Picture Book Read

Try this reading activity with your students.  I used it when teaching sixth grade.  Select book titles that will be appropriate for your level.

Have students in groups of 4.  Use one of Spencer Kagan’s Cooperative Learning
suggestions to group students.

Number group members 1 to 4.

Place one book in each group, approximately 8 books needed for class of 32.  Use laptops
and use picture books from BigUniverse.com.

Students will read one page and pass the book, starting with person #1.
Show illustrations.  Be conscious of story line.  Shoulder pair assist in
oral reading.  Teacher circulates to be certain students are following
directions and are on task.

After story is read,  students are to complete recording sheet.  Use record
sheet at end of read time.  Record sheet should be designed to have students
recall the literary elements; title, author, characters, main idea, and so
forth.

RoundTable should be used for recording information so all students writing
is represented.  In RoundTable, students record information and pass the paper around until all have added to the record sheet.  If time available, have students discuss another ending for
the story, or add another character or draw a picture to go with the story.

Rotate the book to a new group and repeat activity up to 8 rotations.
Students should be asked to explain how the illustrations added to the book.

Cooperative Learning is successful when resources are shared and all contribute to an end product.  When time is up, all will have read 8 books and you will have 8 papers to check.  Having students sign their names by their individual entries or using different colored pencils helps in identifying the individual’s work.