My co-teacher and I have started our first mini-unit on REALISTIC FICTION! We are modeling this with the cute story, Ruby the Copycat. The students love this story and can relate to it. This story opened up to a discussion about friendship, being yourself and confidence.
In addition to reading this story, we have started our guided reading groups and centers. I have many center activities for sale in my TPT store. Centers included: listening center-the students will listen to our current read a loud AGAIN or a book of their choosing, computers to work on Raz-kids, book shopping/partner reading/reading phones and guided reading.
Our mini-lesson tomorrow will focus on Author's Purpose. I felt that this story would be a great introduction to why author's write. We will detail the 3 different categories for authors and decide where Ruby the Copycat would be. After this, students will work at their tables to sort a basket of books into 3 categories: Persuade, Inform and Entertain.
Here is a freebie for you to post in your classroom, FIND IT HERE