"It's Monday...What Are You Reading?"

Today we started a non-fiction text features project with Mrs. Marinelli's class!  All students will research and present their assigned text feature using the Notability app on the iPad.  The directions are below if you wish to download and check out the app! 

Directions: Using the Notability Application

Prior to using the Notability App, you should have photographed examples of your non-fiction text feature using the iPad camera. 

These photos should be stored in your camera roll.

1.     Open Application and select the pencil at the top of the page to create new note

2.   Rename your note by deleting “Note May 31, 2013” and insert the name of the text feature you will present

3.    Choose your paper (click on wrench in top right corner, then click on Paper)

4.   Click on + to add your photos into your page (top right corner); click or drag photo into your note to insert; resize, crop,  and add caption; click “edit” to add writing

5.   Explain your non-fiction text feature and how it helps you to understand the text

Text Options:

a.      Click on “t” to type in text; change color/font/size/style on keyboard

b.     Click on pencil or highlighter to write or highlight important information; change color and size by double-clicking on the icon

c.      The eraser allows you to erase mistakes with marker or highlighter

             Voice Over:

a.      Add voice over by clicking on the speaker icon (recording starts immediately)

b.     Read your text loud and clearly

c.      Press the speaker icon to stop; press “triangle” to replay; press speaker again to add

"It's Monday...What Are You Reading?"

I hope everyone was safe on their commute this morning and enjoyed 90 extra minutes...perhaps, to read?!?!?  Today during Reader's Workshop, we started our mini author study of Gail Gibbons with a focus on understanding text features.  We are learning how and why authors include text features.  More importantly, we are learning how text features help us to better understand the text.  At Writer's Workshop, we will be integrating text features into our non-fiction information books, too!  Therefore, it is very important that we have a deep understanding of text features!   Today, in Owl, we noticed and discussed text features that included: diagrams, labels, captions, cut-aways, comparisons, definitions, and illustrations.

 

"It's Monday...What Are You Reading?"

Today we read an awesome book called Elephants Can Paint, Too!  This text is a perfect example of the compare and contrast structure that we will study this week and apply to our non-fiction writing at Writer's Workshop.  The students were amazed at how elephants learn to paint like kids do! 

Check it out on this live YouTube video: