Lions, Tigers, and Bears...Oh My: 3rd Grade Nonfiction Research Clubs

Lions, tigers, and bears - what's the same? What's different? Why? It's been fascinating to observe the level of engagement and deep thinking coming from students in the Nonfiction Research Club unit of study. Students are studying animals and are at the point where they are comparing and contrasting information learned about different animals. It's hard to move on from mini-lessons and from reading workshop because the students are so engaged in the work. They want to research more and share their thinking with their club! It's exciting to see and to coach.




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Now, That Was Fun!

Some of my teachers are piloting the Reading and Writing Units of Study from Lucy Calkins (and friends) and I'm supporting them with implementation. This is the first week of my kindergarten team trying the Nonfiction Writing How-To Books unit. I stopped by one of the rooms during writing to see how it was going. The teacher was just about to start her lesson, but seemed a little frazzled. She asked if I would mind modeling it for her. "Wait, what?! I have no idea what to do," I thought to myself. But, I smiled and said, "Of course!" That's what coaches do sometimes, right, we fake it until we make it!

I did admit right away that I would have my unit book with the lesson on my lap and might even be reading from it while teaching. "I'm learning this unit with you," I said and went to the front of the room to teach my kinder friends. I taught the lesson with some "freeze frames" so the teacher and I could check in and make instructional decisions together. The lesson went great and the kindergarteners learned the characteristics of how-to books. Best of all, though, the teacher and I learned the lesson together. Coach and teacher side-by-side - a great way to build trust and empower teachers! Not only that, but what seemed like a terrifying prospect - the idea of modeling a lesson totally unprepared - turned out to be fun!




Coach to coach:
Remember, although teachers want to you to have a high level of content knowledge, they also appreciate when you can be a learner right along with them. Being vulnerable goes a long way to build relationships!



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