Reader’s Workshop Mini-Lesson Template

Comprehension Strategy (Unit of Study): Questioning

Mini-Lesson Topic:Readers ask questions before reading

Connection / Yesterday we learned about…
Good readers always have their brains turned on while they read. They are always actively thinking. One thing readers think about while reading is the questions the book makes them wonder about. Have you ever read a book and wondered what would happen next, or why the character did a particular thing? Then you were being an active reader!
Since this is the first lesson ask the class what the word question means. What words do we use to ask questions (who, what, where, etc.) and what do we end a question with?
Today, I’m going to teach you about/how to…
ask questions before we read a book.
Teach
Mentor Text:
Fly Away Home, by Eve Bunting
Anchor chart:
See the file attached (when you write out the chart make sure you keep the spaces because they are for students to place their sticky notes throughout the three lessons) / Today, I’m going to show you how…
to look at a book’s cover and the pictures in the book to ask questions about what the book may be about.
Using…
the book, Fly Away Home, by Eve Bunting we will look at the book’s cover and the pictures of the story to ask questions before we read the story. I will start by asking, “I wonder…” and ask a question about something from the cover. Ask them, “Do you wonder about that too?”I will tell students that saying “I wonder” helps us to ask questions and not tell something. Ask the students what they “wonder” about the cover. Then start a picture walk of the story. Do just a few more examples for them, but complete the picture walk of the story. As you are going through the picture walk tell students to be thinking about other questions they want to ask.
Active Engagement
(Turn and talk to partner,
share with group) / Now it’s your turn to try…
to ask some questions about the pictures of the story. First turn and talk to your partner and see what questions you have come up with.
Next, pass out a sticky note to each student and tell them that they are to write a question about the pictures in the story. They might use, “I wonder…” as the starter to their question. When they are done with their question they are to place it on the anchor chart under the “Before Reading” section.
Link / Today, I taught you how to…
ask questions before we read a story.
When you go off to read today and every time you read, you’re going to…
look at a story and ask yourself some questions before you begin reading it. This will help you get some ideas of what the story may be about. It will help you notice more details from the story as you read it.
Independent reading time
(conferences) / Students to conference with:
Possible future teaching points:
Sharing(individual, partner, group) / Students to share:
Several students may share what their sticky note says. This will generate some discussions about the story and see if others had the same question.
Focus:For students to hear others questions and to generate more ideas about what the story may be about.