Activity Description
Title: Fiction - - Compare-Contrast Stories by the Same Author
This ACTIVITY has a set of teaching-learning strategies proven to increase student mastery of the critical Reading Literary standard - - Compare and Contrast stories by the same author. It wraps together prior Grade 3 standards involving explicit details (plot events, characters, setting details), theme, point of view, language, and illustrations. Students display the comparison of two stories in graphics that are lead-ups to the Venn Diagram. The details of these comparisons are also the basis for Quick-Writes. [ At Grades K-5, each Activity attaches student-sized texts, templates, and test items that teachers can quickly print and use immediately in class.]
Enabling Skills: (1) complete a fiction Template with literary elements; (2) retell a fictional text; (3) drill-down on each literary element to show how they “interact” and also impact the plot; and (4) the ability to see likenesses and differences among literary elements, including graphics and illustrations. There is no RL X.8 standard.
Direct Instruction: Suggested teaching strategies are given that model for students what they need to do to begin their journey toward mastery. These strategies include keeping the points of comparisons parallel - - not just random brainstorms. Samples are provided for students to compare fruits, fairy tales, and fables to provide authentic, text-based practice. In completing these comparisons, students to demonstrate they can construct meaning for themselves.
Quick-Writes: Standards-based writing prompts are provided that require students to document that they have internalized the core ideas of the standard(s) and can show independent mastery. In addition to describing how two texts are alike and different, these prompts include “take-aways” from a text; advice they would offer to a character; lessons learned; “what-if” scenarios; and extending the text.
High-Stakes Look-Alike Assessments: At Grades 3-8, the Activities include two tests - - one for practice - - followed by classroom analysis of errors made - - and the second test to determine mastery. The test items are constructed to look exactly like those items students will encounter on their High-Stakes Tests. In the RL 3.9 tests, the “matrix” is introduced to students. This test item format poses the two titles across the top, plus a column that says BOTH, and it lists mixed details from the texts down the left side. Students are asked to check (P ) which detail is found in which story - - or in both stories.
CUSTOMER: Thanks for considering this Activity as part of your approach to your state’s ELA standards. If you have any comments as to how it worked - - or didn’t! - - we’d welcome them! See the contact information to send us feedback. - - the EdFOCUS Team
This teaching activity comes with one hour of online instruction and guidance from a trained EdFOCUS professional. You will be contacted shortly after purchase with more details.