Friday Fun: Wanted Posters!

We've been focusing on roles characters can play within novels. Last Friday, we targeted the villains of our historical fiction novels. Students worked in book clubs to create WANTED posters featuring their novel's "villain" or antagonist. They made sure others knew their crimes and of course offered a suitable reward. My teaching partner and I were shocked how much care and effort students put into their posters... I'd say this Book Club Friday was a success! #FriYAY

You can grab Polka Dot and Pencils' FREE Wanted Poster Template {here}.

Here's a quick glimpse at our Friday Fun! 

Readers Make Plans

During the past few weeks, my students and I have been meeting to get in our informal reading conferences. Students are loving their historical fiction books but I've noticed a big problem in my classroom.... Students aren't sure what they want to read next! What?! Students were either having trouble narrowing down choices or completely blank with what to read next.

A 5th grade reader using Good Reads help fill in TBR Lists.

So, TBR mini-lesson to the rescue! We discussed how good readers usually have a list of "To Be Read" books that helps them decide what they want to read next so they are prepared. Readers make plans! We discussed how good readers do some planning. We visited Good Reads, Amazon, and author websites to help us scope out some books to put on our TBR Lists. Some students even went through my book bins and read book blurbs of favorite genres or authors.

I also shared my own TBR List with my students. 

You can get it for free on TPT {here}.

Currently, on deck for reading... 

I'm making great progress on my TBR List as part of the #SixtyBook challenge. I've been reading picture books, fiction, and even a graphic novel. Here's a quick update on my year in reading so far... 

 Picture books I've read.

 Books with diverse characters! These books each have a great main character you can't help but fall in love with! 

 Books full of magic and wonder...

 Books that I found "unputtdownable." Boys especially will be able to relate these main characters. Kwame Alexander and Lisa Graff are true masters of author's craft! 

Reads that were fun and seriously addicting! 

What are your reading plans?
How do you help students choose what to read next?