Wednesday, October 25, 2006


Working as a team can really add to our thinking power!
In class we started our discussion with predicting the effect Leona's visit to city hall had on the vacant lot.
1.After reading Sam's story Predict what will happen next in the vacant lot.
2. Clarify- Were there any parts of the chapter that were confusing or
words that other teams may not know. Explain or clarify those parts for your classmates.
3. Questions- Maybe there were parts you didn't understand or something you were left wondering about- Ask questions and your mentors will answer.
4. Summarize the key points of this chapter. What insights/ information did Sam add to this book? Where did he leave the reader?


The pictures you create in your head represent a powerful comprehension tool. You can create a movie or series of pictures that help you to understand and remember what is going on in the book you are reading.
In your journal, you drew four pictures that included details of Leona's story.
Write a BLOG for Leona- it should include:
1. Pick your favorite page
Can you put those pictures into words?
2.Start with the big idea on that page,
3.Then include supporting details
4. Why did you pick that page

Wednesday, October 11, 2006


Gonzalo presents some interesting thoughts. Answer the following questions and consider, what role do questions play in understanding?
Summarize what you learned about Tio Juan(His mother's uncle).
Who is he? Where did he come from?
Does Tio Juan remind you of someone?
What did Gonzalo learn from Tio Juan?
What does the last line in the chapter mean ?- "He'd (Tio Juan) changed back from a baby to a man".
Finally, how did these questions help you to understand the story?.