Text Structure Fun & Foldable

This past week we've been working hard to practice & review Text Structure.

We had a through mini lesson on patterns of organizations, what they are, why & how authors use them, why they are important to us as readers, the different types of structures, their definition & characteristics, and the signal words that helps us as readers to identify them in a text.

My classroom is usually organized in rows {due to lack of space} but I turned the desks into pods this week so students can work in groups. 

There was no movement space but they loved it.

Students created a journal foldable for Text Structure

that included the definition & characteristics and signal words of each pattern of organization.

Next each group got newspapers and had to identify one article per pattern using the characteristics and signal words to guide their choice, they glued it into their booklets, and had to highlight the signal words and characteristics they found in the article to prove their case. Students will be turning in their booklet tomorrow as a test grade. They were allowed to work together & help on another.

    

For a "how to" tutorial to make these journal click here to visit my tutorial page.

I prefer this type of a "test" much better than the conventional standardized style test.  

I loved watching them actively engaged and working together to learn.

It was great seeing them engaged with real text and thinking, analyzing, and evaluating critically.

I didn't even care that they were standing instead of sitting and exchanging articles with one another :)

You can see how "into it" they were.

Did I mention that my P stopped by during the activity and absolutely loved it? 

This was def. a good week!!!

This mini-lesson is available in my Teacher's Store

I'm giving this lesson as a FREEBIE to 3 fabulous commenters!!!

{using random generator}

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment telling me why you want it and how you plan on using it in your classroom :)

xoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxo

Thank you all soooooooo much for the kind words :) I never thought this lesson would be such a hit!

I used the random generator to pick 3 winners and here they are

Congrats ladies!!!!

Constance I need you email address to send you the file.
Email me at ATeachersTreasure@gmail.com and I'll send you the mini lesson for text structure.
Mrs. Larson & Mrs. Piper I left you both comments on your blogs. I need your emails as well

Thanks you all for coming by and leaving me some love for this lesson :)