Text Features and Dictionary Skills

In Pre-K, I read the book Blocks by Irene Dickson since they have been learning about shapes.

We worked on dictionary skills in Kindergarten and First Grade. In Kindergarten, I introduced using a picture dictionary to find words they do not know the meaning of. We played a scavenger hunt type of game to find words that began with certain letters of the alphabet.

In First Grade we discussed the importance of guide words and how they can be used to find an entry in the dictionary. We did an activity where there were magnetized guide words on the board and they had to put the other words in order between them. I was amazed at well they did this activity.

In Second Grade we discussed the difference between inferencing and predicting. We first looked at photos and then read some short passages to infer what was happening.

In Third Grade we discussed different types of text features such as titles, headings, bold print, photos, captions and diagrams.

In Fourth Grade we read The Worrywarts by Pamela Duncan Edwards for all of the alliteration in it.

Fifth Grade had camp this week, so we just did a check out only so that everyone would have an opportunity to get a book.

Next week we will be reading various Halloween stories and doing all kinds of Halloween activities.