers and students can create lessons using this app; Educreations. This is an app that is a whiteboard that you can create lessons by drawing or you can use pictures like I did below. Students can make lessons: such as explaining place value etc 

My students watched the short video on synthesis from Educreations that I created. Next,  I modeled the strategy using one of Chris Van Allsburg's books.  As I read the book, I used metacognitive stem, I'M THINKING, and stopped at various parts and said "I'm thinking  _______, Now I'm thinking ______, Now I'm really thinking _______, I'm getting it now, I'm thinking _______".  Then, I read another Chris Van Allsburg's book and stopped at various points and had students write on whiteboards what they were thinking.  Finally, students will practice the strategy during guided reading.