Sunday, January 8, 2017

WHOOSH! The SIBERT Smackdown is OFF and RUNNING!

This is  at the top of our Sibert Smackdown scoresheets


Last week we kicked off our 4th grade Sibert Smackdown.  Thanks to Melissa Stewart's blog and virtual support and encouragement, we are excited to do this for the second year in a row.  Since 4th grade is departmentalized, every student (about 65) will read, critique and share a nonfiction book with their class.  The two best projects from each of our three classes will win lunch with in the library with the ELA teacher and myself. FUN!  And of course, we will all watch the award ceremony together with my fifth graders and the Geisel Committee first graders on January 23.

Here's what our week looked like:

Wednesday

KICK OFF--We explained the project, book talked some of the books and then read WHOOSH! by Chris Barton and illustrated by Don Tate aloud.



Thursday

Together we filled out our Sibert Smackdown scoresheet and wrote a sample persuasive paragraph for the book.

One class's paragraph on WHOOSH!




Friday

Students chose their books and began reading them together.













 

  



 






We are looking forward to spending time all week devoted to this unit.  I cannot wait to see what kinds of projects the kids come up with to share their books with everyone!  Stay tuned!

Endnote

I was fortunate enough in November 2015 to meet some of our current nonfiction creators Don Tate (top) and Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann (bottom) at the AASL Conference in Columbus, OH.  I also met Melissa but alas did not snap a picture with her.  Next time!











6 comments:

  1. These pictures of readers spread throughout the library make me so happy! I'll be following the YMA too!

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  2. Hello Ms. Rattner and all you fourth graders. Sounds like a great week of reading. And a very difficult choice you have to make. I've read most of these books and they are very good. Have fun. Yours, Susan Goodman

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  3. Wow! What wonderful photos & it's great to see such a cozy reading spaces for you to enjoy all of these amazing nonfiction books! Thank you for including Coyote Moon here too :)!

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  4. I love seeing what you are doing with your groups! Can't wait to read about the finished projects. Great pictures of kids reading.

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  5. Oh my goodness, what a cool idea! Kids + library + teachers + books= super smart young people!
    Thanks for including my book, kids! If Step Right Up never wins an award, it is honor enough that you like it.

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  6. Ms. Rattner,
    I'm participating in World Readaloud Day if you're interested in scheduling a Skype visit for me to read Coyote Moon :)

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